Good morning parent leaders!
Today, February 16, is day 36 of the 2026 Regular Session. There are 24 days left this session. We have crossed the halfway mark!
At this stage, most bills have moved out of committee and onto the House or Senate floor, where the full chamber meets to debate and vote. Unlike committee hearings, which involve only a small group of lawmakers, floor action includes every legislator. When a bill reaches the floor, it’s a critical time to contact your legislators, explain how the bill affects your community, and urge them to vote yes or no. Sharing your stories helps them make persuasive arguments to their colleagues during debate.
There are strict rules and procedures for each chamber, all designed to keep the debates civil, on topic and to keep the process moving.
How Floor Votes Happen:
- Debate Comes First
Once a bill has passed out of committee and is scheduled for floor action, members debate it on the chamber floor. Legislators can speak for or against the bill and propose changes called amendments.
- Types of Votes
- Voice Vote: Members say “aye” or “no,” and the presiding officer determines which side is louder. This is a quick vote and does not record how individual members voted. If the result isn’t clear, members may be asked to stand to indicate their vote, and they are counted visually.
- Roll Call / Electronic Vote: Each member’s vote is recorded individually (often on an electronic board) so you can see exactly how each legislator voted.
- Final Passage Vote
After debate and any amendments, the chamber holds a final vote. If a majority of members vote in favor, the bill passes that chamber and moves to the other chamber to repeat the process.
- What a “Yes” or “No” Means
- Yes (Yea): The legislator supports the bill as it’s currently written.
- No (Nay): The legislator opposes the bill.
- Present / Abstain: The legislator chooses not to take a side in that vote (less common)
Tuesday, February 17, is the House of Origin Cutoff Date. This means that, by the end of the day, each chamber must pass its own bills off the floor. Bills that are not voted out of their chamber of origin by the cutoff generally cannot move forward. Bills that do pass will then move to the opposite chamber, where they repeat the full legislative process.
You can find the schedule of floor votes here. Because bills frequently get discussed out of order, it is difficult to understand exactly when a bill will be debated on.
Lawmakers are coming home:
Mid-session town halls happen around this time in the legislative session, when lawmakers return to their districts to meet with constituents. These meetings give community members a chance to hear directly from their legislators, ask questions, and share feedback while decisions are still being made.
Find Your Legislator’s Town Hall
- Democrats: A statewide list of town halls is available here.
- Republicans: Town halls are not centrally listed. Check your legislator’s website or social media pages
There are many ways to participate in a town hall:
Show Up:
You don’t have to speak to participate. Being there matters.
Bring a Sign:
Create a sign that shows you care about the issue and are paying attention. Keep it respectful and easy to read.
Ask a Question:
Prepare a question for your lawmakers about the issue, the process, or how decisions will affect your community.
Remember: our legislators work for us!
