California Legislature – Page 53

Frequently Asked Questions About California Bills

January 4, 2024 2:30 amJanuary 4, 2024 2:31 am

Do only urgency clause bills take effect immediately? Under Article IV, Section 8(c)(3) of the California Constitution, “statutes calling elections, statutes providing for tax levies or appropriations for the usual current expenses of the State, and urgency statutes shall go...

About Next Year… Through a Glass Darkly…

January 1, 2024 8:15 amJanuary 1, 2024 8:15 am

Instead of About Last Year, we thought the literal turning of the page on 2023 called for a look forward to 2024. 2023 was good for some, not good for others, just like any year ever. But it was so...

Frequently Asked Questions about Phrases Heard on the Floors of the California Legislature

January 1, 2024 2:56 amJanuary 1, 2024 2:57 am

What is a “Call of the House”? This is a phrase used to describe when the presiding officer directs the Sergeant-at-Arms to close the doors and bring into the chamber absent Members in order to vote on a measure that...

Frequently Asked Questions about Legislative Branch Support Agencies

December 31, 2023 2:30 amDecember 31, 2023 2:31 am

What is the Office of Legislative Counsel (OLC)? Founded in 1913, the Office of Legislative Counsel is a nonpartisan public agency that drafts legislative proposals, prepares legal opinions, and provides other confidential legal services to the Legislature and Governor. What...

Frequently Asked Questions about Informational and Oversight Hearings in the California Legislature

December 30, 2023 2:45 amDecember 30, 2023 2:46 am

Committees of the California Legislature can conduct several types of hearings, including bill hearings, investigative or oversight hearings, and informational hearings. What are bill hearings? They are those that are conducted to hear specific pieces of legislation, including bills, resolutions,...

Frequently Asked Questions About California Governor’s Legislative Role

December 29, 2023 2:30 amDecember 29, 2023 2:31 am

Does the Governor’s line-item veto authority apply only to budget bills? Under Article IV, Section 10(e) of the state constitution, “The Governor may reduce or eliminate one or more items of appropriation while approving other portions of a bill. The...

How to Read a California Bill Analysis

December 28, 2023 2:30 amDecember 28, 2023 2:31 am

As you might think, there are several different types of bill analyses used in the California Legislature. First, there are committee and floor analyses of bills. Second, at the committee level, there are analyses prepared by the policy and fiscal...