By Shane LaVigne, Capitol Advocacy

Overview: 

Members wrapped up the legislative session at midnight on Saturday, August 31, passing a record number of bills amidst a flurry of last-minute negotiations and intense debates. The final days were marked by significant tension, particularly as Governor Gavin Newsom made an unsuccessful push for legislation aimed at combating gas price spikes. 

Inter-house tensions were also evident, signaling the end of the honeymoon period for Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. Both houses held the other chamber’s bills until nearly the bitter end. The intensity of the session culminated in a dramatic bill swap under the Capitol rotunda just before the midnight deadline, with Senators applauding as stacks of bills were rushed through.

In the Assembly, lawmakers raced through bill presentations, and limited debate on issues.  In spite of those efforts, some measures failed to reach a vote before the clock struck midnight. This frenzied conclusion highlighted the complexities of navigating California’s legislative process, especially when high-stakes issues are left until the final hours.

Looking ahead, Newsom now has until September 30th to sign or veto the bills that made it to his desk, setting the stage for another busy year in California politics.

Public Safety Reform (Prop 47)

Efforts to address organized retail crime took center stage this year, as Governor Newsom and legislative Democrats worked on a reform package that rivaled the DA-backed Proposition 36. Proposition 36, which remains on the ballot, seeks to enhance prison sentences for various drug offenses, including fentanyl possession. Despite missing the early-July deadline to place a competing measure on the ballot, Newsom and the Legislature still prioritized theft-related reforms when they returned to Sacramento in August.

In the final weeks of session, lawmakers passed a comprehensive package of 10 bills aimed at curbing theft and retail crime across the state. Quickly signed by Governor Newsom, the package includes measures to crack down on the theft and sale of stolen goods, increase enforcement and prosecution efforts, raise the felony threshold for combined theft values, and eliminate sunset provisions on retail theft laws. Additionally, the bills target specific crimes such as smash-and-grab robberies and car break-ins, all while enhancing tools for law enforcement to fight back against organized crime.

Looking ahead, the campaign to defeat Proposition 36 is expected to intensify, with Newsom, legislative leaders, and the California Democratic Party officially opposing the measure. However, despite their opposition, public sentiment in favor of stronger crime penalties may still tip the scales toward its passage, given the growing concerns about crime rates among Californians in recent years.

Summary

As the 2024 legislative session comes to a close, attention now shifts to Newsom, who will determine the outcome of the many bills passed in these final days. This session saw a wide range of important issues addressed, from energy reform to healthcare and AI regulation, reflecting the complexity of California’s legislative landscape. In the coming weeks, we will be watching closely as Newsom reviews these measures and will keep you updated on the key decisions and their implications for the state.

Legislative Update of Remaining Bills

AB 2872 (Calderon) Department of Insurance: sworn members: compensation – Oppose Unless Amended

This bill would require that sworn members of the Department of Insurance who are rank-and-file members of State Bargaining Unit 7 be paid the same compensation as the corresponding rank-and-file sworn peace officer employees of the Department of Justice. While we are always supportive of efforts to enhance the pay and benefits of Unit 7 classifications, we are not supportive of the bill’s efforts to tie compensation between classifications via a parity requirement. We would be supportive of this bill if the Legislature either studied the potential pay disparity for DOI Investigators or provided the DOI Investigators a one-time pay increase. This bill passed and was sent to the Governor’s desk. 

AB 3241 (Pacheco) Law enforcement: police canines – Support

This bill would require the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to adopt uniform, minimum guidelines regarding the use of canines by law enforcement and certify courses of training for all law enforcement canine handlers and those enforcement supervisors directly overseeing canine programs. This bill was moved to inactive and is dead for the year.