A member of the House of Representatives may file a bill by mail or in person, according to the appropriate rules of the House of Representatives and, after the bill has been approved as to form by the Legislative Reference Bureau, with the Clerk of the House at any time during the filing period. Upon receiving such bill, the Clerk of the House shall immediately cause such bill to be printed and made available to all members of the General Assembly and to the public according to the rules and practices in such matter of the General Assembly next preceding the one for which the bill is filed.
The Clerk of the House shall assign numbers to the bills in the order in which such bills are filed with him.
25 ILCS 25/3.1