HJR 1/a SESSION LENGTH, SUBJECTS & OVERRIDES, CA

Rep Matthew McQueen

Actions: HPREF [2] HGEIC/HJC-HGEIC [4] DP-HJC [8] DP/a-T

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR 1) proposes to change the length of each regular legislative session to not exceed 45 days, removes the restrictions on bill that may be considered in even-numbered years and provides for consideration of governor veto overrides for bill of special or extraordinary sessions.   

 House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR 1) proposes to amend Article 4, Section 5 of the state constitution by changing the length of the regular legislative session.  Instead of a sixty-day or thirty-day session, each year’s session cannot exceed 45 days.  In addition, there would be no limitation on subject matter of bills heard during even-numbered years. During an even-numbered year, the legislature may consider for veto override bills of a previous regular, special or extraordinary session within the same legislative two-year period.  

This amendment must be submitted to the people at the next general election or any special election prior to that date called for that purpose.  
 

 Currently, the legislative session during odd-numbered years is 60 days and is 30 days for even-numbered years.  During even-numbered years, the legislature can only consider bills regarding budgets, appropriations, revenue, bills drawn pursuant to special messages of the governor, and bills of the last session that were vetoed by the governor.  Currently, the constitution does not address when the legislature may consider bills vetoed by the governor during a special or extraordinary session.   

 On February 3, 2024, the House Judiciary Committee amended HJR 1 by providing that every regular session may consider veto override bills.  It removed the provision that veto overrides can only occur during an even-numbered year.