California Legislature – Page 13

Retroactive v. Prospective Legislation in California

September 9, 2025 2:55 pmSeptember 9, 2025 2:55 pm

In most instances, legislation applies prospectively, meaning after the law has been enacted and takes effect. Nonetheless, there are times when the Legislature desires statutes to be applied retroactively, and sometimes they also specify a prospective application date. The following...

How the Legislature Complies with Proposition 54’s 72-Hour Rule

September 6, 2025 2:00 pmSeptember 6, 2025 2:07 pm

Proposition 54, which was enacted by the voters at the November 2016 general election, adopted constitutional and statutory changes dealing with bill amendments and recordings of legislative proceedings. Among those provisions, how does the California Legislature comply with Prop. 54’s...

California Democrats Consider Increasing $16 Billion in Annual Taxes and Fees

September 4, 2025 5:12 pmSeptember 5, 2025 10:17 am

The saying, “When you’re in a hole, stop digging” does not seemingly apply to Democrats in the California legislature. Evidently, the solution to the tax-and-spend Democratic supermajority is: “When you’re in a hole, keep digging…and raise taxes.” A report published...

San Diego’s Students Sacrificed in the Charter Lawsuit

September 3, 2025 4:51 pmSeptember 3, 2025 4:51 pm

In 2015, San Diego Unified and Grossmont Union High School District decided the best use of their time and taxpayer dollars was not more books, more student resources, or higher teacher pay — but a lawsuit. Their target was charter...

California’s ’30 Days in Print’ Rule in the Legislature

September 3, 2025 2:00 pmSeptember 3, 2025 2:02 pm

What is the so-called “30 days in print” rule in the California Legislature? The state Constitution, in Article IV, Section 8(a) provides: “(a) At regular sessions no bill other than the budget bill may be heard or acted on by committee...

Are Legislative Findings in Voters FIRST Act Bills Sufficient?

September 2, 2025 2:39 pmSeptember 2, 2025 2:39 pm

In reviewing recent legislation that proposes changes to the California Voters FIRST Act, as enacted by the voters by Prop. 11 in 2008, the same legislative finding and declaration is made in each bill. It is a simplistic statement that...

Thoughts on the Lawsuit Against Prop. 50

August 27, 2025 2:20 pmAugust 27, 2025 2:24 pm

As I have been asked about my thoughts regarding the legislative process challenges to the redistricting legislative package, I prepared this brief article in response. Being the legislative geek that I am, as well as teaching the course “Lawmaking in...