State Capitol – California Globe

An Introduction to the California Legislature and the Legislative Process

November 2, 2025 2:00 pmNovember 2, 2025 2:01 pm

This general overview of the California legislative process is intended to acquaint those new to the State Capitol with basic information to appreciate different aspects of the process and some of the players in the legislative process. The website of...

The Role of the Media is to Hold Power Accountable

April 28, 2023 12:02 pmApril 28, 2023 12:02 pm

We recently learned President Joe Biden had a cheat sheet with a prewritten question from a journalist at Wednesday’s press conference. “A photographer caught a picture of the cheat sheet as the president held a press conference alongside South Korean...

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...

Gov. Newsom Signs Bill to Re-define State’s Open Meeting Act

August 23, 2022 7:24 am

A bill to redefine California’s open meeting act, the The Brown Act, has been signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Senate Bill 1100, authored by Sen. Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley) and Assemblyman Evan Low’s (D-Silicon Valley), authorizes the presiding member of...

California Legislative Employee Unionization and Lawmaking

August 11, 2022 7:14 amAugust 11, 2022 6:44 am

My memory says it was the last week in August. It was 2:00AM. The California Legislature would adjourn for the year on August 31. The fate of hundreds of bills hung in the balance. In the Legislative Office Building across...

California Democrats Re-define State’s Open Meeting Act

August 8, 2022 2:30 amAugust 9, 2022 7:11 am

Only three months ago, the Globe reported that State Capitol leadership was still requiring social distancing in committee hearing rooms, greatly diminishing available seating for lobbyists and members of the public, and denying many access to their elected representatives –...

CA Legislature Continues to Restrict Lobbyist and Public Access in Capitol Hearings

May 5, 2022 2:32 pm

Last Thursday the Globe reported that State Capitol leadership is still requiring social distancing in committee hearing rooms, greatly diminishing available seating for lobbyists and members of the public, and denying many access to their elected representatives. “And adding insult...