Thread by @rjmarr

Flood of bill signings from @GovernorVA this weekend, due to 30-day deadline from end of session. Seems like a good time for a how-a-bill-becomes-a-law #ExecutiveBranch #thread !
1/12

#VAGovernor handles bills according to Article 5, Section 6 of VA Constitution (link below for fun #quarantine reading)
2/12
law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/a…

#VAConstitution lays out 2 deadlines (roughly) for #VAGovernor: 7 days if he gets the bill during legislative session, 30 days if he gets them after. We're now on 2nd deadline
3/12

#VAGovernor has 4 options w/ each bill: [1] sign, [2] ignore, [3] veto, [4] amend
4/12

First two options make bill a law. Governor's signature makes it a law, or no action eventually leads to law w/o signature (which I think is rare but could not find data)
5/12

Option (3) is veto: sent back to #VAGeneralAssembly. Both houses need to pass by 2/3 to override veto (override is DEFINITELY rare, tho' data also hard to find)
6/12

FYI, T-Mac is record-holder for vetoes w/ 120, due to GOP control of #VAGeneralAssembly during his term; Northam much less likely to veto bills from Dem-controlled legislature (tho' #COVID response may get him there)
7/12

Option (4) is most confusing/interesting: Governor suggests amendments, and bill goes back to #VAGeneralAssembly to reconsider during a "veto session"
8/12

Legislature also has options now: [1] agree to amendments (majority vote, both houses); [2] override amendments & pass original bill (2/3 vote, both houses - super rare); [3] reject amendments and send original bill BACK to Gov for signature/veto
9/12

BTW, this also gets even more complicated if #VAGovernor adds more than one amendment to a bill, w/ legislature deciding whether to vote on them separately or together
10/12

Also complicated: the budget. #VAGovernor has "line-item" veto that allows him to strike particular items but keep budget in place; will almost certainly use and/or propose amendments this year due to #COVID
11/12

#VAGeneralAssembly will reconvene later in April (maybe outside!?!?) to consider amendments; budget may wait for special session afterward. Wash your hands!
12/end