State Legislature Web Sites for Research
In this page:
- Links to Information about State Legislatures
- State Legislature Web Sites
- How a Bill Becomes a Law
- FAQ
- Glossary
- How to Testify Before a Legislative Committee
- Information and Citizen Participation
- Guide to Drafting Legislative Documents
- Types of Bills and Resolutions
Links to Information about State Legislatures
http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/state-leg.htm
http://ncsl.org/
Become familiar with your state’s process for passing a resolution or memorial.
Alabama: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/
Alaska: http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/home.htm?
Arizona: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/
Arkansas: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/
California: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/
Colorado: http://www.leg.state.co.us/
Connecticut: http://www.cga.ct.gov/
Delaware: http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/
Florida: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Welcome/index.cfm
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/contentViewer.aspx?category=PublicGuideSenate
http://flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm
Georgia: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/
Hawaii: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/
Idaho: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/
Illinois: http://www.ilga.gov/
Indiana: http://www.in.gov/legislative/
Iowa: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/
Kansas: http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/index.do
Kentucky: http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/home.htm
Louisiana: http://www.legis.state.la.us/
Maine: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/
Maryland: http://mlis.state.md.us/
Massachusetts: http://www.mass.gov/legis/legis.htm
Michigan: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/
Minnesota: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/
Mississippi: http://www.ls.state.ms.us/
Missouri: http://www.moga.state.mo.us/
Montana: http://leg.state.mt.us/css/default.asp
Nebraska: http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/
Nevada: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/
New Hampshire: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/
New Jersey: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/
New Mexico: http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/default.asp
New York: http://assembly.state.ny.us/
North Carolina: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/homePage.pl
North Dakota: http://www.state.nd.us/lr/
Ohio: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/
Oklahoma: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/
Oregon: http://www.leg.state.or.us
Pennsylvania: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/
Rhode Island: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/
South Carolina: http://www.scstatehouse.net/
South Dakota: http://legis.state.sd.us/index.cfm
Tennessee: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/
Texas: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/
Utah: http://www.le.state.ut.us/
Vermont: http://www.politicsol.com/govsites/state-legislatures/vt.html
Vermont Bill Tracking: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/database/database2.cfm
Virginia: http://legis.state.va.us/
Washington: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/legislature
West Virginia: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/
Wisconsin: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/
Wyoming: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/
Alabama: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/legislativeprocess/legislativeprocess_ml.html
Alaska: [PDF] http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/infodocs/legprocess.pdf
Arizona: [PDF] http://www.azleg.state.az.us/alisPDFs/hbillaw.pdf
Arkansas: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ (click on “Research Resources” on the left side of the screen, then click on “How a Bill Becomes a Law” in the middle of the screen)
California: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bil2lawd.html
Colorado: http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/StaffInfo/process.htm
Connecticut: http://www.cga.ct.gov/html/bill-law.htm
Delaware: http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/Lookup/Bill_Process?open&nav=leginfo
Florida Senate: [PDF] http://www.flsenate.gov/data/civics/idea_to_law_chart.pdf
Florida House: [PDF] http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/HouseContent/Approved/Public%20Guide/Uploads/Documents/How-Bill-Become-A-Law-2004-06.pdf
Georgia House http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/house/house%20information/bill_becomes_law.htm
Hawaii: [PDF] http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/guide/bill_to_law.pdf
Idaho: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/about/howabillbecomesalaw.htm
Illinois: [PDF] http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lis/98bill_law.pdf
Indiana: [PDF] http://www.in.gov/statehouse/tour/BillintoLaw.pdf
[PDF] http://www.in.gov/perf/leg/pdf/How_a_bill_becomes_a_law.pdf
[PDF] http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_democrats/pdfs/howabill.pdf
