Budget Conference Committee Viewer's Guide
What is a conference committee?
When a bill, in this case the budget bill, is approved by one house of the legislature it is forwarded to the second house for its approval. If the second house amends the bill before concurring, the house of origin must vote upon those amendments. If the original house rejects amendments or further amends the bill, the resulting proposal may be sent back to the second house or to a conference committee made up of members representing both houses, where attempts are made to iron out the differences between the two verions. The compromise version, drawn up by the conference committee, cannot be amended in either house when it is brought to a vote. When both houses have agreed on identical wording of a bill, the Legislative Reference Bureau “enrolls” it in its final form, incorporating any amendments and corrections approved by both houses, and the measure is forwarded for the governor’s
signature.
-------------------Wisconsin Blue Book