California State Capitol Building in Sacramento, California. In reviewing legislation during the last month of the 2026 California Legislative Session, I have come across a number of examples of excellent bill drafting and wanted to draw attention to them to serve as guides in the upcoming 2027 Legislative Session.
The Great Seal of the State of California on the floor of the State Capitol Building. Image by Sundry Photography.When interpreting ambiguous statutes in California, the courts of this state may examine the legislative history of an enacted statute in order to try and effectuate the intent of the Legislature. In such a case, it is important for legislators, staff, and interest groups to better understand the need to provide adequate legislative history.
California Assembly Chambers. Photo by Capitol Weekly. With the final weeks of Session upon us, several procedural items that regularly occur on the Floors of the California Legislature may be in order. Today intrepid Capitol lobbyist, law professor and regular Capitol Weekly contributor Chris Micheli offers insights into understanding the session’s closing moments.
California Assembly Chambers, photo by Capitol Weekly. The California Legislature’s combined 57 standing committees (32 in the Assembly and 25 in the Senate) have addressed 1,846 bills (1,263 ABs and 583 SBs) during the 2026 Legislative Session.
Letter from the 9/12/25 Senate Daily Journal. Image courtesy of Chris Micheli. Because bills cannot be amended in the final three days of the Session, authors and interest groups have been utilizing letters to the Assembly and Senate Daily Journals in an effort to modify their “intent,” or even address concerns with explicit bill language that cannot be amended. Unfortunately, the use of these letters cannot be a substitute for making actual changes to the proposed statutory language.
Image by 24K-Production via iStock. This article is intended to provide a step-by-step instruction detailing how a bill becomes law in the California Legislature, sometimes referred to as the “life cycle” of a bill.
Image by Sundry PhotographyIn my continuing review of pending legislation in the 2026 California Legislative Session, I offer the following observations on a number of bills working their way through the second house policy committees.
Image by Gwengoat. California has over 200 State agencies, departments, boards, and commissions (referred to as rulemaking bodies) that make public policy through their authority to adopt regulations.
Image by Vitalii VodolazskyiInitiative measures proposed by voters and approved at a statewide election can make changes to the state Constitution or statutes. Statutory initiatives can be amended by another statutory initiative approved by the voters at a statewide election.
Image ChinnapongWhat is the enrolled bill in California and why do lawmakers care about it? Lobbyist and law professor explains it all for you in today’s Micheli Files.