What does it indicate if a bill has been assigned a public law number?

When a bill has been assigned a public law number, it signifies that the bill has successfully passed through both legislative chambers and has been signed into law by the President or Governor, depending on whether it is federal or state legislation. This number is unique and signifies that the bill is no longer just a proposal; it has been formally enacted and will now have the force of law.

In legislative processes, various stages indicate the status of a bill. If a bill were rejected or denied approval, it would not receive a public law number. Similarly, if a bill is still in committee, it indicates that it has not yet been brought to the floor for debate and vote, therefore it would not have advanced to the point of being assigned that law number. A bill pending for voting remains in the legislative process and hasn't reached the status of enactment, so it too would not have a public law number at that stage. Thus, the assignment of a public law number clearly marks the transition of the bill from the stage of proposal to its status as law.