California Legislature – Page 32

Language Needed for a Prop. 98 Suspension Bill

July 1, 2024 6:29 amJuly 1, 2024 6:29 am

On occasion, the California Legislature and Governor decide to suspend the voter-approved minimum school funding guarantee, Prop. 98, when the state’s finances require it. Under Prop. 98, the state Constitution requires the state to apply a minimum amount of funding...

AB 247 – Proposed School Facilities Bond for Statewide Ballot

June 30, 2024 10:36 amJune 30, 2024 10:36 am

Late night on June 29, final amendments were made to Assembly Bill 247 to place an education facilities bond on the November 5, 2024 General Election Ballot. AB 247 is jointly authored by 3 Assembly Members and 2 Senators, and...

Guidance for Drafting a ‘Declaratory of Existing Law’ California Statute

June 30, 2024 2:30 amJune 30, 2024 2:31 am

On occasion, you may see a bill in the California Legislature that has the following provision: “The amendments made by this act do not constitute a change in, but are declaratory of, existing law.” This statement is straightforward and easy...

Guidance for Drafting a Retroactive California Statute

June 28, 2024 2:30 amJune 28, 2024 2:31 am

As a general rule, there is a presumption against retroactive application of a statute, unless the Legislature plainly has directed otherwise by means of express language of retroactivity or other sources that provide a clear and unavoidable implication that the...

Ringside: An Overview of California’s Energy Economy

June 27, 2024 2:45 amJune 27, 2024 2:46 am

Energy in California is unaffordable and unreliable, and it’s going to get worse if the priorities of the state legislature don’t dramatically shift. The state’s default policy is to create energy scarcity in order to protect the environment, and in...

Frequently Asked Questions about the Order of Enumeration

June 26, 2024 2:30 amJune 26, 2024 2:31 am

Do bills in the California Legislature require a title? Pursuant to Article IV, Section 9 of the California Constitution, there is a requirement for each bill to have a title. The constitutional provision states: “A statute shall embrace but one...

Can Proposition 54 and the 72-house in Print Rule Be Waived?

June 25, 2024 10:00 amJune 25, 2024 10:01 am

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. The proponents of Prop. 54 (in ballot arguments) were specifically concerned with...