GOP budget undergoes passage process with Democrats' return

On Wednesday, the Indiana House of Representatives approved the GOP state budget plan. This proposal will keep education spending at its current levels but will shift funds among schools.

Every odd-numbered year, the Indiana General Assembly determines a biennial budget for the state.

The 117th legislative session of the Indiana General Assembly is scheduled to conclude April 29. Before that date, a budget must be passed by the House of Representatives and confirmed by the Senate before it is signed by the governor. Since the budget has been passed by the House, it has two steps left before it is adopted.

Here is what needs to happen next to pass HB 1001.

Senate Appropriations Committee

• Analyzes budget bill in Senate
• Has hearings before bill is considered by all members of Senate
• Second and third readings follow
• Once passed by majority vote, bill is sent to conference committee

• Mends differences between House and Senate versions of budget bill, unless both chambers adopt an exact version of the same bill
• Members of conference committee compromise on budget bill and must give unanimous approval before bill is sent back to House and Senate
• If either chamber rejects the bill, conference committee must reconvene

• After bill has been adopted by House and Senate, governor either signs bill into law or vetoes bill
• Once signed, budget bill becomes law and will be implemented for next two years