Analysis
The Micheli Minute: April 1, 2024
Chris MicheliIntroducing The Micheli Minute! Lobbyist and author Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week in Sacramento.
Chris MicheliAnalysis
CA120: Primary could have historically low turnout
Image by Cagkan SayinThere’s only two weeks before the completion of the 2024 March Primary and early numbers are suggesting an historically low turnout. Will this have an impact on a big race like the US Senate contest? Maybe.
Analysis
CA120: Asian, Latino voters heading in opposite direction
Image by lightspringANALYSIS – Asians and Latinos in California are the two fastest growing Ethnic populations on the voter file. But they appear, politically, to be headed in slightly different directions.
Analysis
CA120: Laphonza Butler – Will she or won’t she?
Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) is seen at the U.S. Capitol Oct. 4, 2023. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images)Now that newly appointed Senator Laphonza Butler has been sworn in, the question on the lips of all political insiders is “will she, or won’t she?” But the question isn’t really that simple.
Analysis
The Micheli Files: Is there a difference between intent and policy statements in statutes?
Public policy, image by AlexLMXANALYSIS – Readers of bills and statutes will regularly come across statements of legislative intent, such as paragraphs that usually begin with either “It is the intent of the Legislature to …” or “The Legislature finds and declares that …” On other occasions, readers may come across statements that “it is the policy of the state.” Both are expressed opinions or state desires of the Legislature.
Analysis
The Micheli Files: committee bill volume in the 2023 session
California bill volume, image by create jobs 51The California Legislature has a combined 55 standing committees, with 33 in the Assembly and 22 in the Senate. There were 2,661 bills introduced during the 2023 Legislative Session. Those standing committees, and their hardworking consultants (along with their minority party counterparts), reviewed and analyzed thousands of bills during the past two years.
The following
Analysis
The Micheli Files: California statutes are being modernized, including gender neutral drafting
California law, image by Yuriy KANALYSIS – Even though the 29 California Codes, in which there are over 155,000 sections, contain guidance on interpreting their provisions, the attorneys in California’s Office of Legislative Counsel (OLC) continue to modernize our state’s statutes. This important work includes the use of gender-neutral drafting of legislation for bills, resolutions, and constitutional amendments.
Analysis
The Micheli Files: Urgency clause bills in the California Legislature
Under the dome, image by Cheri AlguireANALYSIS – Bills signed into law by the Governor that contain an urgency clause become urgency statutes or urgency clause statutes. Under the California Constitution, urgency clause bills go into effect immediately upon their enactment.
Analysis
The Micheli Files: “Chaptering out” or “double-jointing” amendments – which one is it?
Seal of the State of California, image by Aaron KohrANALYSIS – At the end of a California Legislative Session, Capitol observers will hear about the need to have “chaptering out amendments” adopted. However, that is not the correct term to use. “Chaptering out” is the problem that needs to be addressed by amendments, and “double-jointing amendments” are the solution to that problem.
Analysis
The Micheli Files: Some reminders and recommendations on using letters to the journals
The California Republic, image by grafvisionANALYSIS – As we head into the final two weeks of the 2023 California Legislative Session, I wanted to provide some reminders about the purpose and use of letters to the Assembly or Senate Daily Journals, as well as a few recommendations that I hope will be implemented in the future.