The Legislative Order of Business

In the California Legislature, the State Senate and the State Assembly have an “Order of Business” for consideration of matters on the Floors of the respective houses. The following lists, in order, the hierarchy of business that is conducted on the Floors of the two houses of the California Legislature:

SENATE ORDER OF BUSINESS 

1. Roll Call. 

2. Prayer by the Chaplain. 

3. Pledge of Allegiance. 

4. Privileges of the Floor. 

5. Communications and Petitions. 

6. Messages from the Governor. 

7. Messages from the Assembly. 

8. Reports of Committees. 

9. Motions, Resolutions and Notices. 

10. Introduction and First Reading of Bills. 

11. Consideration of Daily File: 

a. Second Reading. 

b. Special Orders. 

c. Unfinished Business. 

d. Third Reading. 

12. Announcement of Committee Meetings. 

13. Leaves of Absence. 

14. Adjournment.

ASSEMBLY ORDER OF BUSINESS 

1. Rollcall 

2. Prayer by the Chaplain 

3. Reading of the Previous Day’s Journal 

4. Presentation of Petitions 

5. Introduction and Reference of Bills 

6. Reports of Committees 

7. Messages from the Governor 

8. Messages from the Senate 

9. Motions and Resolutions 

10. Business on the Daily File 

11. Announcements 

12. Adjournment