California Legislature – Page 60

Rescinding an Action in the California Legislature

October 1, 2023 3:00 pm

On occasion, you may hear a California legislator on the Assembly Floor or Senate Floor making a motion to “rescind an action.” That may or may not be followed by a motion to “expunge the vote.” What is the purpose...

Considerations in Appointing Committee Members

October 1, 2023 2:48 pmOctober 1, 2023 2:48 pm

In the California Legislature, there are 33 Assembly standing committees and 22 Senate standing committees. In the Assembly, the Speaker determines the composition of standing committees and, in the Senate, the Senate President pro Tempore makes a similar determination. Is...

Striking a Bill from the File

October 1, 2023 12:55 pmOctober 1, 2023 12:55 pm

One of the most powerful tools in the California Legislature is, thankfully, rarely used. It is the Motion to Strike from the File. What is the “motion to strike from the File”? It basically means striking a legislative measure from...

California Assembly Members May Explain Their Votes

October 1, 2023 7:48 am

Pursuant to the Rules of the California State Assembly, Members may submit an explanation of their vote to the Chief Clerk of the Assembly for entry in the Assembly Daily Journal. This explanation is set forth in two different Assembly...

How the Legislature Complies with Proposition 54’s 72-hour in Print Requirement

October 1, 2023 7:33 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. How does the California Legislature comply with Prop. 54’s 72-hour in print...

Legislative Deadlines and Exemptions

September 29, 2023 6:27 pmSeptember 30, 2023 7:28 am

The California Legislature includes in its Joint Rules a listing of deadlines for the first and second years of its 2-year Legislative Session. These deadlines are contained in Joint Rule 61. JR 61 specifies that “the deadlines set forth in...

Distinguishing Among Legislative Committees

September 29, 2023 12:49 pmSeptember 30, 2023 7:28 am

In the California Legislature, there are a number of different types of committees in the two houses. Not all committees are alike. There are five types: standing; subcommittees of standing committees; select; special; and, joint. We are most familiar with...