Legislative Update: Appropriations Suspense File Dispensed With
The fiscal committee deadline hit Friday, August 29. More than 250 bills were on the Assembly suspense file and over 420 in the Senate. After adjournment, both houses held their suspense hearings. Roughly 500 bills advanced to the floor—many with amendments reducing their cost impact—while others were quietly held without explanation.
The process is often described as a “black box,” with lobbyists working behind the scenes to block or advance measures on behalf of clients. Even the Governor and his staff weigh in, signaling to Democratic leadership which bills they want released or held.
Several major education bills are now moving forward or stopped dead in their tracks, including:
High profile Charter School bills AB 84 (Muratsuchi) and SB 414 (Ashby) both passed out of committee with amendments that removed various elements of opposition.
SB 249 (Umberg) was killed in the Assembly appropriations committee over concerns of local control; and new state mandated costs.
Bills held in committee become two-year bills, though most are effectively dead unless revived through “gut-and-amend” tactics next year.
The workload ahead is heavy: the Assembly already had about 150 bills on its floor and the Senate about 240. With suspense file bills added, more than 850 measures must be taken up before the session deadline. Over the next two weeks, both houses will meet daily—eight floor sessions total—until Friday, September 12 at midnight.
Any bill sent to the Governor in this period must be signed or vetoed within 30 days—or it becomes law without his signature (a rare outcome, but one that drives decision-making deadlines in the Governor’s Office).
