Legislature to Convene for Brief Organization Session on Dec. 3 to Start 2019–20 Session
Nov 25, 2018
While remaining votes continue to be counted that may affect close races, it is clear that Democrats will hold supermajorities (more than two-thirds) in both houses with potentially 29 out of 40 seats in the Senate and at least 60 out of 80 seats in the Assembly.
Senate and Assembly leadership is expected to remain the same with Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) as President pro Tempore of the Senate and Assembly Member Anthony Rendon (D- Lakewood) as Assembly Speaker. Senate Republican Leader Pat Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) is expected to remain in her role and Assembly Member Marie Waldron was recently elected by her caucus as Assembly Republican Leader.
Roughly around 100 bills are also introduced in this initial session. The 2019 legislative year promises to be extremely busy with numerous policy proposals expected from the new Governor, including proposals addressing affordable housing, homelessness challenges and wildfires. Links to Governor-elect Gavin Newsom’s platforms can be found on his website.
Following this organizing session, legislators and staff will be busy submitting bill requests to the Legislative Counsel by Jan. 25 to meet the Feb. 22 bill introduction deadline for the year. Legislative policy committees ramp up typically in March, but informational hearings begin early in the year. A tentative 2019 Legislative calendar can be found in the attached most recent Senate File.
Gavin Newson Begins First Year of His First Term as Governor; Healthy Budget Expected
This January will bring the first of many firsts for Governor-Elect Newsom who starts his inaugural year as Governor when he is sworn into office on Jan. 7. Several days later, Jan. 10 is the constitutional deadline for the Governor to release his proposed FY 2019–20 budget. The Legislative Analyst’s Office in November issued its FY 2019–20 fiscal outlook, touting the how the budget is in “remarkably good shape” and projecting that the State of California will have $14.5 billion in reserves at the end of the coming fiscal year without any new spending commitments that expand the state’s financial obligations. Governor-Elect Newsom will also deliver his State of the State Address to the Legislature in early 2019.
League Activities in January
The League’s leadership for 2019 is:
New Mayors and Council Members Academy, (Sacramento, Jan. 16 – 18) and (Irvine, Jan. 30 – Feb. 1.) — The New Mayors and Council Members Academy, being held Jan. 16 – 18 in Sacramento, will cover the basic legal and practical framework in which city officials operate. The conference is designed for both newly elected officials and veterans on city councils. To ensure more city officials have access to this important training, the League is adding a Southern California New Mayors and Council Members Academy in Irvine, Jan. 30 – Feb. 1.
Register online for either session.
Sacramento Legislative Reception — On Wednesday, Jan. 16, the League will hold its annual Legislative Reception in Sacramento, which brings together city officials, senators, assembly members, constitutional officers and others for networking. The reception will be at Cafeteria 15L from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
League Policy Committees — League policy committees will also meet Jan. 17–18 in Sacramento to begin discussion on key policy proposals, hear from expert speakers and receive an update on the Governor’s proposed FY 2019–20 budget. Policy committee meeting information can be found on the League’s website.
Senate and Assembly leadership is expected to remain the same with Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) as President pro Tempore of the Senate and Assembly Member Anthony Rendon (D- Lakewood) as Assembly Speaker. Senate Republican Leader Pat Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) is expected to remain in her role and Assembly Member Marie Waldron was recently elected by her caucus as Assembly Republican Leader.
Roughly around 100 bills are also introduced in this initial session. The 2019 legislative year promises to be extremely busy with numerous policy proposals expected from the new Governor, including proposals addressing affordable housing, homelessness challenges and wildfires. Links to Governor-elect Gavin Newsom’s platforms can be found on his website.
Following this organizing session, legislators and staff will be busy submitting bill requests to the Legislative Counsel by Jan. 25 to meet the Feb. 22 bill introduction deadline for the year. Legislative policy committees ramp up typically in March, but informational hearings begin early in the year. A tentative 2019 Legislative calendar can be found in the attached most recent Senate File.
Gavin Newson Begins First Year of His First Term as Governor; Healthy Budget Expected
This January will bring the first of many firsts for Governor-Elect Newsom who starts his inaugural year as Governor when he is sworn into office on Jan. 7. Several days later, Jan. 10 is the constitutional deadline for the Governor to release his proposed FY 2019–20 budget. The Legislative Analyst’s Office in November issued its FY 2019–20 fiscal outlook, touting the how the budget is in “remarkably good shape” and projecting that the State of California will have $14.5 billion in reserves at the end of the coming fiscal year without any new spending commitments that expand the state’s financial obligations. Governor-Elect Newsom will also deliver his State of the State Address to the Legislature in early 2019.
League Activities in January
The League’s leadership for 2019 is:
- President Jan Arbuckle, council member, Grass Valley;
- First Vice President Randon Lane, council member, Murrieta;
- Second Vice President John Dunbar, mayor, Yountville; and
- Immediate Past President Rich Garbarino, council member, South San Francisco.
New Mayors and Council Members Academy, (Sacramento, Jan. 16 – 18) and (Irvine, Jan. 30 – Feb. 1.) — The New Mayors and Council Members Academy, being held Jan. 16 – 18 in Sacramento, will cover the basic legal and practical framework in which city officials operate. The conference is designed for both newly elected officials and veterans on city councils. To ensure more city officials have access to this important training, the League is adding a Southern California New Mayors and Council Members Academy in Irvine, Jan. 30 – Feb. 1.
Register online for either session.
Sacramento Legislative Reception — On Wednesday, Jan. 16, the League will hold its annual Legislative Reception in Sacramento, which brings together city officials, senators, assembly members, constitutional officers and others for networking. The reception will be at Cafeteria 15L from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
League Policy Committees — League policy committees will also meet Jan. 17–18 in Sacramento to begin discussion on key policy proposals, hear from expert speakers and receive an update on the Governor’s proposed FY 2019–20 budget. Policy committee meeting information can be found on the League’s website.