bill drafting – California Globe

What Lobbyists Should Know about Drafting Bills and Amendments

October 28, 2023 8:14 amOctober 28, 2023 8:14 am

Lobbyists who work in the legislative branch of state government should be aware of the process of drafting bills and amendments. There is an art to drafting bills that comes easily for some, but is difficult for others. The critical...

Frequently Asked Questions about Bill Drafting in California

October 22, 2023 7:55 amOctober 22, 2023 7:55 am

For those not familiar, I put together the following questions and answers for those queries that are most often posed regarding bill drafting in California: Which types of bills take effect immediately upon being signed by the Governor? Statutes calling...

What Is the Residence of Sovereignty?

July 20, 2023 3:00 amJuly 20, 2023 3:01 am

In Government Code Title 1, Division 1, Chapter 1, Article 1, there is the residence of sovereignty, which was enacted in 1943 by Chapter 134. What is the “residence of sovereignty”? Government Code Section 100(a) specifies that “the sovereignty of...

Drafting a Bill that Calls an Election

December 6, 2022 6:22 amDecember 6, 2022 6:23 am

The Legislature can enact a statute that calls an election by specifying a date on which that election will be held and what subject will be on that election’s ballot. What does a bill that calls an election look like?...

Judges Should Better Appreciate the Legislative Process and Bill Drafting Principles

October 30, 2022 3:30 pmOctober 30, 2022 2:54 pm

When drafting and amending legislation, proponents (and opponents) always keep in mind the statutory analysis principles used by the judicial branch of government when interpreting statutes. And, of course, the attorneys in California’s Office of Legislative Counsel do as well...

Some Additional Bill Drafting Rules in California

October 16, 2022 8:40 amOctober 16, 2022 8:46 am

When drafting bills in the California Legislature, there are many constitutional, statutory, and rules-based provisions to consider, depending on the type of bill that is being drafted. And, there are certainly some very narrow rules to be aware of when...

A sea of empty desks inside the California State Assembly

What Bill Drafting Guidance Do We Have from the California Legislature’s Joint Rules?

September 26, 2022 7:18 pmSeptember 27, 2022 10:36 am

When drafting legislation in California, there are several sources of guidance in drafting bills and other forms of legislation (resolutions and constitutional amendments). The third source is the Joint Rules of the Assembly and Senate. What legislation drafting guidance is...