Session 2026–27 · In progress
Before It’s Law
UK proposals explained for everyone — before they become law.
Open a live Commons, Lords or Government list, then read a plain-English Green Book 2026 note — five cases, cited sources, no single score. For Acts and other recently completed proposals, use Recently finished.
Parliament calls these proposals “bills”. Here we explain them in plain English before they become law.
Before It’s Law is unofficial and based on publicly available information. Not an official parliamentary or government output. Not legal advice. Full disclaimer.
How Parliament works
Commons, Lords, Government — and the path to becoming law
Commons and Lords are places on the same journey. Every proposal must pass both Houses before it can become law. The Commons list shows items currently at a stage in the elected House; the Lords list shows those in the appointed second chamber, which revises legislation. A proposal can start in either House, and it moves between the two lists as it progresses.
Government items are about who introduced them, not where they are. They are brought by ministers with the Government’s backing and appear in whichever House they are currently in. Because they get guaranteed debating time and majority support, the large majority become law — unlike private members’ proposals, which are introduced by individual MPs or peers and rarely pass without government support.
Parliament calls these proposals “bills”. Here we explain them in plain English before they become law.
The path before it becomes law
01First reading
Introduced and printed. A formality — no debate, no vote.
02Second reading
The first debate and vote on the principle. Most that fail stop here.
03Committee stage
Line-by-line scrutiny. Amendments are proposed and decided.
04Report stage
The whole House reviews the amended text and can change it again.
05Third reading
The final vote on the finished text in that House.
06The other House
The same stages repeat in the second House.
07Ping pong
Both Houses exchange amendments until they agree the same text.
08Royal Assent
The Monarch signs it off. It is now an Act — it is law.
A proposal not completed by the end of a parliamentary session falls, unless it is carried over to the next one.