How a Bill Becomes a Law

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How a Bill Becomes a Law

The legislative process in California involves various key actors and follows a structured timeline. This article includes a dive into the Legislature and its actors, the timeline, how laws are created, and what opportunities there are for us to participate and get our voices heard.

Introduction

The legislative process in California involves various key actors and follows a structured timeline. This article includes a dive into the Legislature and its actors, the timeline, how laws are created, and what opportunities there are for us to participate and get our voices heard.

Government Actors Involved in the Legislative process
The Legislature and State Agencies

The Legislature

The branch of government tasked with creating new laws. It is made up of the Senate and the Assembly.

40 Senators and 80 Assembly members are elected to represent people who live all over California.

These elected officials have the power to introduce legislation.

State Agencies

State Agencies: Offer their opinions on bills, and over topic-specific expertise, and implement enacted laws.

Example:
The CA Department of Education would be involved with a bill focused on changing school curriculum.

Other Actors Involved in the Legislative Process
Constituents and Lobbying Groups

Constituents

Any person can also participate in the process and express their opinions.

Lobbying Groups

Organizations focused on representing certain groups of people or businesses.

Example:
Disability Rights CA Represents Californians with Disabilities

Bill Making (Legislative) Timeline

The Legislature works in two-year sessions.
In the first year, Bills need to pass the house it was created in, 
in the second year Bills have to pass both houses.

Step 1

All legislation starts with an idea to change a law or create new ones. The process begins when a member of the legislature agrees to take the idea on.

Step 2

The bill is drafted by Legislative Counsel: Attorney’s tasked with turning the idea into bill language. Then the drafted bill is reviewed by the author and other involved parties before introduction

Step 3

The bill language is submitted to the Assembly or Senate Desk for introduction.

The Desk: The presentation and review of a new bill in its house of origin (Senate or Assembly). This process that takes place in each house.

Bills cannot be acted upon until 30 days after their introduction, so there is time for the public to review it.

Then the bill is assigned to a committee, based on its topic.

Examples of committees:

  • Education
  • Human Services

Step 4

While the hearing approaches, bills may generate support and opposition. Certain groups usually connect with members of the committee before the hearing to inform their votes. Hearings allow space for advocates to express their opinions on the bill.

Step 5

After the Bill is approved by its policy committee, it goes to the Appropriations Committee or to the floor for a vote.

Appropriations Committee:

  • If a bill will cost the state money, it must go through the Appropriations Committee.
  • Appropriations Committee focuses on how the bill will impact state and tax costs and is voted on after it is approved.

If the bill has minor or low costs it goes directly to the floor for a vote.

Step 6

Once the bill goes through all committees in the house it originated in, the bill is passed to the second house.

Second House: the house in the legislature that has not yet seen the Bill.

Example:

  • A Bill that was created in the Assembly would go to the Senate.
  • A Bill created in the Senate would go to the Assembly.

The bill then goes through the committee process again in the other house.  

Step 7

After a bill passes its policy and fiscal committee in the second house and was amended (changed), it must be heard for a concurrence vote.

Concurrence Vote:

When the second house amends a bill, it is brought back to the house of origin for final vote to agree on the changes.  

Step 8

Once the bill passes through the legislature, it goes to the Governor.

The Governor has 12 days to:

  • Sign the bill
  • Approve it without a signature
  • Veto the Bill
  • First year 12
  • Second year 30

The timeframe varies for when Governor must sign

In the first year of a Legislative Session, the governor has 12 days to act on the bill

In the second year, the governor has 30 days to act

Information

 

To View the CA State Assembly Legislative Calendar:

  1. Go to https://www.assembly.ca.gov/
  2. Go to Schedules and Publications on the Top Right (A Dropdown Menu will appear)
  3. Click on Legislative Deadlines

To View the CA Senate Legislative Calendar:

If that doesn’t work

  1. Scroll to the middle of the Home Page
  2. There will be a Calendar on the Right Side
  3. Click on any day which will bring you to a separate page of today’s events
  4. On the Top Left, Click Legislative Calendar and Deadlines

How to Submit a Position Letter

Letters are submitted online through a portal. In your letter, include your name, your position on the bill, and your signature. To Submit a Letter, sign up on the California Legislature Position Letter Portal. You can submit a letter as an individual. 

FAQ

Can a Veto be overturned?

Yes. A 2/3 vote in each house (Senate and Assembly) would be needed to override veto and is very rare.

Do Bills require more than 1 Legislative Session to be passed?

It depends on the topic of the bill, the state budget, and election timeline. For Bill topics that are very debated, it might take years and multiple Legislative Sessions to propose Bills. If the proposals are large, it is common for a proposal to be approved in smaller parts. The state budget also influences how many bills are passed. If there is a budget crisis, bills that cost a lot of money are more likely to end up dead. Other factors that impact the legislative process are Election seasons, and the condition of the state budget.

ADD to Take Action:

Find your Representatives

Submit a Letter

More Information
An illustration of a white female and hispanic man holding a bill and smiling, Text: How a Bill Becomes A Law. How you fit in the process