Newsletter - May 2025
Legislature: a group of elected officials who have the authority to make and change laws for a political entity such as a country or state. They play a key role in the government by representing the people and overseeing the creation of legislation.
The definition of a legislature describes the duties but also the power and responsibility that a legislature has. Let’s take a look at the California legislature and see how it is doing.
In 1966 the California Legislature became a full time legislature after voters passed legislation for a full time legislature. In 1990, voters imposed term limits on legislators. Senators could not serve for more than two four year terms (total of eight years) and assembly members could not serve for more than three two year terms (total of six years). Voters modified these limits in 2012 so that legislators could serve 12 years total but could spend all 12 in either chamber (three Senate terms or six Assembly terms).
The legislative session runs from the first Monday in December (organizational session) of an even numbered year to November 30th of the following even numbered year.
The legislature can override the governor’s veto. In California, 2/3 of the members in both houses must vote to override a veto. That requires 54 votes in the Assembly and 27 votes in the Senate.
The state legislature has the authority to refer statewide ballot propositions to the ballot. These can be: Constitutional amendments to the California Constitutio Legislatively-referred state statutes, including bond issues
There are 40 members in the Senate and 80 members in the Assembly.
Senate: 30 Democrats, 10 Republicans Assembly: 60 Democrats, 20 Republicans
The President of the Senate is the Lt. Governor: Eleni Kounalakis
President Pro Tempore: Mike McGuire
Majority Leader: Lena Gonzalez
Minority Leader: Brian Jones
Republican Caucus Chair: Kelly Seyarto
Rules Chair: Mike McGuire
The Speaker of the Assembly: Robert Rivas
Speaker Pro Tempore: Josh Lowenthal
Majority Leader: Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Democrat Caucus Chair: Rick Chavez Zbur
Republican Leader: James Gallagher
Republican Caucus Chair: Tom Lackey
Salaries
Senators and Assembly members earn $128,215 per year. Senators also receive a per diem of $211 per day. Assembly members receive a per diem of $214 per day.
The Assembly Speaker and the Senate President Pro Tem receive $147,446 per year.
The Majority Floor Leader and the second ranking minority leader earn $137,832 annually.
Legislation
To evaluate how the legislature is doing it is necessary to note the major issues in the state.
California has major issues in regards to self-defense, water, fire, illegal immigration, education, energy and jobs. So, let’s take a look at some of the proposed and passed legislation.
A bill introduced in the Assembly that would ban the sale of handguns that can be converted from semi-automatic to automatic is scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The bill is Assembly Bill 1127 and would prohibit a licensed firearms dealer to sell, offer for sale, exchange, give, transfer or deliver any semiautomatic machinegun-convertible pistol.
Assembly Bill 28 adds an 11% excise tax on purchasing a gun and ammunition in California.
California Assembly woman Maggie Krell (D-Sacramento) and Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) authored Assembly Bill 379 to make solicitation of sex from anyone under 18 a felony. Democrats took Assemblywoman Krell’s bill, removed the provision for the age cap for soliciting older minors and replaced her name on the bill with member Nick Schultz. However given public outcry and continued pressure from Assembly Republicans, Democrat leaders will reverse course on AB 379 and restore automatic felony charges for adults who solicit sex from 16 and 17 year olds.
Assembly Bill 57 introduced by Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor (D-Hawthorne) requires the establishment of an agency to determine whether an applicant qualifies as a descendent of a formerly enslaved person. At least 10% of the moneys in the California Housing Finance Agency home purchase assistance program fund would be made available to applicants who meet the requirements for a loan under the home purchase assistance program and are descendants of formerly enslaved people.
Assembly Bill 1078 stops school districts that are attempting to ban books because of obscene or inappropriate material. This means that school districts cannot develop their own policy as to what books will be used in the classroom or in the library.
Senate Bill 253 requires companies in California that make more than $1 Billion annually must report their CO2 emissions.
Senate Bill 261 requires companies that make more than $500 million annually have to report financial risks related to climate change.
Our county web site has a page dedicated to all of the information regarding our legislators in Sonoma County and how to contact them. Our legislators need to hear from us.
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