Chapter 7 – Lawmaking Process
7.1 Bills & Resolutions
The Ohio General Assembly exercises its legislative power primarily through bills and resolutions.
Bills are documents proposed by a member of the General Assembly to create new laws or amend or repeal existing ones. The term “bill” is used from its drafting until it passes both houses and is presented to the Governor. Once approved by the Governor or if the Governor takes no action for ten days, the bill becomes a law.
What Is a Law?
A law is a rule established by a governing authority (such as the State of Ohio) that mandates or prohibits certain actions and is enforced by penalties for noncompliance. A common example is a speed limit. Ohio law prohibits drivers from exceeding the posted speed limit, and drivers who violate the law can receive a fine or other penalty.
Here’s an example of a bill:
Senate Bill 158 was introduced in the Ohio General Assembly in 2025. The bill would generally prohibit students from using cell phones during instructional hours in Ohio public schools, with some exceptions for educational, medical, and other approved uses.
Senate Bill 158 is a bill because it is a proposed law. It must pass both chambers of the General Assembly and be signed by the governor, or otherwise become law through the constitutional process, before it becomes a law.
Resolutions are formal expressions of the opinions and wishes of the General Assembly and do not require the Governor’s approval. Resolutions do not require the governor’s approval because they are formal expressions of the opinions and wishes of the General Assembly rather than laws. Unlike bills, which create, amend, or repeal laws and require the Governor’s signature to become law, resolutions are used to make declarations, express collective opinions, recognize achievements, or address internal legislative matters. Since resolutions do not have the force of law, they do not necessitate executive approval and are solely within the purview of the legislative branch to adopt.
Resolutions come in three types: joint, concurrent, and simple.
- Joint resolutions are used for significant actions such as ratifying amendments to the U.S. Constitution or proposing amendments to the Ohio Constitution. They require approval from both houses and must be filed with the Secretary of State after approval.
- Concurrent resolutions also need approval from both houses but are not filed with the Secretary of State. They are used for actions required by the Ohio Constitution or statutes, such as disapproving proposed Supreme Court rules or handling joint procedural matters. Concurrent resolutions are commonly used for memorializing Congress or commending individuals or groups.
- Simple resolutions only require approval from the house in which they are introduced and typically address organizational matters, appointments, and commendations specific to that house.
Reference
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. 2023. Chapter 5 – Enacting Legislation in A Guidebook for Ohio Legislators. Columbus, OH p. 47-48.
