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How Our Laws Are Made
The process by which a bill becomes a law differs in the House of Representatives and Senate. Each branch has its own rules and traditions. Once a bill is introduced, it goes through several stages of review. During each stage, the bill is examined by various committees, where members research and make changes to the original bill. The outcome of each stage is documented in a committee report that is part of the legislative record. The reports are an essential part of understanding a law’s history and purpose.
The legislature declares that the people have a right to know how their government functions, and that the public’s right to review information about governmental decision-making should not be diminished by the cloak of confidentiality or secrecy. A person who knowingly conceals or destroys a record subject to this article is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine. The legislature further declares that the committee on open government may promulgate guidelines regarding deletion of identifying details from records otherwise available under this article to prevent unwarranted invasions of personal privacy.