Senate Rules – California Globe

A sea of empty desks inside the California State Assembly

What Is Interim Study?

April 27, 2023 5:24 pmApril 27, 2023 5:33 pm

For those who watched or participated in the Assembly Public Safety Committee hearing on seven fentanyl bills on April 27, 2023, you would have heard that one bill was sent to “interim study.” Such a motion has not been regularly...

Is a Rule Waived or Suspended in the CA Legislature?

October 12, 2022 6:32 amOctober 12, 2022 12:10 pm

We hear most often in the California Legislature that a rule is being “waived” or that someone is seeking a “rule waiver.” However, many rules may be “dispensed with” or “suspended,” rather than waived. So, what is the correct terminology...

Vote Changes in the California Legislature

September 21, 2022 6:39 amSeptember 21, 2022 6:44 am

Are vote changes allowed in the California Legislature? The answer is yes, although there are different rules between the two houses and some explanation is appropriate. A vote change is obviously when a legislator chooses to change his or her...

Addressing Some Other End-of-Session Queries

August 30, 2022 11:28 amAugust 30, 2022 11:39 am

With the final days of Session upon us, there is some confusion about several procedural items that regularly occur on the Floors of the California Legislature. These items include “reconsideration” of bills, as well as placing measures “on call.” How...

Do California’s Legislative Rules Have Constitutional Protection?

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

Some readers have asked whether the Assembly Rules, Senate Rules, and Joint Rules of the Assembly and Senate have equal standing as constitutional provisions because those rules flow from a specific grant of authority. Specifically, Article IV, Section 7(a) provides:...

Motions in the California Legislature

May 29, 2022 8:22 amMay 29, 2022 8:26 am

There are a number of formal motions that can be made on the Floors of the California Legislature. These motions are contained in the respective Assembly Rules and Senate Rules. The following is an overview of those motions specified in...

What Are Legislative Committee Bills?

May 26, 2022 11:09 amMay 26, 2022 11:13 am

When we think of authoring bills, we generally, and appropriately, think about legislators. However, committees can also author bills. The rules related to committee bills are found in Assembly Rule 47 and Senate Rule 23. Assembly Rules Assembly Rule 47...