Glossary of Legislative Terms
Understanding the language of the California Legislature is crucial for effective advocacy. This glossary provides definitions for commonly used terms in the legislative process to help you navigate policy discussions, committee hearings, and legislative documents.
AB / SB
Assembly Bill (AB) and Senate Bill (SB). ABs are introduced by members of the State Assembly, while SBs are introduced by members of the State Senate.
Amendment Deadline
The final date by which changes to a bill can be submitted in a legislative session. Important for tracking when a bill's language is "locked in."
Appropriation
A legislative authorization to spend a specific amount of public funds for a specific purpose.
Author
The legislator who introduces a bill or resolution.
Bill
A proposed law introduced during a session for consideration by the Legislature.
Calendar
The agenda of business for a legislative day or sequence of days.
Caucus
A group of legislators who formally organize together based on political party, shared interests, or other commonalities.
Chaptered
A bill that has passed both houses of the Legislature, been signed by the Governor, and filed with the Secretary of State.
Chief of Staff
The most senior staffer in a legislator's office. They manage the office, oversee legislative and policy strategy, and advise the legislator.
Committee
A subdivision of the Legislature that considers bills specific to a certain subject area before they are brought to the floor.
Committee Chair / Co-Chair
The Chair leads the committee, sets the hearing agenda, and often has strong influence over whether bills advance. Co-Chairs may share responsibilities, especially in joint committees.
Committee Consultant
A nonpartisan expert hired by a committee to analyze bills, draft reports, and advise legislators during hearings. These staff members often prepare the bill analysis.
Coauthor / Principal Coauthor
A legislator who officially signs onto another member's bill in support. Principal coauthors are recognized as leading supporters.
Concurrence Vote
A vote taken in the first house (e.g., Assembly) to accept amendments made by the second house (e.g., Senate) before a bill is sent to the Governor.
Consent Calendar
A list of non-controversial bills grouped together and passed with a single vote, without debate. These often skip the usual discussion process unless pulled by a member.
Constituent
A citizen residing within the district of an elected representative.
District Office
A legislator's local office in their home district, separate from their Capitol office. Constituents can meet staff, drop off letters, or attend community events here.
Effective Date
The date a new law goes into effect. Most bills take effect January 1 of the following year, unless labeled as an urgency statute.
Enrolled
Once a bill passes both the Assembly and Senate, it's enrolled and sent to the Governor for approval or veto. This is the final version of the bill, certified by the Legislature and formally transmitted for executive action.
Engrossed / Enrolled
A bill is engrossed after being passed and amended in one house; enrolled after it passes both houses and is sent to the Governor.
Fiscal Committee
A committee (like Appropriations) that evaluates the financial impact of a bill. Bills with costs to the state often must pass through a fiscal committee before reaching the floor.
Fiscal Impact
The estimated cost or savings to the state associated with a bill, often noted in bill analyses and considered by Appropriations Committees.
Floor
The Assembly or Senate chamber where bills are debated by the full membership.
Floor Vote
A full vote by all members of the Assembly or Senate. Typically happens after a bill has passed all required committees.
Gut and Amend
A controversial practice where the contents of a bill are completely replaced with new language, often late in the process, while keeping the bill number.
Hearing
A committee meeting where testimony is taken from witnesses regarding proposed legislation.
Hearing Agenda
The published list of bills scheduled to be heard during a committee hearing. It helps advocates plan when to attend and speak.
Hearing Notice
An official announcement of when and where a committee hearing will occur. Includes a list of bills on the agenda.
Held in Committee
If a committee chooses not to vote on a bill or votes it down, it's considered held and effectively dead (unless it's revived).
Inactive File
Where bills go when the author delays floor action. Can be brought back later but are temporarily paused.
Intent Bill
A placeholder bill that expresses the intent to act on a subject but lacks full language. Used to start a discussion or reserve a legislative "spot." Often contains nonsubstantive language like "this bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to...".
Legislative Aide
A member of a legislator's staff who handles policy research, communications, constituent issues, or committee preparation. Aides often prepare the legislator for meetings with advocates.
Legislative Counsel
Attorneys who draft bills and amendments and provide legal advice to the Legislature.
Legislative Counsel's Digest
A plain-English summary of a bill's legal effect. Appears at the beginning of official bill text.
Legislative Deadline
A fixed date in the calendar when a bill must have cleared a certain stage (e.g., pass its first committee) to stay alive for the year.
Lobbyist
A person or group paid to influence legislation. Unlike traditional lobbyists, Veeto advocates are crowdfunded by everyday constituents to make their voices heard directly.
Oppose / Support Letter
Written statements from individuals, organizations, or coalitions expressing support or opposition to a bill. Committees log these before hearings.
Public Comment
A short statement delivered during a committee hearing — typically limited to your name, affiliation, and position (support/oppose).
President Pro Tempore
The highest-ranking leader of the California State Senate. This legislator sets the Senate's agenda, appoints committee members, leads budget and policy negotiations, and represents the Senate in key state decisions. The current President Pro Tempore of the Senate is Mike McGuire.
Quorum
The minimum number of members required to be present for a legislative body to conduct official business.
Reading
Each bill goes through multiple readings as part of the legislative process — these are formal steps, not debates. Usually: First Reading (introduction), Second Reading (before a vote), and Third Reading (final vote).
Referral
When a bill is assigned to a specific committee for review. Bills can be referred to multiple committees.
Roll Call Vote
When each legislator's vote is recorded by name. This happens during floor votes and most committee votes.
Rules Committee
A powerful committee that controls the flow of legislation — which bills get heard, when, and by whom. Also handles procedural decisions.
Second House
The legislative chamber that did not originate a bill (e.g., for an AB, the second house is the Senate). Bills must pass both houses to become law.
Spot Bill
A bill introduced as a placeholder that can be amended with substantive provisions at a later date.
Speaker of the Assembly
The highest-ranking member of the California State Assembly. The Speaker controls the flow of legislation, assigns bills to committees, appoints committee chairs, and leads negotiations on state policy and the budget. The current Speaker of the Assembly is Robert Rivas.
Sponsor
The group or entity (often an advocacy organization or government agency) that works with a legislator to introduce a bill. Not the same as the author.
Suspense File
A special holding file used by Appropriations Committees for bills with significant fiscal impact. Bills placed here are voted on in a single batch, often behind closed doors.
Testify
To speak on the record at a legislative hearing, either as a public comment or as an invited witness. Testimony can be written, spoken in person, or delivered remotely.
Third House
A nickname for lobbyists and interest groups — considered the unofficial "third house" of the Legislature because of their influence.
Third Reading
The final presentation and floor vote for a bill in either chamber. Often includes final debate or discussion.
Two-Year Bill
A bill that doesn't pass in its first year can be held over and reconsidered in the second year of the legislative session.
Urgency Statute
A bill that takes effect immediately upon being signed by the Governor and chaptered. Requires a 2/3 vote.
Veto
The Governor's formal rejection of a bill passed by the Legislature. The Legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses, though this is rare in California.
Veeto
A platform that lets everyday Californians crowdfund advocacy campaigns to influence state legislation. Veeto helps individuals testify at hearings, meet with lawmakers, and oppose or support bills — without needing a professional lobbyist.
Whip
A legislative leader responsible for counting votes and encouraging party members to vote a certain way on key bills.
Withdrawn
When a legislator removes their own bill from consideration, either temporarily or permanently.