California lawmakers race to meet final legislative deadline amid bill setbacks
A number of California bills missed the crucial deadline and are now dead, while others cleared committee hurdles and head toward floor votes before the Aug. 31 cutoff.
State Senator Roger Niello described the suspense file in the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees as a "killing field," and several of his fiscal bills were left there, ending their chances of reaching the governor. In contrast, Senator Scott Wiener reported that eight of his proposals, including a revision to the No Secret Police Act that would bar state police from wearing masks, cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Other legislation that advanced includes bills expanding the Safe at Home program, prohibiting police from holding second jobs with immigration enforcement, and creating a "California certified" food seal. Several education-related measures, such as a ban on cellphone use for younger students, failed to meet the deadline. All surviving bills must secure floor votes by Aug. 31, the Legislature's final working day of the year. More than 200 bills were left without a path forward after missing the deadline.
Why it matters
California's legislative calendar determines which policies will affect residents before the year ends.
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