Bills Containing an Appropriation in California

Article IV of the California Constitution deals with the Legislature and the legislative process in this state. The Legislature enacts statutes by passing bills. Bills may contain an appropriation from the General Fund or from a special fund. General Fund appropriations require a 2/3 vote, with two specified exceptions, while special fund appropriations require a majority vote. Those two exceptions are education funding bills and budget-related bills, which require a majority vote.

So, how many bills each year contain an appropriation? The following chart provides this data:

Session Years	Bills that Contain an Appropriation
2025 – 26	349
2023 – 24	287
2021 – 22	342
2019 – 20	303
2017 – 18	402
2015 – 16	354
2013 – 14	333
2011 – 12	327
2009 – 10	310
2007 – 08	339
2005 – 06	377
2003 – 04	359
2001 – 02	638
1999 – 2000	700