How Conference Committee Works

From The Arc of Indiana

"Heading into the last week of the 2023 Legislative Session, all of The Arc's bills are currently in conference committee.

Here is a run down of how Conference Committee works:

• Step 1: Bill comes back to the original chamber it start in with changes made by the opposite chamber
• Step 2: The bill author can either agree to the changes or disagree
• Step 3: Files a motion
• Agree (concur)-the whole chamber votes on the changes and if passed it will head to the governor
• Disagree (dissent)-the bill goes to conference committee
• Conference Committee
• House Republican, House Democrat, Senate Republican, Senate Democrat are appointed as conferees to the committee.
• These individuals are the bill author, sponsor and co-authors and co-sponsors on the bill
• The conferees negotiate on what goes into the bill and what stays out of the bill
• Another bill that died could be placed into this bill.
• All conferees have to sign off on the changes made
• The bill goes back to both the House and Senate for each chamber to vote on the changes made in conference committee and if passed the bill heads to the governor

Nothing is completely dead until legislators adjourn Sine Die, which means they are done for the year.  According to state statute, legislators have to be done by April 29th."