Second Funnel
The second funnel is today, Friday, March 16th, and it is one of a few deadlines set in place to keep the legislative process moving. By this date, bills must have been passed out of committee from both chambers in order to continue in the legislative process. For instance,
Senate files must be passed out of their Senate committee and the House committee. House files must be passed out of their House committee and the Senate committee.
If bills are not passed out of committee in both chambers, they are considered "dead" and cannot be debated or voted on. Exceptions to this rule are Appropriations bills, Ways and Means bills, government oversight bills, bills filed as unfinished business, and bills from leadership.