Only about 10% of all bills introduced become law. There are perhaps 3000 bills introduced every year (more int he first year of a biennium, fewer in the second year). That figure is a little skewed because some bills are introduced as companion bills - the same bill in each house, so they count as two although only one can pass, and because some appropriation bills are folded into the budget, so their intent lives on even though the bill dies. But it is still fair to say that only a small fraction of all bills introduced make it through.
However, you never can tell, at the start of a session, what will pass through and what won't, because a large part of that examination process involves committee hearings where those ideas and their alternatives are tested.
Given these factors, should there be a bill introduction limit?
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3 comments:
I like the idea of limiting the number of bills, but how? The legislators have so much to filter through. Perhaps by limiting the number that each legislator can submit? Perhaps by arbitrarily setting a number (say 1000) and having it be first come-first served?
I like the idea of limiting the number of bills, but how? The legislators have so much to filter through. Perhaps by limiting the number that each legislator can submit? Perhaps by arbitrarily setting a number (say 1000) and having it be first come-first served?
I had heard the concept of a limit per legislator before, but not a first-come, first-served cap. That would definitely favor the organized legislators! But what about legislators whose bills are more complex or need more consensus before they are ready to be introduced? Maybe a hybrid - guarantee each legislator a number - say 10 - and they let the remainder of the thousand be first come firt served?
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