Office of Legislative Counsel Archives - Page 3 of 5

Which Version of the Bill?

September 20, 2022 10:03 amSeptember 20, 2022 10:38 am

Most Capitol observers would answer the question, “which version of the bill below is this?” with the following statement: “It is the August 15th version.” That is one answer, but it is not the answer that the Office of Legislative...

Are Companion Bills Used in the California Legislature?

September 17, 2022 4:36 pmSeptember 17, 2022 4:39 pm

In the United States Congress, a common approach to take is to have two identical measures, one in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate, introduced and run at the same time. These two measures are referred to...

What Is a Special Order of Business in the CA Legislature?

September 16, 2022 6:48 amSeptember 16, 2022 6:53 am

Almost always used in committee, a special order of business is used when a bill or similarly related bills are set to be heard at a specified time and specified order (for multiple bills) at the hearing. The Office of...

Why Do California Legislators Speak ‘On Condition of the File?’

September 14, 2022 3:30 pmSeptember 14, 2022 2:59 pm

On occasion, you may hear a legislator on the Floor of the State Senate or State Assembly rise and seek permission to “speak on condition of the File.” What does this mean and why is it used? The reference to...

A sea of empty desks inside the California State Assembly

What Is a Conflict in California Legislation?

September 13, 2022 3:21 pmSeptember 13, 2022 8:03 pm

On occasion, a legislator in the Assembly or Senate will receive a letter from the Office of Legislative Counsel that there is a “conflict” with their bill. What does this mean? The Office of Legislative Counsel defines this “conflict” as...

Are Certain Special Statute Statements Sufficient?

September 12, 2022 6:17 amSeptember 12, 2022 6:23 am

In the California Legislature, there are “special statute” bills that are used when legislators believe a bill’s provisions are unique and should apply in only a specified circumstance or to a specified entity or jurisdiction. Not any bill can be...

How Complicated Can Bill Drafting Become?

September 10, 2022 7:28 amSeptember 10, 2022 7:32 am

In reviewing hundreds of the bills that have reached Governor Newsom’s Desk during the 2022 Legislative Session, several measures have complicated and lengthy provisions. One of the difficult areas of drafting amendments includes “double jointing amendments.” These amendments to a...