In a legislative session marked by a surge in activity, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has more than 800 bills on the docket for him to sign or veto by next week. Critics say the sheer volume of potential new legislation is further evidence that the Golden State government is taking a tough stance on governance.
As California continues to be the most restrictive state in the country, the state Legislature has introduced more than 4,400 bills in 2023-2024, more than the 4,100 proposed in the 2020-2021 term. said Chris Micheli, a longtime lobbyist on Capitol Hill.
California public policy expert Lance Christensen warned that many of the bills introduced serve as “vanity projects” for lawmakers. And with a majority signed into law by the governor, the state's law book has expanded into a labyrinth of complexity that poses significant challenges to residents and small businesses and drives up compliance costs.
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Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom has more than 1,000 bills to consider before the legislative session ends in 2024. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“Who has the ability to read literally millions of pages of state laws, let alone millions of pages of regulations? … The answer is zero,” Christensen told Fox News Digital. “No one has ever read anything like this. Very few people really understand how complex it is. That's why most people break the law every day, and they don't do anything about it. i don't know.”
“How can you manage that process without having someone else interpret it for you? That increases the cost of knowledge, but it also increases the cost of compliance.”
Mr. Newsom has already signed a series of public safety bills aimed at reducing organized retail theft. He also vetoed a number of progressive bills, including bills that would expand aid to undocumented immigrants through mortgage loans and provide employment through UC systems and reparations for black residents. It was activated.
Governor Blue pledged to address the youth mental health crisis and also signed historic legislation restricting cell phone use in schools.
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March 13, 2024, National Urban League California Legislative Advocacy Day at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for the National Urban League)
According to a CalMatters analysis, Mr. Newsom often vetoes bills if they appear redundant or if the costs would further strain the state's budget shortfall. Last year, Mr. Newsom vetoed 156 bills and signed 890, reflecting a veto rate of about 15%, similar to the previous year. The veto rate in 2021 was less than 8%.
Drafting a bill in California costs approximately $30,000 from start to finish, and that doesn't include more complex bills that take longer to draft.
Because of this, Christensen said, “money is being sucked out of the economy not just for people to understand what the law is, not for them to comply with it, but just for people to understand what the law is.” said.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom will make the announcement on May 14, 2024 in San Mateo, California. (AP Photo/Haven Daily)
Newsom signed dozens of packages aimed at fast-tracking specific initiatives, including expanding housing development and environmental policies.
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“The governor has taken repeated actions to streamline government,” Brandon Richards, deputy director of Newsom's rapid response team, told Fox News Digital. “While he recognizes that not every problem merits new legislation, he is intentional about every step he signs into law, focused on solving problems and helping Californians. .”
