What Are All of the Legislative Measures?

Citizens of this state are most familiar with bills, which propose to add, amend, or repeal statutes, and require final action by the Governor. But the California Legislature considers several other types of legislative measures, which generally do not require final action by the state’s chief executive.

What are these types of legislative measures and what are they used for?

Assembly Bill (AB) / Senate Bill (SB)A proposed law that would add,

amend, or repeal one or more

statutes

Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) /

Senate Constitutional Amendment (SCA)A resolution to put before voters to

add, amend, or repeal provisions of

the state Constitution

Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) /

Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR)Expresses opinion of both houses of

The Legislature

Assembly Joint Resolution (AJR) / Senate

Joint Resolution (SJR)Expresses opinion of both houses of

The Legislature regarding a federal

government issue

Governor’s Reorganization Plan (GRP)A measure to reorganize executive

branch departments that requires

approval of the Legislature

House Resolution (HR)Expresses opinion of the Assembly 

Senate Resolution (SR)Expresses opinion of the Senate 

In total, then, there are eleven different types of measures used in the California Legislature. The most widely used measure is a bill, particularly ABs, and the least widely used measure is the Governor’s Reorganization Plan.