Learn how bills progress through Parliament and become law.
This graphic shows the usual process for a Government Bill passing through the Scottish Parliament. Select each stage to read a summary of what happens.
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 10 August 2022
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
A Government Bill is introduced by a Scottish Government minister.
The Scottish Government presents the bill to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government also provides additional information in:
If a Government Bill includes any “delegated powers”, a Delegated Powers Memorandum is needed to explain why. Delegated powers include powers given to Scottish Ministers to make new law, or change existing law, without this needing another bill.
The Bill was introduced on 1 February 2022
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees can also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee.
At Stage 1, the bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the bill. Other committees can also look at the bill. These committees report to the lead committee.
The lead committee is responsible for examining the bill. It hears from experts, organisations, and members of the public about what the bill would do. It then writes a report about what it has heard and gives its own view of the bill. This Stage 1 report usually makes a recommendation about whether the Parliament should support the main purpose of the bill (the "general principles"). All of this may take a few months.
The Parliament then debates the bill and decides whether it should go on to Stage 2, or be rejected.
Committees which are looking at a bill may issue a “call for views”. This allows experts, organisations and members of the public to provide feedback on some or all aspects of the bill. Your views will help inform the committee’s work.
Committees which are looking at a bill may issue a “call for views”. This allows experts, organisations and members of the public to provide feedback on some or all aspects of the bill. Your views will help inform the committee’s work.
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 3 May 2022
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
MSPs can propose changes to a bill at Stage 2. These are called “amendments”. Any MSP can suggest amendments. The amendments are debated and decided on at a meeting of a committee (usually the same committee that was the lead committee at Stage 1). Only the committee members can vote on amendments at this stage.
If any amendments are agreed to at Stage 2, a new (amended) version of the bill is published. This is the version considered at Stage 3.
If you want to propose an amendment, get in touch with an MSP as early as possible following the end of Stage 1. The deadlines for proposing an amendment are very strict.
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 1 June 2022
At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them. There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law.
MSPs can propose further amendments to the bill at Stage 3. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber, and at this stage all MSPs can vote on them. There is a debate and vote on whether to pass the bill. If the bill is not passed, it “falls” and doesn’t become law.
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 29 June 2022
If the bill is passed, it is normally sent for Royal Assent after about 4 weeks. Royal Assent is when the bill gets formal agreement by the King and becomes an act of the Scottish Parliament.
Some acts become law straight after Royal Assent. Some only become law on a later date. Sometimes different parts of the same act become law on different dates.
See all Acts of the Scottish Parliament