The first year of the two-year legislative cycle wrapped up in mid-October, with Governor Newsom signing 890 new bills into law and vetoing 156. The new mandates will take effect Jan. 1, 2024.
The CCC tracked and monitored the more than 2,600 bills introduced this year. Many died in committee, others failed on the floor of the Senate or Assembly, while others were pulled for various reasons.
Of those that endured, the most notable successes for the CCC this legislative cycle included SB 4, which will make building affordable housing easier, faster, and cheaper on land owned by faith-based institutions and nonprofit colleges. With over 38,000 acres of land that falls into the space defined by this bill, this has the potential to make significant inroads in the reach for affordable housing in California.
The CCC also proudly supported SB 14, which will classify the human trafficking of a minor as a serious felony and be included in California’s Three Strikes Law. SB 14 was initially killed in the Assembly Public Safety Committee, but after vocal outcry from the CCC and other entities, the bill passed through both houses without a single dissenting vote.
The CCC also supported the signing of SB 2, which will prohibit carrying concealed weapons in sensitive spaces, including churches, as well as AB 1185, which establishes the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program that will provide grant funds to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of violent attacks or hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs, or mission.
The CCC also supported AB 1503 and SB 350, extending excused absences for religious retreats and bereavement services and resources, respectively.
The list of bills that were successfully defeated this year includes AB 957, which would have given weight to gender-affirming parents in custody disputes, and AB 1432, which would have provided out-of-state insurance coverage for abortion and gender transitions.
Legislative losses this year include SB 44, which would have required a person who is convicted of drug-related charges to receive a written advisory of the danger of manufacturing or distribution of controlled substances and that, if a person dies as a result of that action, the manufacturer or distributor can be charged with voluntary manslaughter or murder. The governor also signed SB 345, which makes California a sanctuary state for those seeking abortions or gender transitions.
Upcoming bills that were shelved by their authors this session but can be revived anytime during the next cycle include AB 710, AB 315, and AB 602, which all target pregnancy centers and their ability to communicate with patients.
The new legislative session commences in December, though most bills will be introduced after the new year. Be sure to visit the CCC’s refreshed legislative website for the latest news on bills in 2024.