Required Session Reports by California Legislative Leaders

The two houses of the California Legislature have majority and minority party leaders. In the Assembly, they are the Speaker for the majority party and the Minority or Republican Leader for the minority party. In the Senate, they are the President pro Tempore for the majority party and the Minority or Republican Leader for the minority party.

The California Constitution actually requires all four of these legislative leaders to make reports to their respective houses twice per 2-year Legislative Session. Article IV, Section 22 provides the following:

It is the right of the people to hold their legislators accountable. To assist the people in exercising this right, at the convening of each regular session of the Legislature, the President pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the minority leader of each house shall report to their house the goals and objectives of that house during that session and, at the close of each regular session, the progress made toward meeting those goals and objectives.

This section of the state Constitution was added by the voters in June 1990 by Proposition 112. This section is intended to create additional accountability and transparency for legislators.

The first report of the four leaders is due at the time the two houses convene a new regular session, which is the first Monday in December of each even-numbered year. That report must include the “goals and objectives of that house during that session.”

The second report of the four leaders is due at the close of each regular session, which is August 31 of each even-numbered year pursuant to the state Constitution. That report must include “the progress made toward meeting those goals and objectives.”