Legislature Returns Jan. 3 to Start 2018 Session
Dec 20, 2017
This is the start of the second year of the 2017–18 Legislative Session, which goes through Aug. 31, 2018. The year promises to be extremely busy with races that will determine California’s leaders in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., plus statewide ballot measures going to voters on the June and November ballots.
Legislators will get to work in January with a number of important deadlines approaching in the first six weeks of the year. Because this is the second year of the two-year session, legislators with bills that did not move out of their house of origin in 2017 have until Jan. 31 to get their bills to the other house. Just over two weeks later, legislators face the Feb. 16 deadline to introduce legislation for 2018.
The League will continue serving members as the leading voice for California cities and advocate for policies that advance city priorities.
Jerry Brown Begins Last Year of His Fourth Term as Governor
This January will bring the first of many lasts for Gov. Jerry Brown who starts his final year as Governor. Jan. 10 is the constitutional deadline for the Governor to release his proposed FY 2018–19 budget. Taking a fiscally prudent approach to his previous seven budget proposals, Governor Brown will likely use his last budget proposal to continue to advocate for restraint. The Legislative Analyst’s Office in November issued its FY 2018–19 fiscal outlook, projecting that the State of California will have $19.3 billion in reserves at the end of the coming fiscal year without any new spending commitments that expand the state’s financial obligations. Governor Brown will also deliver his final annual State of the State Address to the Legislature in early 2018.
Leadership Changes Coming in 2018
In December, the Senate Democratic Caucus selected Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) to replace Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León, who terms out of office in 2018. Sen. Atkins’ official election will also occur in January, however the transition date has yet to be announced. She will come to lead the Senate after serving as speaker of the Assembly from May 2014 to March 2016. The Sacramento Bee in December reported that Sen. Atkins is slated to become the first to have served in both positions in close to 150 years.
League Activities in January
The League begins 2018 with the four officers elected in September to serve the organization this year. They are:
Also that week in Sacramento, the League will hold its first policy committees of the year. The seven standing committees will meet Jan. 18–19 and begin discussion on key policy proposals, hear from expert speakers and receive an update on the Governor’s proposed FY 2018–19 budget.
In December, the League adopted four strategic goals for 2018 that establish the organization’s legislative advocacy framework for the year. The four goals are available at www.cacities.org/priorities.
Legislators will get to work in January with a number of important deadlines approaching in the first six weeks of the year. Because this is the second year of the two-year session, legislators with bills that did not move out of their house of origin in 2017 have until Jan. 31 to get their bills to the other house. Just over two weeks later, legislators face the Feb. 16 deadline to introduce legislation for 2018.
The League will continue serving members as the leading voice for California cities and advocate for policies that advance city priorities.
Jerry Brown Begins Last Year of His Fourth Term as Governor
This January will bring the first of many lasts for Gov. Jerry Brown who starts his final year as Governor. Jan. 10 is the constitutional deadline for the Governor to release his proposed FY 2018–19 budget. Taking a fiscally prudent approach to his previous seven budget proposals, Governor Brown will likely use his last budget proposal to continue to advocate for restraint. The Legislative Analyst’s Office in November issued its FY 2018–19 fiscal outlook, projecting that the State of California will have $19.3 billion in reserves at the end of the coming fiscal year without any new spending commitments that expand the state’s financial obligations. Governor Brown will also deliver his final annual State of the State Address to the Legislature in early 2018.
Leadership Changes Coming in 2018
In December, the Senate Democratic Caucus selected Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) to replace Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León, who terms out of office in 2018. Sen. Atkins’ official election will also occur in January, however the transition date has yet to be announced. She will come to lead the Senate after serving as speaker of the Assembly from May 2014 to March 2016. The Sacramento Bee in December reported that Sen. Atkins is slated to become the first to have served in both positions in close to 150 years.
League Activities in January
The League begins 2018 with the four officers elected in September to serve the organization this year. They are:
- President Rich Garbarino, council member, South San Francisco;
- First Vice President Mark Kersey, council member, San Diego;
- Second Vice President Jan Arbuckle, council member, Grass Valley; and
- Immediate Past President JoAnne Mounce, mayor pro tem, Lodi.
Also that week in Sacramento, the League will hold its first policy committees of the year. The seven standing committees will meet Jan. 18–19 and begin discussion on key policy proposals, hear from expert speakers and receive an update on the Governor’s proposed FY 2018–19 budget.
In December, the League adopted four strategic goals for 2018 that establish the organization’s legislative advocacy framework for the year. The four goals are available at www.cacities.org/priorities.