October 17, 2022 •
Gov. Newsom to Call Special Session
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he plans to call a special legislative session on December 5 to tackle California’s escalating gas prices. Currently, California’s average gas price is consistently over $2 more than the national average. Newsom has requested the […]
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he plans to call a special legislative session on December 5 to tackle California’s escalating gas prices.
Currently, California’s average gas price is consistently over $2 more than the national average.
Newsom has requested the Legislature to approve a new tax that would require oil companies to pay back excessive profits to consumers.
September 1, 2022 •
California Legislature Adjourns
The California State Legislature has adjourned for the year, but not before passing several bills concerning lobbying, campaign finance, and procurement in the twilight hours of the session. Among the bills currently awaiting signature by Gov. Gavin Newsom are Senate […]
The California State Legislature has adjourned for the year, but not before passing several bills concerning lobbying, campaign finance, and procurement in the twilight hours of the session.
Among the bills currently awaiting signature by Gov. Gavin Newsom are Senate Bill 459 and Senate Bill 1360.
Senate Bill 459 requires lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers to include information in the quarterly reports that identifies each bill or administrative action lobbied.
Senate Bill 459 also requires lobbying firms to file additional disclosures for lobbying activity during the last 60 days of a scheduled legislative session and requires specified reports for issue lobbying advertisements if a person spends $5,000 or more in a calendar quarter.
Senate Bill 1360 requires certain political advertisements to identify the top contributors to the campaign committee paying for the advertisement without regard to any minimum contribution threshold.
The bill also makes additional changes to the disclosure requirements for political advertisements, including changes to the required form, content, and presentation of the disclosures depending on the medium in which the advertisement appears.
November 17, 2021 •
Special Election Declared for Assembly District 17
California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring a special election for the 17th Assembly District on April 19, 2022, with a special primary on February 15, 2022. The former Assemblymember David Chiu vacated his seat after accepting a position […]
California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring a special election for the 17th Assembly District on April 19, 2022, with a special primary on February 15, 2022.
The former Assemblymember David Chiu vacated his seat after accepting a position as San Francisco’s city attorney in early November.
December 22, 2020 •
California Legislature Delays Start of 2021 Session Due to COVID-19
The Legislature pushed its return date to Sacramento for the start of the 2021 legislative session back by a week to January 11 due to staggering COVID-19 numbers. Both houses have instituted pandemic protocols ranging from temperature checks, mandatory masking […]
The Legislature pushed its return date to Sacramento for the start of the 2021 legislative session back by a week to January 11 due to staggering COVID-19 numbers.
Both houses have instituted pandemic protocols ranging from temperature checks, mandatory masking and social distancing, plexiglass installations at the Capitol’s entrance and more frequent cleaning.
The delay underscores how challenging it will be to continue working uninterrupted in 2021.
Almost daily, new cases in the Capitol community prompt email alerts to all staff and members to announce another case in state government buildings.
June 30, 2020 •
California Legislature Passes Special Election Bill
Lawmakers passed a bill calling a statewide special election to be consolidated and held on November 3, 2020. Senate Bill 300 requires the Office of the Secretary of State to submit various Assembly Constitutional Amendments, including lowering the voting age, […]
Lawmakers passed a bill calling a statewide special election to be consolidated and held on November 3, 2020.
Senate Bill 300 requires the Office of the Secretary of State to submit various Assembly Constitutional Amendments, including lowering the voting age, wages, elections, and state of emergency procedures, to voters for their approval at the general election if the amendments are passed by the Legislature on or before July 1, 2020.
If signed by the governor, the bill would take effect immediately as an act calling an election.
April 6, 2020 •
California Legislature Extends Recess to May 4
The California Legislature pushed back a scheduled return to the legislative session by three weeks to give public health officials more time to deal with the coronavirus spreading through the state. The Legislature now is scheduled to reconvene on May […]
The California Legislature pushed back a scheduled return to the legislative session by three weeks to give public health officials more time to deal with the coronavirus spreading through the state.
The Legislature now is scheduled to reconvene on May 4.
Lawmakers had voted unanimously on March 16 to suspend its session until April 13.
The initial decision last month to suspend activities at the state Capitol was unprecedented in California history.
The decision came after legislators grappled for several days to balance public health concerns with the need for action to address the impact of the pandemic.
Both houses quickly passed a $1 billion relief plan on March 16 before putting a halt to all legislative business.
Whether a return in early May will be possible could depend on the state’s success or failure this month in slowing the rate of infection.
Early spring is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for the Legislature, with hundreds of bills considered by policy committees before receiving final votes in either of the two houses by May 31.
March 18, 2020 •
California Legislature Suspends Session in Response to COVID-19
The California Legislature voted to suspend its 2020 session for nearly a month in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Lawmakers Monday night voted unanimously to recess from March 20 until April 13, though the date is subject to change. The […]
The California Legislature voted to suspend its 2020 session for nearly a month in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Lawmakers Monday night voted unanimously to recess from March 20 until April 13, though the date is subject to change.
The Legislature passed a relief package that sends $1.1 billion in support to hospitals, facilities, local governments and schools to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
This does not affect lobbyist reporting.
August 28, 2017 •
California Assembly Speaker Faces Recall Effort; Opens Debate for Universal Healthcare
Democratic Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon is currently facing a recall effort launched by single-payer healthcare activists after Rendon blocked Senate Bill 562 that would have established a single-payer healthcare system in California. Rendon represents District 63 in the California State […]
Democratic Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon is currently facing a recall effort launched by single-payer healthcare activists after Rendon blocked Senate Bill 562 that would have established a single-payer healthcare system in California. Rendon represents District 63 in the California State Assembly.
On August 24, Rendon announced plans for special committee hearings this fall to develop legislation for a path forward for universal health care legislation.
Recall organizers must collect 22,963 signatures for a recall election to be held.
May 11, 2016 •
California Legislature to Begin Budget Work
California Gov. Jerry Brown will release his revised 2016-17 budget proposal on Friday, May 13, 2016. The release of the revised budget triggers a ban on contributions to members of the Senate from the date the proposed revised budget is […]
California Gov. Jerry Brown will release his revised 2016-17 budget proposal on Friday, May 13, 2016.
The release of the revised budget triggers a ban on contributions to members of the Senate from the date the proposed revised budget is released until the date of enactment of a budget bill for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
The constitutional deadline for the Legislature to pass a budget bill is June 15th.
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