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Courts Removing Statewide Measures from the Ballot

Courts Removing Statewide Measures from the Ballot  By Chris Micheli Have courts removed measures from the statewide ballot in California? The answer is yes. In fact, the judicial branch has done so recently in three instances. The most recent example was in 2024, when the qualified measure for the statewide ballot, called the California Two-Thirds Legislative Vote and Voter Approval for New or Increased Taxes Initiative, was removed by the California Supreme Court, which ruled that the proposed measure amounted to an impermissible revision of the state Constitution and therefore could not go before the voters. This measure was prevented from being placed on the ballot despite having obtained the requisite number of voter signatures to qualify. In 2018, the California Supreme Court removed a measure from the statewide ballot. It was Prop. 9, called the Three States Initiative. It was removed because the court determined that “the potential harm in permitting the measure to re...
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Specific Guidance for Drafting Regulations

Specific Guidance for Drafting Regulations  By Chris Micheli The following are some specific drafting principles I have found in the drafting manuals of other states, which appear to apply in California based upon my review of regulations over the years: ·        If a department is defined, then all subsequent references in the regulations should be to "the department." The department's full name need not be written out, except when confusion would result from references to other departments. ·        Use lower case for titles of public officials. ·        Capitalize short titles of acts. ·        Express numbers in the text with words followed by numerals in parentheses. ·        Hyphenate numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine. ·        Write dates in the form of "month" then "day." When a...
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Instructing the Courts on Interpretation

Instructing the Courts on Interpretation  By Chris Micheli             In reviewing some recent legislation in the 2026 California Legislative Session, I have come across several bills that contain “liberally construe” language, as well as one that used “liberally interpret” language. In other words, this language is directed at state agencies and the judicial branch that the statute in review should be liberally construed or liberally interpreted.             This raised the question with me: Which is the better language to use? First, I wanted to research the use of these phrases in state statutes. I found that there are thousands of California statutes that use the standard language “liberally construed.” However, there are also many state statutes that use the less common “liberally interpreted.” How many of each appear in state law? ·     ...
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Guidance for Drafting Regulations in the Active Voice

Guidance for Drafting Regulations in the Active Voice B y Chris Micheli             In California, drafters of regulations and bills are instructed to use the active voice, rather than the passive voice. This is a change in the historical manner of drafting that previously included lots of passive voice language in state laws.             As a result, many examples of the passive voice remain in California regulations and statutes. The following examples of passive versus active voice changes to state statutes are contained in bills recently enacted into law in this state:   …provide comments to the department on all proposed projects funded from the Big Game Management Account to help ensure that the requirements of this section  have been  are  met.                   Nothing in this chapter shal...
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Some Notes on Bills Declaring Existing Law

Some Notes on Bills Declaring Existing Law  By Chris Micheli As we near the end of the California Legislative Session, we see more bills that claim to make changes to statutes, and those amendments are claimed to be "declaratory of existing law." How is that done and how do California courts view those types of legislative proclamations?             To begin, in most instances, legislation applies prospectively, meaning after the law has been enacted and takes effect. Nonetheless, there are times when the Legislature desires statutes to be applied retroactively, and sometimes they also specify a prospective application date.             The following is an example of specific language contained in a bill that is intended to apply retroactively:   The requirement to provide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as set forth in this section shall take effect 10 d...
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Have Courts Struck Down Voter-Approved Ballot Measures?

Have Courts Struck Down Voter-Approved Ballot Measures?  By Chris Micheli             The short answer is yes. And the courts have done so more than once in the State of California. There are a number of recent examples of the state and federal courts doing so, as well as a few historical instances in which statewide, voter-approved ballot measures have been invalidated by the judicial branch, even though they were approved by the statewide electorate.             The following are several of those examples:             After the November 2008 election, Prop. 8 (Definition of Marriage Constitutional Initiative), which was approved by 52% of the voters, was invalidated by the United States Supreme Court.             After the November 2000 election, Prop. 22 ...
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The Legislative Order of Business

The Legislative Order of Business  By Chris Micheli             In the California Legislature, the State Senate and the State Assembly have an “Order of Business” for consideration of matters on the Floors of the respective houses. The following lists, in order, the hierarchy of business that is conducted on the Floors of the two houses of the California Legislature: SENATE ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. Roll Call. 2. Prayer by the Chaplain. 3. Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Privileges of the Floor. 5. Communications and Petitions. 6. Messages from the Governor. 7. Messages from the Assembly. 8. Reports of Committees. 9. Motions, Resolutions and Notices. 10. Introduction and First Reading of Bills. 11. Consideration of Daily File: a. Second Reading. b. Special Orders. c. Unfinished Business. d. Third Reading. 12. Announcement of Committee Meetings. 13. Leaves of Absence. 14. Adjournment. ASSEMBLY ORDER...
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