* Level of government: Changing a local ordinance will cost far less than changing a federal law in the United States (or equivalent changes in other countries).
* Complexity of the law: A simple amendment to an existing law will be cheaper than creating an entirely new law or significantly overhauling an existing one. This affects lobbying efforts, legal expertise required, and potential administrative changes.
* Lobbying efforts: Interest groups on both sides of an issue spend vast sums lobbying legislators. These costs can be enormous, and are often opaque.
* Legal challenges: If a new law is challenged in court, the cost of legal defense can add substantially to the overall cost.
* Implementation costs: Even after a law is passed, there are costs associated with putting it into effect. This can include creating new regulations, training personnel, and updating systems.
For example:
* Local ordinance: Might cost a few hundred or a few thousand dollars in staff time, printing, and public notices.
* State law: Could cost tens of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on lobbying, legal fees, and implementation costs.
* Federal law (U.S.): Could cost tens of millions to billions of dollars, with lobbying and potential long-term implementation costs dominating.
In short, the cost is not just a matter of dollars spent directly on the legislative process itself, but encompasses the far broader spectrum of related expenses. Quantifying this accurately is often impossible due to the multitude of indirect and hidden costs involved.