Image by WallentineFor the 2025 Session, legislators in both houses are subject to a 2-year limit of 35 bills. But did the lower caps actually produce fewer bills this year? In a special edition of the Micheli Files, law professor and lobbyist Chris Micheli took a look a bill intros going back almost two decades to give us that answer.
Image by it:utah778What is a “constitutional amendment”? Although California’s Constitution provides for the amendment of this document, our state Constitution does not define this term. A traditional definition of a constitutional amendment is a modification to an existing constitution.
Image by Sparky2000There are numerous types of bills introduced in the California Legislature each year, and an equal number of rules for how and when they are presented. In this week’s Micheli Files, lobbyist and law professor Chris Micheli gives us the lowdown on legislation under the dome.
The California State Capitol building in Sacramento, CA. Image by jsolieWhat is a “resolution” in the California Legislature? Although resolutions and concurrent resolutions are mentioned several times in Article IV of the California Constitution, neither term is defined in that document.
Image by SmileStudioAPAt the end of bills in the California Legislature, there may be “plus sections,” which are uncodified provisions that may do a number of things, such as expressing legislative intent, making legislative findings and declarations, or explaining why a bill may have a certain designation, such as a special statute or an urgency statute.
Image by Jacob WackerhausenDefinitions can play an important role in legislation. Defining words or phrases is done to provide the reader of the legislative text with clear guidance regarding how those words or phrases are to be understood. Where there are multiple definitions, they are most often found near the beginning of legislative text.
Sacramento, California, United States. Image by Png-StudioIn the California Legislature, there are several types of amendments that can be made to measures, including bills, resolutions and constitutional amendments. To begin, an amendment is defined by Legislative Counsel as an alteration to a bill, motion, resolution, or clause by adding, changing, substituting, or omitting language.
Image by anyaberkutWith Governor Gavin Newsom proposing two new state agencies (both a new Consumer Protection Agency and a Housing and Homelessness Agency) to be created as part of the 2025-26 budget, I thought it would be helpful to take a look at how a Governor’s Reorganization Plan (GRP) is enacted.
California Governor's sealFirst, have you heard of the Commission on the Governorship? In the California Constitution, Section 10, there are provisions related to what happens when a vacancy occurs in the office of the Governor.
Image by NeydtstockIn talking with legislative staff, there are some practical tips that were shared with me for those working with staff of legislators in the California State Capitol. While some of these recommendations may seem obvious, many of them bear repeating.