Which California Legislative Process Rules Can Be Waived or Suspended?

Which California Legislative Process Rules Can Be Waived or Suspended? By Chris Micheli

            While the Joint and individual house Rules in the California Legislature can be waived or suspended, what about the constitutional procedural rules that comprise the California legislative process? Can they be waived or suspended? The following chart sets forth several of the procedural rules and whether (and by what means) they can or cannot be waived or suspended: 

Procedural Rule

Waiver or Suspension Permitted

At regular sessions no bill other than the budget bill may be heard or acted on by committee or either house until the 31st day. (30-day in Print Rule)

¾ vote of the house(s)

No bill may be passed unless it is read by title on 3 days in each house. (3 Readings Rule)

2/3 vote of the house(s)

No bill may be passed or ultimately become a statute unless the bill with any amendments has been printed, distributed to the members, and published on the Internet, in its final form, for at least 72 hours before the vote. (72-hour in Print Rule)

Governor’s written request and 2/3 vote of both houses

A statute shall embrace but one subject, which shall be expressed in its title. (Single Subject Rule)

No

A section of a statute may not be amended unless the section is re-enacted as amended. (Reenactment Rule)

No

A statute enacted at a regular session shall go into effect on January 1 next following a 90-day period from the date of enactment of the statute. (January 1 Effective Date Rule)

No

A statute enacted at a special session shall go into effect on the 91st day after adjournment of the special session at which the bill was passed. (91st Day Rule)

No

Any bill introduced during the first year of the biennium of the legislative session that has not been passed by the house of origin by January 31 of the second calendar year of the biennium may no longer be acted on by the house. (2-year Bill Rule)

No

The Legislature may not present any bill to the Governor after November 15 of the second calendar year of the biennium of the legislative session. (November 15 Rule)

No

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