What is a private bill?

A private bill is a type of legislation that is intended to benefit a specific individual or organization rather than the public as a whole. Typically, these bills are introduced by a member of the legislative body who is not part of the government, which means that they often originate from non-government members, such as private citizens, interest groups, or local bodies seeking particular provisions that affect them directly.

In this context, the focus of a private bill is to address localized or specific issues rather than broad public policy, which aligns with the definition of a private bill. Such bills can provide special powers or privileges to specific entities, which is distinct from the general direction of public legislation.

The other choices pertain to broader legislative concepts. Bills proposed by the government would typically be considered public bills, as they aim to serve the interests of the entire public and are an essential part of governmental operations. A bill seeking funding from the state might be more of a budgetary or financial proposition rather than a private bill targeting a specific entity. Lastly, a bill focused on public services is generally categorized as a public bill, which also seeks to improve or organize services benefitting the general populace, distinguishing it from the specificity of a private bill.