Legislative materials
How to cite state bills and legislative history
Cite a state bill with the state’s abbreviation, the bill designator exactly as the legislature prints it, the session, the year and the version; once it is law, add the session law it was enacted as.
Keeping the legislature’s own designator is the book’s house style, because prefixes such as “CS/CS/HB” carry version information.
The New laws feed on this site applies the form to bills enacted in the last 30 days.
9 real examples
Each citation is printed as the book prints it, from an authority the book checked against its source.
96th Ill. Gen. Assem., Senate Proceedings, Mar. 25, 2009, at 26–27 (statements of Senator Raoul).
The authority
- 96th Ill. Gen. Assem., Senate Proceedings, Mar. 25, 2009 (Illinois Senate, Mar. 25, 2009)Source (ilga.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Tex. S.B. 8, 87th Leg., R.S. (2021) (enrolled).
The authority
- Tex. S.B. 8, 87th Leg., R.S. (Texas Legislature, May 19, 2021)Source (capitol.texas.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Senate Research Ctr., Bill Analysis, Tex. C.S.S.B. 8, 87th Leg., R.S. (Mar. 16, 2021).
The authority
- Senate Research Ctr., Bill Analysis, Tex. C.S.S.B. 8, 87th Leg., R.S. (Texas Senate Research Center, Mar. 16, 2021)Source (capitol.texas.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Fla. CS/CS/HB 1557 (2022) (enrolled) (enacted as ch. 2022-22, Laws of Fla.).
The authorities
- Fla. CS/CS/HB 1557 (2022) (Florida Legislature, Mar. 28, 2022)Source (flsenate.gov)
- ch. 2022-22, Laws of Fla. (Florida Legislature, Mar. 28, 2022)Source (flsenate.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Fla. H.R. Staff Final Bill Analysis, CS/CS/HB 1557, at 1 (Mar. 28, 2022).
The authority
- Fla. H.R. Staff Final Bill Analysis, CS/CS/HB 1557 (Florida House of Representatives (committee staff), Mar. 28, 2022)Source (flsenate.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Cal. AB 5 (2019–2020) (enacted as Stats. 2019, ch. 296).
The authority
- Cal. AB 5, 2019-2020 Reg. Sess. (California Legislature, Sept. 18, 2019)Source (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
Where the book teaches this
(2019 NY Senate-Assembly Bill S2440, A2683)
The authority
- 2019 NY Senate-Assembly Bill S2440, A2683 (New York State Senate, Jan. 28, 2019)Source (nyassembly.gov)
Where the book teaches this
(Assem. Bill No. 5 (2019–2020 Reg. Sess.) as introduced Dec. 3, 2018.)
The authority
- Cal. AB 5, 2019-2020 Reg. Sess. (California Legislature, Sept. 18, 2019)Source (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
Where the book teaches this
N.Y.C. Council Int. No. 796-A of 2024 (passed Dec. 4, 2025).
The authority
- N.Y.C. Council Int. No. 796-A of 2024 (Council of the City of New York, Dec. 4, 2025)Source (home4.nyc.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Where the book teaches this
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