What is the role of a conference committee in the legislative process?

The role of a conference committee in the legislative process is primarily to resolve differences in bills that have been passed by both chambers of the legislature. When the House and Senate create separate versions of a piece of legislation, a conference committee is formed to negotiate the final terms of the bill. This committee typically consists of members from both the House and the Senate, and their goal is to reconcile the differing provisions and come to a unified agreement. Once the committee reaches a consensus, they draft a report that outlines the final version of the bill, which is then sent back to both chambers for approval.

This function is crucial in the legislative process because it ensures that both chambers can ultimately agree on one version of legislation that can be sent to the governor for approval. Without the work of the conference committee, it would be difficult to create consistent laws that reflect the intentions of both legislative bodies.