2023 Legislative Session – California Globe

A Historic Look at Bill Introductions in the California Legislature

February 21, 2026 9:09 amFebruary 21, 2026 9:38 am

Over the past two decades, the California Legislature, and its 120 legislators, introduce between 1,900 and 2,600 bills per year, each year of the 2-year legislative session, by the February introduction deadline. Fewer than 50 additional bills get introduced after...

What Is ‘Digesting’?

October 10, 2023 6:56 amOctober 10, 2023 6:56 am

Have you ever heard the term “digesting” in the California Legislature? This gerund is just one of many responsibilities of the attorneys who work in the California Office of Legislative Counsel (OLC). This gerund comes from the “action” word created...

Is ‘Encouragement’ Sufficient in Legislation?

March 29, 2023 7:37 amMarch 29, 2023 7:44 am

In reviewing legislation in the California Legislature over the years, we are well aware of statements of legislative intent. Sometimes there are single statements of intent and, in other instances, there are multiple intent statements. Recently, I came across a...

The Value of Explanations in Bill Plus Sections

February 23, 2023 8:54 amFebruary 23, 2023 9:01 am

In reviewing the more than 2,600 bills introduced in the 2023 Legislative Session, I have come across a number of bill sections that could benefit from additional explanation. What I mean by that is that some sections at the end...

Comparing 2023 Bill Introductions in the California Legislature to Past Years

February 20, 2023 8:49 pmFebruary 20, 2023 8:55 pm

We know that the 2,632 bills that were introduced in the California Legislature by the February 17 deadline was the highest amount in more than a decade. What about bill introductions in the two houses – State Senate and State...