How to Navigate LegiScan: Understanding Bills That Affect You

When people say “pay attention to the laws,” it’s usually followed by... absolutely no instructions on how to do that. Like okay, sure — I could Google something like “HJR250 Alabama” and stare at a wall of text, but what am I really looking at? What do the big words mean? Who’s HJR, and why is he in my business?

That’s where this guide comes in.

I am going to break down how to use a site called LegiScan — basically the Google Maps of legislation. It helps you find where a bill is, where it’s been, and where it might be going (hopefully not straight to messing up your rights).

Why LegiScan? Because it’s one of the most popular tools for tracking bills in all 50 states and Congress. It’s a go-to for everyday people, activists, and citizens like us who want to know what our lawmakers are cooking up before it hits our lives like a surprise eviction notice.

Learning how to read a bill page isn’t just nerd stuff — it’s a form of self-defense. These bills decide things like rent prices, health care, education, your job, your body, your rights — your entire future. So, the more you understand, the better you’ll know whether it’s time to pop an edible in celebration — or roll up your sleeves and raise hell at a town hall.

Let’s make it make sense.

Inside the Belly of the Bill

Welcome to the part where we dissect a bill page like it’s a frog in 8th grade science class — except way less gross and way more important.

Sponsors

The sponsor is the lawmaker who introduces the bill. This is the person backing the idea and pushing it through the system.

• If you're passionate about a bill (for or against), this is who to email, call, or research first.

• You can usually click their name to see their other sponsored bills and voting history.

Subjects

This section tells you the general topic of the bill — such as “Cannabis” or “Education.” This helps you quickly understand what part of life the bill affects.

History

This is where you track the journey of a bill. It's a timeline of everything that's happened so far. 

Here's what each status means:

Common Terms

• "Introduced / Filed": The bill has officially entered the process.

• "Received" and "Referred to committee": It was sent to a smaller group of lawmakers for review.

• "Pending House/Senate Rules": Waiting in the Rules Committee, which sets the debate schedule (or kills bills quietly).

• "Reported Out of Committee": The committee voted to send it forward for debate or voting.

• "Amendment Offered": Someone proposed a change to the bill.

• "Motion to Adopt – Adopted Voice Vote": An amendment or rule passed with a quick "aye/no" voice vote (not a recorded one).

• "Engrossed": The bill passed one chamber (Senate or House) with all amendments and was sent to the next.

  
  

Additional Terms You Might See

• "First / Second / Third Reading": Each reading is a formal review stage — the third is usually right before a vote.

• "Recommitted to Committee": Sent back for further review or edits — sometimes a sign of delay.

• "Substituted": A revised version has replaced the original (often very different).

• "Laid on the Table": Temporarily paused — but often this means the bill is dying quietly.

• "Carried Over": The bill will continue next legislative session (delayed).

• "Concurred / Non-concurred": One chamber agrees (or disagrees) with changes made by the other.

• "Passed": The chamber approved the bill.

• "Failed / Lost": The bill didn’t get enough votes and is likely done (unless reintroduced).

• "Sent to Governor": Passed both chambers and is now on the governor’s desk to sign or veto.

• "Act Number [###]": The bill has officially become law.

State Sources

You’ll often see links to official documents:

• Summary Link: A short overview of the bill in plain language.

• Original Text: The version as first introduced.

• Engrossed Text: The updated version after one chamber passed it.

• Amendments: Lists of specific proposed changes (with who proposed them).

Extra

You might notice letter abbreviations before the bill number. These matter:

• HB = House Bill (originated in the House)

• SB = Senate Bill (originated in the Senate)

• HJR = House Joint Resolution A resolution from the House that’s meant to express the will of both chambers.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just about following politics — this is about protecting your life, rights, and community. Bills that impact your cannabis, rent, reproductive rights, school books, or job pay all start here. And some lawmakers are counting on regular folks not reading them.

But now you know how.

This guide is your decoder. Use it to…

• Recognize when harmful legislation is moving forward.

• Understand how far along a bill is — and when to act.

• Find out which lawmakers to pressure or support.

• Know what language signals delays, power plays, or quiet kills.

Being informed is the first step to being powerful.