spot bills – California Globe

Frequently Asked Questions about ‘Spot Bills’ in the California Legislature

April 6, 2024 2:30 amApril 6, 2024 2:31 am

What is a spot bill used in the California Legislature? As described by the Office of Legislative Counsel, a “spot bill” is one that does not make any substantive change to existing law, “and would not otherwise affect the ongoing...

Can We Call Them Placeholder Bills Instead?

February 8, 2024 8:20 amFebruary 8, 2024 8:20 am

Quite often bills introduced in the California Legislature without substantive language in them are called “spot bills.” However, that is not always the case even though both spot and intent bills act as placeholders with substantive amendments to be added...

Frequently Asked Questions About California Bill Referrals

January 23, 2024 6:00 amJanuary 23, 2024 2:40 pm

When does a bill usually get referred to committee? 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...

A Few Bill Statistics from the California Legislature

June 6, 2023 2:30 amJune 6, 2023 2:31 am

As a self-described legislative geek, I was researching different types of bills that have been considered by the California Legislature. I began with the 2023 California Legislative Session and found that there currently are: Over 2,660 bills introduced 124 bills...

A sea of empty desks inside the California State Assembly

It’s Not Just the ‘Spot Bill’ Deadline

March 10, 2023 10:03 amMarch 10, 2023 10:10 am

In another one of my “legislative geek” moments, I would like to suggest that we change our terminology to “placeholder bill.” For example, everyone is aware of the upcoming “spot bill deadlines” in the Assembly (amendments in Legislative Counsel form...

Is There More Detailed Spot Bill Language in Digests?

February 24, 2023 7:19 amFebruary 24, 2023 7:23 am

In reviewing the hundreds of new bill introductions for the 2023 California Legislative Session, I came across several “spot bills” (i.e., those lacking substantive law changes) that serve as placeholders. In almost all spot bills, the Legislative Counsel’s Digest states...

Are Bills with Only Findings and Declarations Considered Substantive?

January 28, 2023 8:48 amJanuary 28, 2023 8:54 am

In the California Legislature, we know that bills that lack proposed substantive law changes are considered “placeholder” measures and generally do not get referred to a policy committee by the Senate or Assembly Rules Committees. In almost all instances, those...