Knowing a bill's legislative stage tells you something meaningful about its odds of becoming law. A bill that has cleared committee is very different from one that was introduced six months ago and hasn't received a hearing. A bill that passed the House differs significantly from one that passed both chambers and awaits the President's signature.

Here's what each stage means — and what to watch for at each one.

Stage 1: Introduced

A bill is introduced when a House member drops it in the hopper (the box near the House Clerk's desk) or when a Senator obtains recognition to introduce it verbally. At introduction, the bill is assigned a number (H.R. for House bills, S. for Senate bills) and referred to one or more committees.

What it means for passage: Almost nothing. Roughly 15,000 to 20,000 bills are introduced per Congress; fewer than 600 typically become law. Introduction is a formal act that starts the clock, but it doesn't commit any resources or guarantee any attention.

What to watch for: Co-sponsor count matters at introduction. A bill introduced with 40 bipartisan co-sponsors has a fundamentally different trajectory than a solo-sponsored bill. Also watch whether the bill's sponsor holds a position of power — committee chair, leadership member — that gives them the ability to actually move it.

Stage 2: In Committee

After referral, the bill sits in committee. The committee chair decides whether to schedule a hearing, refer it to a subcommittee, or allow it to die quietly without action.

What it means for passage: This is where approximately 90% of all bills effectively die. "In committee" for a bill with no recent action on its Congress.gov page is usually a polite way of describing legislative purgatory.

What to watch for: A hearing is a positive signal — it means the committee chair thought the bill merited public consideration. A markup notice is a stronger signal — it means the committee is actively considering moving the bill forward. Committee passage (a successful markup vote) is the clearest signal that a bill is on a viable path.

Stage 3: Passed Committee

A bill that has cleared committee with a favorable vote is "reported" to the full chamber. It comes with a committee report and is placed on the legislative calendar, awaiting floor scheduling by the chamber leadership.

What it means for passage: Significantly higher odds. A reported bill has cleared its first major institutional hurdle and has the committee majority's endorsement. That said, many reported bills still die because the leadership doesn't schedule floor time.

What to watch for: In the House, whether the Rules Committee schedules a rule for the bill determines whether it can come to the floor at all. In the Senate, whether the Majority Leader can get unanimous consent (or cloture) to proceed determines floor scheduling. A bill stuck in committee-cleared limbo may be waiting for a must-pass vehicle to attach to.

Stage 4: Passed One Chamber

The bill has cleared a floor vote in either the House or the Senate. It's transmitted to the other chamber, where the process starts again: committee referral, possible markup, floor scheduling.

What it means for passage: Meaningful progress. The bill has demonstrated majority support in at least one chamber. But passing both chambers can take months or years, and the second chamber often modifies the bill — sometimes substantially.

What to watch for: Whether the second chamber takes it up quickly or sits on it. A bill that passed the House in March and hasn't moved in the Senate by September is often a bill whose Senate prospects are unclear. Also watch whether the second chamber amends it — amendments trigger the reconciliation process.

Stage 5: Passed Both Chambers

Both the House and Senate have passed identical text. The bill is enrolled — printed on parchment, certified by the relevant chamber officers — and transmitted to the President.

What it means for passage: Very high odds. At this point the only failure mode is a veto — and Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers, though this is rare (it requires the same supermajority in both chambers to succeed).

What to watch for: Presidential statements. If the White House has issued a Statement of Administration Policy saying the President would veto the bill, that's a material risk. If the administration supported the bill through its passage, signature is almost certain.

Stage 6: Signed Into Law / Enacted

The President signed the bill, or it was enacted through another mechanism (Congress overrode a veto; it became law automatically after 10 days without action during a session). The bill is now a public law, assigned a public law number (e.g., Pub. L. 119-82).

What it means: It's law. The provisions are in effect as of the effective date specified in the bill, which is often the date of enactment but can be earlier or later depending on what the bill says.

Stage 7: Dead

Formally, bills don't "expire" at the end of a Congress — they simply cease to exist. A bill introduced in the 119th Congress that hasn't been enacted by January 3, 2027 (when the 120th Congress convenes) is gone. If its sponsor wants to pursue the same legislation in the next Congress, they must introduce a new bill.

What it means: Whatever caused the bill to stall would need to change for a successor bill to have better prospects. Sometimes a failed bill is reintroduced with modifications that address the blocking concern. Sometimes the political environment changes and the same bill passes easily two Congresses later.

The Stages on LegislationPatch

Every bill in our database shows its current stage, the date it reached that stage (sourced from Congress.gov), and a passage likelihood estimate. The estimate is a judgment call based on the stage, the political environment, and any information about leadership support or opposition. Bills that have passed both chambers are shown at 100%; bills that have been vetoed or missed the congressional calendar are shown as dead.

Key Sources