Final answer:
The first step when a bill is introduced in the House is that it is assigned to a committee. The committee analyzes it, and if they vote to advance it, the bill goes through rules establishment before reaching the House floor for debate and a vote.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a bill is introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, the first step is that the bill is assigned to a committee. In the committee, the bill undergoes scrutiny and members may recommend changes. The bill clerk assigns it a number (starting with H.R.), and after introduction and a reading by the clerk, the Speaker of the House directs the bill to the appropriate committee for detailed consideration.
Before the full House debates the bill, it must pass through the committee's rigorous process, which includes hearings and possibly being amended during the markup stage. If the committee votes to advance the bill, it is then printed and sent to the House Committee on Rules to establish the rules for floor debate.
Following this stage, the bill reaches the House floor for debate, amendments, and eventually a vote. If a simple majority votes in favor, the bill is advanced to the Senate for a similar process of review and approval.