A Few Bill Statistics from the California Legislature

As a self-described legislative geek, I was researching different types of bills that have been considered by the California Legislature. I began with the 2023 California Legislative Session and found that there currently are:

• Over 2,660 bills introduced 

• 124 bills would take effect immediately

• 717 bills contain a state mandated local program

• 2,007 bills would have a fiscal effect

• 78 bills contain an appropriation

• 2,520 bills require a majority vote for passage

• 158 bills require a 2/3 vote for passage

• 68 bills are special statutes

• 58 bills have urgency clauses

• 65 bills are tax levies

• 53 bills are of statewide concern, rather than municipal affairs

• 85 bills have severability clauses

• 61 bills contain Section 41 findings, related to new tax expenditure programs

• 4 bills are contingent upon the enactment of another measure

• 38 bills are contingent upon the appropriation of funds

• 14 bills disclaim being gifts of public funds

• 551 bills were introduced as intent bills

• 495 bills were introduced as “spot” bills

In addition, since 1999 (over the past quarter century), according to a review of the Legislative Counsel’s Digest Keys, the:

• Total number of bills that would take effect immediately: 6,429

• Total number of bills that contain a state-mandated local program: 12,751 

• Total number of bills that would have a fiscal effect: 40,176 

• Total number of bills that contain an appropriation: 4,864

This is a new set of data that I have begun tracking. It will be interesting to see if the 2023 Session data is indicative of what will happen in the second year of the 2023-24 Session and forthcoming. I plan to update these figures going forward.