Legislative Counsel’s Digest Archives

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,...

Can a Bill Only Do Three Things?

October 3, 2022 3:10 pmOctober 3, 2022 3:10 pm

Capitol observers know that bills can add a new section of law, amend an existing section of law, or repeal an existing section of law, or a combination of those three actions. But, are there any other actions a bill...

Bill ‘Corrections’ – What Are They?

April 25, 2022 6:37 amApril 25, 2022 6:48 am

While California bills do make corrections to existing statutes by amending them, readers may occasionally come across the word “Correction” located at the bottom of a bill. What does that mean? The following are recent examples found on the last...

What Are Continuous Appropriations in California Bills?

December 3, 2021 1:12 pmDecember 8, 2021 3:44 pm

On occasion, readers can find bills in the California Legislature that make “continuous appropriations.” What are these types of appropriations? Recall that California law does not define the term “appropriation,” even though we find that term in the State Constitution...

Drafting Tax Statutes in California

October 21, 2021 6:48 amOctober 21, 2021 6:58 am

Like other particular areas of the law, drafting tax statutes can be a difficult task for any bill drafter. There are several issues that need to be addressed and that bill drafters should understand before undertaking the drafting of tax...

A Bill’s ‘Keys’ – What Are They?

November 15, 2019 6:03 amNovember 15, 2019 6:21 am

Each bill in the California Legislature contains certain features such as an enacting clause, a title, the author’s name, a bill number, and the Legislative Counsel’s Digest, among other provisions. At the end of the Legislative Counsel’s Digest is a...