http://www.in.gov/legislative/about/bill.html
Iowa: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Pubinfo/bill2law.htm
Kansas: [PDF] http://skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/about/how_bill_law.pdf
Kentucky: [PDF] http://lrc.ky.gov/Lrcpubs/Road_to_Passage_2005.pdf
Maine: http://www.state.me.us/legis/path/path1.htm
Massachusetts: http://www.mass.gov/legis/lawmkng.htm
Michigan: [PDF] http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/HowBillBecomesLaw.pdf
Minnesota: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/howbill.asp
Mississippi: http://www.ls.state.ms.us/htms/billlaw.htm
Montana: http://leg.state.mt.us/css/research/faqs/howbill.asp
North Carolina: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/NCGAInfo/Bill-Law/bill-law.html
North Dakota: http://www.state.nd.us/lr/information/general/bill-law.html
Ohio: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/process.cfm
Oregon: http://www.leg.state.or.us/citizenguide/public_legprocess.ppt
[PDF] http://www.lc.state.or.us/pdfs/lr_article_body.pdf
Pennsylvania: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/VC/visitor_info/making_law/intro.htm
Rhode Island: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/gen_assembly/GenMisc/genbilaw.html
South Carolina: http://www.scstatehouse.net/studentpage/whatdo.htm
South Dakota: http://legis.state.sd.us/general/bill2law.htm
Tennessee: [PDF]
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/Publications/EdActLaw.pdf
Texas: [PDF] http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/hrofr/focus/hwbill78.pdf
Utah:
http://le.utah.gov/documents/aboutthelegislature/billtolaw.htm
Vermont: http://www.politicsol.com/govsites/state-legislatures/vt.html
Virginia: http://legis.state.va.us/CitizensGuide/HowBillsBecomeLaws.htm
Washington: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/WorkingwithLeg/bill2law.htm
West Virginia: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Educational/Bill_Becomes_Law/Bill_Becomes_Law.cfm
Wisconsin: [PDF] http://www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/acc/images/PDFs/habblagainall.pdf
Wyoming: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/leginfo/legprocess_files/frame.htm
Alabama: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/visitorsguide/visitorsguide.html
Alaska: http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/infodocs/FAQ.htm
Arizona: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/alisStaticPages/FAQ.asp
California: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/faq.html
Colorado: http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/StaffInfo/geninfo.htm
Connecticut: http://www.cga.ct.gov/html/citizen/cgafaq.htm
Florida House: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/faqs.aspx
Florida Senate: http://www.flsenate.gov/Info_Center/index.cfm?Mode=Help&Submenu=4&Tab=info_center
Georgia: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/leg/faq.htm
Hawaii: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/guide/faq.asp?press1=info&press2=guide
Louisiana: http://www.legis.state.la.us/
[click on How do I?? in the left column]
Maryland: http://mlis.state.md.us/Other/MGA_FAQ.htm
Minnesota: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faqtoc.asp
Montana:
http://leg.state.mt.us/css/research/faqs/default.asp
Oregon: http://www.leg.state.or.us/faq/
Vermont: http://www.politicsol.com/govsites/state-legislatures/vt.html
Virginia: http://legis.state.va.us/CitizensGuide/BillInformation.htm
http://legis.state.va.us/CitizensGuide/Committee.htm
http://legis.state.va.us/CitizensGuide/LegislativeProcess.htm
http://legis.state.va.us/CitizensGuide/Members.htm
http://legis.state.va.us/CitizensGuide/Session.htm
http://legis.state.va.us/CitizensGuide/Visitors.htm
http://legis.state.va.us/CitizensGuide/Misc.htm
West Virginia: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/FAQs/FAQ.cfm
Wyoming: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/leginfo/webfaq.htm
Alabama: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/legislativeprocess/legislativeglossary.html
Colorado: http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/StaffInfo/definitions.htm
Connecticut: http://www.cga.ct.gov/html/Terms.htm
Delaware: http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/Lookup/Legislative_Terms?open&nav=leginfo
Florida Senate: http://www.flsenate.gov/Info_Center/index.cfm?Mode=Glossary&Submenu=3&Tab=info_center
Florida House: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Glossary.aspx
Illinois: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/glossary.asp
Kansas:
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/help/glossary.do
Louisiana: http://www.legis.state.la.us/glossary2.htm
Massachusetts: http://www.mass.gov/legis/lawmkng.htm#glossary
Minnesota: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faqtoc.asp?subject=18
Missouri: http://www.house.state.mo.us/info/glossary.htm
Ohio: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/glossary.cfm
[PDF] http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/glossary/glossary.pdf
Oklahoma: http://www.oksenate.gov/legislation/glossary.html
Pennsylvania: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/VC/visitor_info/our_house/language.htm
Rhode Island: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/gen_assembly/GenMisc/genterms.html
