The end of session is always chaotic in California’s Legislature: every year seems to bring a slightly different flavor of chaos.
Six years ago, an anti-vaccine protester threw a bloody menstrual cup onto the California Senate Floor during the last night of session. That act delayed proceedings for several hours, resulted in the arrest of the protester, and led to the swift erection of large glass panels to “protect” legislators from visitors observing session from the upper galleries.
This year, the Legislature could not resolve its major issues in the time allotted and so will grant themselves additional time to act on measures.
The Legislative Calendar is established very early in the session and clearly sets forth the last day by which bills must pass policy committees, the house of origin, and ultimate passage. This year, the Joint Rules establish Friday September 12th as the date by which all bills must be passed. Normally, the Legislature continues its work late into Friday evening, often concluding in the wee hours of Saturday morning. This year, things are…different.
Since all bills must be in print for at least 72 hours before they can be voted upon, all bills had to be amended by Tuesday evening in order to be voted upon by the September 12th deadline.
Unfortunately, the Legislature and Administration were unable to resolve several significant “deals” to meet those deadlines. So, it decided to change the law.
Late-blooming deals included reauthorization of the State’s Cap-and-Trade program; an expenditure plan for how ap and trade revenues would be allocated; expansion and extension of the state’s Wildfire Fund; creation of a regional electrical grid; and an oil and gas proposal. Because these major deals came together so late, they were not “in print” until Wednesday, which means that the Legislature cannot act on them until at least mid-day Saturday. As a result, the Legislature will waive its rules to allow itself to meet and act on bills on Saturday, September 13th.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Mary-Ann Warmerdam.