California Lawmakers Limit the Number of Bills That Can Be Introduced by Members

December 5, 2024 TruthUSA

Legislators are encouraged to emphasize and address the concerns of residents in the Golden State.

On December 2, the opening day of the 2025-2026 legislative session, California lawmakers instituted new regulations that limit the number of bills each member can submit during a two-year span.

The bill cap has been reduced to 35, down from 50 for assembly representatives and from 40 for senators.

In the 2023-2024 session, nearly 5,000 bills were introduced by members—marking an almost 10 percent increase from the previous two years, with approximately 3,300 in the assembly and over 1,500 in the Senate.

Additionally, around 300 more bills were put forth by various committees focusing on areas such as budget, education, and agriculture.

“It’s quite simple,” remarked Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire to The Epoch Times. “In the Senate, we’re reducing the bill limit to concentrate more on practical legislation addressing the urgent issues confronting our state.”

State Senator Aisha Wahab, a Democrat from Silicon Valley and parts of the Bay Area, concurred. She expressed her commitment to maximizing her legislative efforts to enhance the lives of her constituents and all Californians.

“I believe it’s crucial to prioritize and address the issues that truly matter,” Wahab stated to The Epoch Times. “This is one way we can effectively represent our districts.”

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas emphasized the necessity of this change to enable lawmakers to focus on solutions for challenges faced by Californians.

“Everyone in this room has valuable ideas, but our time and resources are finite,” Rivas declared on the Assembly floor while announcing the new limits. “[W]e want every leader here to have the maximum ability to concentrate on legislation that enhances affordability and prosperity.”

He noted that many Californians feel that their diverse experiences are overlooked when policies are formulated. He urged his colleagues to reconsider their approach promptly.

Certain residents in the Golden State experience hardships due to rising housing and energy costs, he noted.

“California will continue to be a land of dreams and opportunities,” Rivas asserted. “However, we must evaluate every piece of legislation with the concerns of Californians grappling with affordability in mind.”

Providing relief to working-class residents remains a priority for the Legislature this session, according to representatives.

Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria expressed her support for the reduced number of bills, stating it will enable deeper thought and dialogue throughout the legislative process.

“I am thrilled about this change,” she shared with The Epoch Times. “I firmly believe in prioritizing quality over quantity.”

From energy to housing, many residents in the Golden State are struggling financially, as noted by the second-term representative from the Central Valley.

“We have several significant, urgent issues,” Soria pointed out.

Over 100 bills are already in print for the upcoming year, including Soria’s Assembly Bill 36, which seeks to assist small cities with populations below 100,000 in securing housing grants.

Other new bills aim to address topics such as reparations, human trafficking, and educational reform.

More legislation will be submitted in the coming months, with a deadline set for February 21, 2025.

In the previous session, approximately 30 percent of assembly members maxed out their allowable bills, with the average number being just under 40 per member.

In the Senate, nearly half of the senators submitted the maximum number of bills, averaging 35 bills per member.

Some lawmakers introduced more bills than allowed, as exceptions exist for budget measures and waivers approved by leadership.

Less than half of the bills presented were passed by the Legislature and forwarded to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who vetoed fewer than 20 percent of the bills he received this year, which is an uptick of around 3 percent compared to 2023.

The limits on the number of bills have been adjusted three times in the 21st century. It was cut from 40 to 30 in the Assembly in 2002 and later raised to 50 in 2017.

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