Texas: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/resources/glossary.htm
Utah: http://le.utah.gov/documents/aboutthelegislature/glossary.htm
Virginia: http://legis.state.va.us/CapitolClassroom/9-12/LegislativeGlossary.htm
Washington: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/WorkingwithLeg/Glossary.htm
Wisconsin: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/glossary.html
Wyoming: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/leginfo/glossary.htm
How to Testify Before a Legislative Committee
Colorado: http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/StaffInfo/Pubparticipation.pdf
Connecticut: http://www.cga.ct.gov/olm/yourvoice.asp
Hawaii: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/guide/process04.asp?press1=info&press2=guide
Idaho: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/about/committeetestimony.htm
Kansas: http://www.kslegislature.org/education/committees.html#testify
Maine: http://www.state.me.us/legis/senate/Documents/hearing/Hearing%20Guide/abouttestimony.htm
Montana: http://leg.state.mt.us/css/research/faqs/yoursay1.asp
Noth Dakota: http://www.state.nd.us/lr/information/general/testify.html
Utah:
http://le.utah.gov/documents/aboutthelegislature/TestifyingbeforeaLegislativeCommittee.htm
Virginia: http://legis.state.va.us/CitizensGuide/TipsForTestifying.htm
Washington: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/WorkingwithLeg/testify.htm
Information and Citizen Participation
Delaware: http://www.delregs.state.de.us/information/citizen.shtml
Idaho: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/lso/
Iowa: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Central/Guides/gaguide.pdf
Kentucky:[PDF] http://lrc.ky.gov/lrcpubs/InsideGA.pdf
[PDF] http://lrc.ky.gov/Lrcpubs/InsideLRC.pdf
[PDF] http://lrc.ky.gov/Lrcpubs/OpenMtgsRecords.pdf
Massachusetts: http://www.mass.gov/legis/legishistory.htm
Michigan: [PDF] http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/citizensguide.pdf
[PDF] http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/ForthePeople.pdf
Minnesota: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faqtoc.asp?subject=20
Montana: [PDF] http://leg.state.mt.us/content/research/faqs/having_your_say.pdf
Ohio: [PDF] http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/research/leginfo.pdf
Oregon: http://www.leg.state.or.us/citizenguide/
Pennsylvania: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/VC/visitor_info/creating/creating.htm
Rhode Island: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/studteaguide/studhand.html
South Carolina: http://www.scstatehouse.net/html-pages/citizen.html
South Dakota: http://www.civiced.org/programs.php
Tennessee: [PDF] http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/Joint/Committees/FWM/factbook04-05/factbook04-05.pdf
Utah: http://www.le.state.ut.us/lrgc/citizenguide.htm
Virginia: http://legis.state.va.us/CitizensGuide/CitizensGuide.htm
Texas: http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/citizenResources/index.html
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/CHBook/CHBook.htm
Washington: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/WorkingwithLeg/
Wisconsin: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/cguide.htm
Wyoming: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/leginfo/guide98.htm
Guide to Drafting Legislative Documents
Illinois: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/lrbguide.htm
Maine: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/ros/manual/contents.htm
Massachusetts: http://www.mass.gov/legis/drafting.htm
Minnesota: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/issinfo/amendform.htm
Montana: http://leg.state.mt.us/css/research/information/draftques.asp
North Dakota: http://www.state.nd.us/lr/information/bills/draft-manual.html
[PDF] http://www.state.nd.us/lr/assembly/59-2005/docs/pdf/2005legislativedraftingseminarbrochure.pdf
Ohio: http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/guidebook/
South Carolina:
http://www.scstatehouse.net/register/regman00.doc
South Dakota: [PDF] http://legis.state.sd.us/general/DraftingManual.pdf
Utah: [PDF] http://le.utah.gov/documents/aboutthelegislature/billsample/bill.pdf
Types of Bills and Resolutions
Hawaii: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/guide/process02.asp?press1=info&press2=guide
Maine: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/ros/manual/Webdman-05.htm#P270_24576
North Carolina: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/NCGAInfo/statutes.html
North Dakota: http://www.state.nd.us/lr/information/bills/
Ohio: [PDF] http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/guidebook/chapter6.pdf
[PDF] http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/guidebook/chapter5.pdf
http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/research/navigatebill.html
Texas: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/capitol/legproc/summary.htm
Utah: http://le.utah.gov/documents/aboutthelegislature/resolutions.htm
Virginia:
http://legis.state.va.us/CapitolClassroom/9-12/9-12HowToTrackABill.htm
Washington: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/WorkingwithLeg/Overview.htm
Other Resources
BORDC State Resolution Toolkit
Fundamentals of Building
a State Resolution
Legislative Glossary



