A Look Back at Bill Introductions in the California Legislature
The 2023 California Legislative Session saw the highest number of bill introductions in over a decade
By Chris Micheli, September 19, 2024 2:30 am
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 returns those introduction numbers to more normal levels.
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 dozen 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. So, if history is a guide, there will be about 2,500 bills introduced next year, the first year of the 2025-26 Legislative Session.
The lowest number of bill introductions during this time in the Senate was 641 (in the 2014 Session) and the highest was 1,052 (in the 2007 Session). The 2023 total ranked third highest in the past 17 years.
The lowest number of bill introductions during this time in the Assembly was 1,209 (in the 2010 Session) and the highest was 1,833 (in the 2019 Session). The 2023 total ranked second highest in the past 17 years (the prior year’s total is the exact same number as in the 2007 Session).
In addition, below is the listing of total bills introduced in the Senate and Assembly over the past eighteen years, including those introduced after the February deadline (but not including any special sessions):
SENATE
2024 Session – 639 bills
2023 Session – 891 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 – 1,520 bills
2023 Session – 1,771 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
As the reader can see in the two listings above, there is a surprising amount of consistency in the annual introductions in both the Assembly and Senate.
- Printing of Legislative Documents - October 5, 2024
- State Agencies and Departments - October 5, 2024
- Compensation of California Justices and Judges - October 5, 2024