The California Legislature’s First Day of Session

The Senate and Assembly met Monday afternoon to convene the 2025-25 California Legislative Session. I tried to catch the formal actions…

ASSEMBLY
All 80 Assembly Members were sworn-in today, including 23 new Members, 12 of whom are female.

There is one vacancy as Vince Fong was elected, but he chose to keep his Congressional seat – a special election will be called by Gov Newsom

As such, the Assembly is operating with 79 Members

The Assembly elected Robert Rivas as Speaker.

For the first time in many years, Republican Leader Gallagher was nominated and voted for by 19 Republicans.

The Assembly adopted:

HR 1 – Standing Rules, including reducing the bill introduction limit from 50 to 35 bills for the 2-year Session.

HR 2 – Chief Clerk and Chief Sgt. at Arms were elected

HR 3 – Assembly organized and notified the Senate

They also adopted SCR 2 – Legislative Counsel Jenkins was elected; SCR 1 – adoption of Joint Rules

At 2pm, the Assembly convened the First Extraordinary Session.

The Assembly adjourned at 2:15pm until Monday, January 6, 2025, at 1pm

SENATE

20 Senators were sworn-in, including 12 new Members, 7 of whom are female, and 8 of whom are former Assembly Members.

Senator Janet Nguyen has resigned as she was elected to the OC Board of Supervisors – a special election will be called by Gov Newsom

As such, the Senate is operating with 39 Members

The Senate adopted:

SR 1 – concerning holdover Senators

SR 2 – Senator McGuire elected PT, and Senate Secretary and Chief Sgt at Arms were elected

SR 3 – 5 members of Rules Committee were elected, but PT said their members are likely to change when he announced committee assignments in January

SR 4 – Standing Rules, including reducing the bill introduction limit from 40 to 35 bills for the 2-year Session. And budget trailer bills are not subject to SR 29.10.

SCR 1 – Joint Rules

SCR 2 – Election of Legislative Counsel

SR 5 – Senate organized and notified GGN

SR 6 – Senate organized and notified the Assembly

At 1:15pm, the Senate convened the First Extraordinary Session.

The Senate adjourned at 140pm until Monday, January 6, 2025 at 2pm

On the first day of Session, there were a total of 97 regular session bills introduced – 63 ABs and 34 SBs.

Of those, 24 were intent bills and 6 were spot bills.

In addition, there were 3 special session bills and 1 special session constitutional amendment introduced today.