Skip to content
Back to explainers

3 min read - Last reviewed 3 Jul 2026

What is a bill?

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law before it becomes an Act.

What it means

A bill is a proposal for a new law, or for changing an existing law, before it becomes an Act.

Why it matters

Bills matter because they are where political promises can turn into legal text. They can be debated, amended and voted on before becoming law.

Example

If a policy is described as part of a bill, the official bill page or parliamentary record lets readers check the stage and wording.

Related glossary terms

Sources for this explainer