CA Legislative Explainer: Reading a Bill

CA Legislative Explainer: Reading a Bill By Chris Micheli

            In the California Constitution, Article IV, Section 8(b)(1), it explains that “the Legislature may make no law except by statute and may enact no statute except by bill.” Reading a bill requires an understanding of the component parts of a bill. In terms of its anatomy, a bill contains the following major provisions:

Legislative Session At the top of Assembly bills only, the following language appears: “California Legislature – 2023-2024 Regular Session.”

Bill Number Which follows the words “Assembly Bill” or “Senate Bill. The Assembly Chief Clerk or the Secretary of the Senate assigns the bills numbers for each bill introduced in its respective house of origin

Bill Author As well as joint, principal, and coauthors. The first line always lists the main author(s) who introduced the bill. Below the first line lists any principal coauthor and the next line lists any coauthor.

Date Introduced As well as Date Amended, with the house making the amendment listed (i.e., the Senate or Assembly).

Bill Title Which is a short phrase, as well as the “Relating” clause. The title must encompass the subject matter contained in the bill and is not changed or amended as the bill moves forward, unless the bill is “gutted-and-amended” into an entirely different subject.

Legislative Counsel’s Digest Which begins with the bill number, the phrase “as introduced” or “as amended,” the bill’s lead author, and a short phrase regarding the subject matter of the bill. Thereafter, the Digest contains a statement of existing state law, followed by an explanation of what this bill proposes to do to change existing law.

Digest Keys Which contain the four keys: vote; appropriation; fiscal committee; and, local program.

Bill Text Which is the actual language of the bill to amend, add or repeal sections of the 29 Codes that exist in California law. Bills are divided into sections. At the end of the text can often been found “plus sections,” which are provisions related to not statutory changes, but are parts of the bill. Examples could include an urgency clause, a state-mandated local program, etc.

Before the actual bill text begins, it is preceded by the required “Enacting Clause,” which every bill must contain and it reads: “The People of the State of California do enact as follows:”

At the end of the bill text appears any additional sections of the bill that provide certain required provisions, such as an urgency clause or reimbursement claims language.

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