==Bill Text==

The bill text is the text of the legislation that the chamber voted on. The correct version of the bill text will include any amendments that were adopted prior to the vote. For example, if we selected the Senate Passage with Amendment vote, the correct version of the bill text is the one that includes the amendments adopted by the Senate and not the version that was voted on during the House Passage. A few states do not regularly update their bill texts (Wisconsin, New Mexico, Maine, and Illinois), and the correct version of the bill text may not be available. When you encounter this, notify a staff member, who will then have to construct the bill text using a Libre Office document.

As with vote breakdowns, the location of the appropriate bill text varies by state. Here are some helpful tips for locating the correct version of the bill text:

**//(1) Look for direct language indicating that the chamber's amendments were adopted - some states have it clearly labeled. For example, if we are covering the House Passage stage, the bill text might include the words "with House Amendments" or "as passed by the House."//**

- //Mississippi - HB 392 (House Passage), 2010.//

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//**(2) Look for the terms "engrossed" and "enrolled." “Engrossed” refers a bill text that has incorporated the amendments adopted by the previous chamber. “Enrolled” refers to a bill text that has incorporated all of the amendments adopted throughout the entire legislative process - the final version of the bill. For example, if we selected the conference report votes of a bill, the enrolled version will likely be the correct one. You might encounter bill texts that are labeled "Chaptered" or "Public Act." This is the version that is published after it has been signed into law by the governor. Essentially, it is what the statutes will look like once all the changes have been incorporated. We usually don't use these versions of the bill text because they typically do not distinguish between new and existing law.**//

- //Arizona - SB 1309 (Senate Passage), 2010.// This is an example of when the engrossed version is the correct one.

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- //South Dakota - SB 290 (House Passage and Senate Passage), 2010.// This is an example of when the enrolled version is the correct one.

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**//(3) Look for dates assigned to the bill text, and match the date with the date of the vote, or the date on which the bill was last amended. //**

- //California - SB 4 (Senate Passage), 2009.//

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**//(4) Look for bill texts that are identified as a substitute bill when appropriate. Substitute versions are typically sponsored by committees. Often, the bill prefix will be updated on the legislature's website to reflect this: "SCS" for Senate Committee Substitute and "HCS" for House Committee Substitute. However, the substitute bill alone may not be the correct version of the bill; there is a possibility that additional amendments were adopted on the floor of the chamber. If amendments were adopted, check to see if there is an updated version to reflect those changes. Some states utilize substitute amendments in lieu of substitute bills. The amendment simply replaces the language of the bill after the introduction (official title, enacting clause, etc.). If you encounter a substitute amendment that has been not been further amended, you may use that as your bill text. Here are examples of both: //**

- //New Mexico - SB 112 (Senate Passage), 2010.// This is an example of when a substitute bill text will be utilized.

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- Tennessee - SB 3498 (House Passage), 2009. This is an example when a substitute amendment can be utilized.

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**//(5) Look at an amendment adopted by the chamber, and check to see if the bill text includes this amendment. This should only be attempted if all of the above strategies have been exhausted and you are still uncertain that the latest available version of the bill text is the correct one. If the latest version does not contain the amendment, then a bill text needs to be constructed.//**

- //Wisconsin - AB 106 (House Passage), 2010.// This is an example where a bill text needs to be constructed.

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