How Many Bills Introduced in the California Legislative Session?

Over the past decade, the California Legislature, and its 120 legislators, introduce between 1,900 and 2,500 bills per year, each year of the 2-year legislative sessions. While fewer than 50 additional bills get introduced after the deadline (e.g., due to a rule waiver or a bill introduced by a committee, which are not subject to the introduction deadline), the 2023 California Legislative Session saw a higher number of introductions than normal, and the highest number in over a decade. The 2024 Session was about an average for the second year.

For comparison purposes, the following is the list of the total number of bills introduced by the two houses by the applicable deadline each February over the past ten years:

• Total 2024 bill introductions as of the deadline: 2,124
• Total 2023 bill introductions as of the deadline: 2,632
• Total 2022 bill introductions as of the deadline: 2,020
• Total 2021 bill introductions as of the deadline: 2,369
• Total 2020 bill introductions as of the deadline: 2,203
• Total 2019 bill introductions as of the deadline: 2,576
• Total 2018 bill introductions as of the deadline: 2,177
• Total 2017 bill introductions as of the deadline: 2,495
• Total 2016 bill introductions as of the deadline: 1,993
• Total 2015 bill introductions as of the deadline: 2,297
• Total 2014 bill introductions as of the deadline: 1,930
• Total 2013 bill introductions as of the deadline: 2,256

The most notable distinction is that, in the second year of the session, there are always fewer bills introduced than in the first year.

SENATE

2024 Session – 619 bills

2023 Session – 881 bills

2022 Session – 672 bills

2021 Session – 828 bills

2020 Session – 682 bills

2019 Session – 792 bills

2018 Session – 694 bills

2017 Session – 817 bills

2016 Session – 676 bills

2015 Session – 805 bills

2014 Session – 641 bills

2013 Session – 826 bills

2012 Session – 632 bills

2011 Session – 948 bills

2010 Session – 662 bills

2009 Session – 833 bills

2008 Session – 729 bills

2007 Session – 1,052 bills

ASSEMBLY

2024 Session – 1,505 bills

2023 Session – 1,751 bills

2022 Session – 1,383 bills

2021 Session – 1,593 bills

2020 Session – 1,541 bills

2019 Session – 1,833 bills

2018 Session – 1,531 bills

2017 Session – 1,733 bills

2016 Session – 1,366 bills

2015 Session – 1,549 bills

2014 Session – 1,336 bills

2013 Session – 1,430 bills

2012 Session – 1,267 bills

2011 Session – 1,433 bills

2010 Session – 1,209 bills

2009 Session – 1,590 bills

2008 Session – 1,333 bills

2007 Session – 1,751 bills

There is a surprising amount of consistency in the annual introductions in both the Assembly and Senate.