Article VII, Section 8. [Bills presented to governor for approval and veto -- Items
of appropriation -- Legislative session to consider vetoed items.]
(1) Each bill passed by the Legislature, before it becomes a law, shall be presented to the
governor. If the bill is approved, the governor shall sign it, and thereupon it shall become a law.
If the bill is disapproved, it shall be returned with the governor's objections to the house in which
it originated. That house shall then enter the objections upon its journal and proceed to reconsider
the bill. If upon reconsideration the bill again passes both houses by a yea and nay vote of
two-thirds of the members elected to each house, it shall become a law.
(2) If any bill is not returned by the governor within ten days after it has been presented to
the governor, Sunday and the day it was received excepted, it shall become a law without a
signature. If legislative adjournment prevents return of the bill, it shall become a law unless the
governor within twenty days after adjournment files the objections to it with such officers as
provided by law.
(3) The governor may disapprove any item of appropriation contained in any bill while
approving other portions of the bill. In such case the governor shall append to the bill at the time
of signing it a statement of the item or items which are disapproved, together with the reasons for
disapproval, and the item or items may not take effect unless passed over the governor's
objections as provided in this section.
(4) If the governor disapproves any bill or item of appropriation after the adjournment
sine die of any session of the Legislature, the presiding officer of each house shall poll the
members of that house on the matter of reconvening the Legislature. If two-thirds of the members
of each house are in favor of reconvening, the Legislature shall be convened in a session that shall
begin within 60 days after the adjournment of the session at which the disapproved bill or item of
appropriation passed. This session may not exceed five calendar days and shall be convened at a
time set jointly by the presiding officer of each house solely for the purpose of reconsidering the
bill or item of appropriation disapproved. If upon reconsideration, the bill or item of appropriation
again passes both houses of the Legislature by a yea and nay vote of two-thirds of the members
elected to each house, the bill shall become law or the item of appropriation shall take effect on
the original effective date of the law or item of appropriation.
No History for Constitution
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Last revised: Thursday, May 28, 2009