SB-688
Government Operations

Office of Regulatory Counsel.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a new Office of Regulatory Counsel within the Governor's office to draft and review state regulations.
  • Requires Senate confirmation for the office director who serves concurrent with the appointing Governor's term.
  • Mandates all operational costs be absorbed by existing state resources with no new funding.
  • Expires automatically on January 1, 2035 unless renewed by the Legislature.

Summary

Senator Niello's proposal to establish an Office of Regulatory Counsel within the Governor's office aims to centralize the drafting of state regulations before their submission to the Office of Administrative Law. The new office would assist state agencies in preparing, amending, and repealing regulations prior to their publication in the California Regulatory Notice Register.

Under the bill's provisions, the Office of Regulatory Counsel would operate under a director appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, with the director's term running concurrent with the appointing administration. The office would provide specialized legal expertise to help ensure regulations meet clarity and consistency standards while remaining within agencies' rulemaking authority. The bill's findings note that these requirements represent common reasons for regulation disapproval under current procedures.

The measure includes a sunset date of January 1, 2035, and requires the office's personnel and operational costs to be absorbed within existing state resources rather than through new appropriations. This temporary authorization allows for evaluation of the centralized drafting model's effects on California's regulatory development process. The office would supplement, rather than replace, the Office of Administrative Law's existing oversight role in reviewing and publishing proposed regulations.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Governmental Organization Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Governmental Organization Hearing
Senate Governmental Organization Hearing
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
SB-1104
Office of Regulatory Counsel
February 2024
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Roger Niello
Roger NielloR
California State Senator
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Latest Voting History

April 7, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a new Office of Regulatory Counsel within the Governor's office to draft and review state regulations.
  • Requires Senate confirmation for the office director who serves concurrent with the appointing Governor's term.
  • Mandates all operational costs be absorbed by existing state resources with no new funding.
  • Expires automatically on January 1, 2035 unless renewed by the Legislature.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Roger Niello
Roger NielloR
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Niello's proposal to establish an Office of Regulatory Counsel within the Governor's office aims to centralize the drafting of state regulations before their submission to the Office of Administrative Law. The new office would assist state agencies in preparing, amending, and repealing regulations prior to their publication in the California Regulatory Notice Register.

Under the bill's provisions, the Office of Regulatory Counsel would operate under a director appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, with the director's term running concurrent with the appointing administration. The office would provide specialized legal expertise to help ensure regulations meet clarity and consistency standards while remaining within agencies' rulemaking authority. The bill's findings note that these requirements represent common reasons for regulation disapproval under current procedures.

The measure includes a sunset date of January 1, 2035, and requires the office's personnel and operational costs to be absorbed within existing state resources rather than through new appropriations. This temporary authorization allows for evaluation of the centralized drafting model's effects on California's regulatory development process. The office would supplement, rather than replace, the Office of Administrative Law's existing oversight role in reviewing and publishing proposed regulations.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Governmental Organization Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Governmental Organization Hearing
Senate Governmental Organization Hearing
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

April 7, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
SB-1104
Office of Regulatory Counsel
February 2024
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1