Frequently Asked Questions about Types of Bills in the California Legislature

Frequently Asked Questions about Types of Bills in the California Legislature By Chris Micheli

The following are the types of bills that people working in and around the State Capitol describe in their legislative dealings:

What is an Appropriation bill? This bill contains language that appropriates funds for expenditures by the state.

What is an Author-sponsored bill? This bill is the idea of the author, who is the official sponsor.

What is a Backed bill? This bill is ready for introduction because it has a “backing” (formally called a jacket) that shows who the author is.

What is a Budget bill? This bill is the main budget bill that makes appropriations for implementation of the state’s fiscal year spending (the secondary bill is referred to as the “budget bill junior”).

What is a Budget Bill Junior? This bill amends the main budget bill that makes changes to appropriations for implementation of the state’s fiscal year spending.

What is a Clean-up bill? This bill “cleans-up” changes to a law following enactment of a prior bill that needs to be modified.

What is a Committee bill? This bill is authored by a majority of a committee; usually used for enacting non-controversial law changes.

What is a District bill? This bill only applies to the legislator’s own district, such as benefiting his or her transit district.

What is a Fiscal bill? This bill must go through the fiscal committee after it has passed the policy committee.

What is an Intent bill? This bill makes a statement of intent of the Legislature that the bill will do something on a topic specified in the intent statement; it is a placeholder for a later bill.

What is an Omnibus bill? This bill is a measure that contains numerous changes to the law, generally suggested by a group, such as civil law changes recommended by the Judicial Council.

What is a Special interest bill? This bill has a sponsor that is a particular interest group.

What is a Sponsored bill? This bill usually comes from an interest group or individual as the sponsor.

What is a Spot bill? This bill makes a technical, non-substantive change in the law as a placeholder for a later bill; neither house’s Rules Committee will refer spot bills to a policy committee until they are substantively amended.

What is a Technical corrections bill? This bill makes a technical correction in the law.

What is a Trailer bill? This bill implements statutory changes as part of the budget adoption; these bills “trail” the main budget bill.

What is a Two-year bill? This bill carries over from the first year of session into the second year of the session.

What is an Unbacked bill? This bill does not yet have an author and no “backing” (also called a “jacket”) for introduction.

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