By Shane LaVigne, LaVigne Strategies

End of Session:

Governor Gavin Newsom faced a September 30th deadline to act on over 1,200 bills sent to him this year, providing a clearer view of his political philosophy as he enters his final two years in office. Newsom signed 1,017 bills into law and vetoed 189, giving him a veto rate of just under 16%, slightly above the decade-long average. His decisions reflected a pragmatic, fiscally cautious approach, likely influenced by the state’s economic uncertainties.

This year, Newsom’s veto messages were often centered around fiscal discipline, with a focus on avoiding additional strain on the state budget. With revenue projections still unclear, he favored legislation with limited financial impact. In this context, the rise in vetoes was understandable, given California’s budget constraints.

While the Governor’s choices were framed by economic realities, they may also signal a broader political strategy. As he nears the end of his term, Newsom’s decisions appear calculated to balance progressive ideals with responsible governance, positioning himself for future opportunities, potentially on the national stage.

The 2023-2024 legislative session itself was dynamic, with leadership shifts in both houses and a pressing $73 billion budget deficit, which led to the halting of any bills with significant fiscal implications. The session officially closed at midnight on August 31st, but not without some last-minute drama. Political maneuvering on both sides of the aisle meant that some bills never made it to a vote, dying on the floor. CSLEA benefitted from this flurry, as a few bills we opposed were among those caught up in the rush.

Despite these challenges, CSLEA saw great success over the past two years. We were able to block numerous bills that posed risks to public safety, policing standards, and K9 units. While stopping harmful legislation was a major focus, we also helped advance bills that will benefit our members and strengthen public safety across the state.

2023-2024 Legislative Overview

Below is an overview of CSLEA’s priority bills that we engaged in and helped to successfully stop during the 2-year session:

• AB 93 (Bryan D) Consensual Searches – Oppose
• AB 280 (Holden D) Segregated Confinement – Oppose
• AB 740 (Gabriel D) Drones – Oppose
• AB 742 (Jackson D) K9 Restrictions – Oppose
• AB 793 (Bonta D) Reverse Demands – Oppose
• AB 797 (Weber D) Police Review Boards – Oppose
• AB 807 (McCarty D) AG Review of All UOF Deaths – Oppose
• AB 1090 (Jones-Sawyer D) County Board of Supervisors Removing Sheriffs – Oppose
• AB 2441 (Kalra D) Narcotic Possession in Schools – Oppose
• AB 2872 (Calderon D) Department of Insurance – Oppose unless amended
• SB 50 (Bradford D) Limitations on Stops – Oppose
• SB 94 (Cortese D) Resentencing Special Circumstances – Oppose
• SB 377 (Skinner D) Off Roster Handguns – Oppose

Below is a summary of key bills that CSLEA supported and successfully passed during the legislative session:

• AB 33 (Bains D) Fentanyl Misuse and Overdose Prevention Task Force – Support
• AB 88 (Sanchez R) Criminal procedure: victims’ rights – Support
• AB 791 (Ramos D) Post conviction bail – Support
• SB 14 (Grove R) Serious felonies: human trafficking – Support
• SB 268 (Alvarado-Gil R) Crimes: serious and violent felonies – Support
• SB 1414 (Grove R) Solicitation of a Minor – Support