Why Will the Legislature Convene December 5 and then Recess Until January 4?

Why Will the Legislature Convene December 5 and then Recess Until January 4? The answer is simple – the Legislature’s rules dictate their calendar, including recesses.

The Joint Rules of the California State Senate and Assembly contain more than sixty provisions, including Joint Rule 51, which deals with the legislative calendar.

Subdivision (a) of Joint Rule 51 deals with the first, or odd-numbered, year of the Legislature’s 2-year legislative session. Joint Rule 51(a) requires the two houses of the Legislature to observe four recesses during the first year of the regular session, including the “organization recess.” What is that?

Organizational Recess—The Legislature shall meet on the first Monday in December following the general election to organize. Thereafter, each house shall be in recess from the time it determines until the first Monday in January, except when the first Monday is January 1 or January 1 is a Sunday, in which case, the following Wednesday.

According to Joint Rule 51(a), they will organize (and convene) the 2-year Session on Monday, December 5, 2022 (i.e., the first Monday in December). Thereafter, they will be in recess until Wednesday, January 4, 2023 (i.e., the following Wednesday because January 1 is a Sunday in 2023).