The short version
"Ordered to be reported" means a committee has voted to send a bill — often after amending it — out of committee and on to the full House or Senate. It is the committee saying, "We are done with this; the whole chamber should consider it."
Why it is a big deal
Most bills never get this far. Getting "reported" out of committee means a bill has cleared the single biggest bottleneck in Congress. It is now eligible to be scheduled for debate and a vote by the entire chamber.
"Ordered to be reported" vs. "reported"
- Ordered to be reported — the committee has *voted* to send the bill forward. The paperwork (the committee report) may still be in progress.
- Reported — the committee's written report is filed and the bill is officially placed on the chamber's calendar.
In practice they happen close together. Both mean the same good news for a bill: it survived committee.
What happens next
- Placed on the calendar.The bill joins the list of measures eligible for floor consideration.
- Scheduled for the floor.Leadership decides whether and when to bring it up for debate.
- Floor vote.The full chamber debates, possibly amends, and votes.
- On to the other chamber.If it passes, the process repeats in the House or Senate.
For the full journey, see How a Bill Becomes Law.
Frequently asked questions
Does "ordered to be reported" mean the bill passed?
No — it means a committee approved it and is sending it to the full chamber. The bill still has to be scheduled, debated, and voted on by the whole House or Senate.
Is "ordered to be reported" good news for a bill?
Yes. It clears the committee stage, which is where most bills die. It is one of the strongest early signs that a bill has real momentum.