Senate – Page 17 – California Globe

Sending or Withdrawing Bills from the Floor

March 13, 2020 2:16 amMarch 12, 2020 8:10 pm

In the California Legislature, generally committees deal with legislation before passing measures to the Floor of either the Assembly or Senate. However, there are rare instances where legislators choose to return a bill to committee when it is pending on...

The Three Readings of a Bill and Other Floor Procedures in the California Legislature

March 11, 2020 6:01 amMarch 11, 2020 6:02 am

The California Constitution requires a bill to be “read” three times before it can be debated and voted upon by either house. A “reading” of a bill in the Assembly or Senate is defined as being the presentation of the...

The ‘Suspense File’ Process Used in Considering Fiscal Legislation

March 9, 2020 2:20 amMarch 8, 2020 5:43 pm

The two Appropriations Committees in the California Legislature have a unique procedure they each use called the “Suspense File.” Basically, any bill which has been keyed “fiscal” by the Legislative Counsel is referred to the fiscal committee in each house,...

A sea of empty desks inside the California State Assembly

The Role of the Legislative Ethics Committees

February 28, 2020 6:27 amFebruary 28, 2020 6:32 am

Ethics in the California Legislature is an important topic. As such, both houses of the Legislature have their own ethics committees. The Senate has adopted an official Code of Conduct for its members, while the Assembly has not. Nonetheless, both...

California Globe Voter Guide to the 2020 March Primary

February 26, 2020 5:32 amFebruary 26, 2020 5:37 pm

California is having its first ever early March Primary Election this March 3, 2020. California Globe is providing you a peek into the races statewide, and some hot seats and issues. Remember, registration deadline is February 18. However, California does...

Referral of Bills in the California Legislature

February 7, 2020 6:38 amFebruary 7, 2020 6:40 am

After the introduction of a new bill in the California Legislature, or upon a bill passing one house and moving over to the other house for further consideration, that measure must be referred to a committee for a hearing. So,...

Overview of California’s Budget Process

January 12, 2020 7:44 amJanuary 12, 2020 10:46 am

The state budget process on paper is similar to the legislative process; however, it can be different in practical terms. The full budget committees of the Senate and Assembly act mostly as the final arbiter of their respective houses when...