California Legislature Archives - Page 8 of 50

How to Draft a Spot Bill

October 19, 2022 9:58 amOctober 19, 2022 8:01 am

In the California Legislature, a “spot bill” is basically used as a placeholder for a future measure to be amended into the spot bill. Quite often, bills introduced in the California Legislature without substantive language in them are called “spot...

A California Bill of Only Repeals

October 19, 2022 6:32 amOctober 19, 2022 6:36 am

On occasion, in reading bills in the California Legislature, you find some unique measures. As readers know, a bill can add a new section of law, amend an existing section of law, repeal an existing section of law, or do...

What Is Being Amended When a Bill Gets Amended Multiple Times?

October 19, 2022 2:48 amOctober 18, 2022 9:11 pm

When a bill is introduced and it adds a new code section, that new law is in regular font. When a bill is introduced and it amends an existing code section, the amended language is in italics. When a bill...

Expressions of Limitation in California Statutes

October 18, 2022 6:25 amOctober 18, 2022 6:29 am

If a provision of law is limited in its application, or is subject to an exception or a condition, then the provision of law contains an “expression of limitation.” In these cases, it is recommended that the sentence begin with...

A Closer Look at Appropriations Bills in the California Legislature

October 17, 2022 3:05 pmOctober 17, 2022 3:22 pm

In California, the main appropriations measure is the annual state budget bill. Article IV, Section 12(d) of the state Constitution provides that the budget bill is the main measure that may contain more than one item of appropriation. In addition,...

What Is the ‘Order of Enumeration?’

October 17, 2022 6:44 amOctober 17, 2022 6:49 am

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 9 of the California Constitution, there is a requirement for each bill to have a title. The constitutional provision states: “A statute shall embrace but one subject, which shall be expressed in its title. If...

Are Severability Clauses Necessary in California Bills?

October 16, 2022 4:38 pmOctober 16, 2022 4:55 pm

Around the country, and at the federal level, there is an ongoing debate among legislative lawyers whether a severability clause must be included in legislation. If a bill contains a severability clause, then the matter of whether provisions contained in...