California Legislature Archives

Legislative Operations During Emergencies

March 29, 2020 2:00 pmMarch 30, 2020 1:32 pm

If the Legislature decides to proceed with remote hearings and voting, how will members of the public participate? As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, numerous state legislatures around the country have acted upon or are considering measures to...

Key Provisions of the Legislature’s Internal Rules – The Senate Rules – Part II

March 27, 2020 6:08 amMarch 26, 2020 9:40 pm

This is Part ll of Key Provisions of the Legislature’s Internal Rules: The Senate Rules — Part l is HERE. Whenever a bill is authored by an individual who is no longer a Member of the Legislature, the Senate Rules...

Key Provisions of the Legislature’s Internal Rules: The Senate Rules Part I

March 25, 2020 6:15 amMarch 24, 2020 9:00 pm

Beyond the relevant provisions of the California Constitution, contained primarily in Article IV, as well as applicable sections of the California Government Code, the State Senate and State Assembly are governed by their Joint Rules, the Standing Rules of the...

Types of Bill Amendments in the California Legislature

March 23, 2020 6:05 amMarch 23, 2020 6:10 am

In the California Legislature, there are several types of amendments that can be made to measures, including bills, resolutions and constitutional amendments. To begin, an amendment is defined by Legislative Counsel as an alteration to a bill, motion, resolution, or...

Reconsideration of Bills

March 20, 2020 8:56 amMarch 20, 2020 8:59 am

When a bill in the California Legislature fails passage either in committee or on the floor of the Assembly or Senate, it can be granted “reconsideration.” According to the Legislative Counsel, reconsideration means a motion giving the opportunity to take...

CAG Interview: Assemblyman Jim Patterson Discusses Importance of Executive Authority Over Emergency Coronavirus Funding

March 17, 2020 3:57 pmMarch 18, 2020 9:14 am

‘To me, the alternative here is a bunch of self-interested politicians – a political grab like the greenhouse gas funding,’ Patterson said. ‘The governor owns this. And if he does the right decision-making, we all benefit.’ “Like it or...

California Governor and Legislators Suspend Procedures and Rules to Pass Emergency $500 M to $1 Billion Coronavirus Funding

March 17, 2020 11:04 amMarch 17, 2020 11:24 am

The California Legislature passed emergency funding Monday providing $500 million to be used to combat COVID-19, and authority for total expenditures up to $1 billion to the Governor. There were no Assembly or Senate Budget Committee hearings, and the Proposition...