California Legislature – Page 21

California Courts and Prospective Application of Laws

December 30, 2024 2:30 amDecember 30, 2024 2:31 am

California courts follow the statutory construction principle that statutes are to be applied prospectively unless there is clear evidence that the Legislature intended retroactive application as well. What are some recent appellate court statements on the topic of prospective application...

California Courts and the Title of a Bill

December 27, 2024 7:33 amDecember 27, 2024 7:33 am

One of the constitutional requirements for a bill in the California Legislature is that every bill must contain a Title. That Title plays several important roles including advising the reader of what is the general subject matter of the bill...

LA Times Angles for High-Speed Rail As ‘Jobs’ Program

December 26, 2024 9:40 amDecember 28, 2024 9:23 am

What a train wreck. The Los Angeles Times is touting how California’s high-speed rail project “trains workers and provides thousands of jobs in the Central Valley.” You read that right. They finally admit that it’s just a union jobs program....

California Courts and the Legislature Amending an Initiative Statute

December 26, 2024 7:39 amDecember 26, 2024 9:41 am

California’s Constitution, in Article II, Section 10(c) sets forth the authority of the Legislature to change the language of a statutory initiative (i.e., an initiative passed by the voters that added or amended statutory language, rather than a constitutional initiative)....

Ringside: How Newsom Can Achieve ‘Affordability’

December 18, 2024 4:38 pmDecember 18, 2024 4:38 pm

Leadership in the California Legislature claim they’re aware of the cost of living and doing business in the state. In the special session called by Governor Gavin Newsom to “Trump proof” the state, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) said, “We...

California Courts and Urgency Clauses in Statutes

December 18, 2024 2:30 amDecember 18, 2024 2:31 am

Urgency clause measures in the California Legislature are one of four types of bills that take effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature, rather than the standard January 1 following the bill’s enactment. So, how have the California courts interpreted bills...

Why California Needs Multiple Budget Trailer Bills

December 16, 2024 2:30 amDecember 16, 2024 2:31 am

Questions have often been raised about why there are so many trailer bills needed as part of the budget process in California. The number has grown over the past couple of decades and this has been a recurring concern. However,...