The Use of Floor Alerts in the California Legislature

December 11, 2022 8:42 amDecember 11, 2022 8:46 am

As part of lobbying efforts in the California Legislature, when a bill reaches the Floors of either the State Assembly or the State Senate, lobbyists and lobbying organizations often utilize “floor alerts” for distribution to legislative offices. Are these helpful...

Can the Public Be Excluded from Legislative Committee Hearings or Floor Sessions?

August 28, 2022 8:34 amAugust 29, 2022 6:27 am

As the pandemic recedes, there continue to be limitations on the public’s ability to access some of the committee hearings and floor sessions of the California Legislature. Are these limits on public participation permissible? Article IV, Section 7(c) sets forth...

Senate and Assembly Leaders Cap Bills Moving Forward in 2021 Session

May 20, 2021 6:28 amMay 20, 2021 2:07 pm

Senate President pro tempore Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon have agreed to limit each state legislator to moving only 12 bills to the opposite house during the 2021 Legislative Session. In other words, each Senator can move only...

2021 Legislative Session Bill Introductions

February 26, 2021 2:06 amMarch 4, 2021 11:52 am

Friday, February 19, was the last day to introduce bills for the 2021 Legislative Session. We saw 539 new bills (about 200 fewer than last year) introduced between the two houses on the final day last week. There was a...

What Happens During the Last Weeks of the Legislative Session?

July 28, 2020 6:22 amJuly 28, 2020 6:33 am

This article highlights the major happenings at the end of the legislative process pursuant to the California Constitution and relevant statutes. There are essentially three major parts to the legislative session: house of origin; second house; and, final month and...

‘Gut-and-Amend Bills’ in the California Legislature

May 17, 2019 8:21 amMay 17, 2019 8:28 am

One of the controversial occurrences during the annual California Legislative Session is so-called “gut-and-amend bills.” According to the Legislative Counsel, these measures are defined as “when amendments to a bill remove the current contents in their entirety and replace them...