SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Over the recent two-year legislative period, the average lawmaker in Sacramento presented about 36 bills, with a third of those bills being enacted into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The political landscape, dominated by a Democratic supermajority, however, painted a different picture for Republican legislators whose proposed laws were less frequently passed.
Gov. Newsom put his final stamp on the 2023-24 legislative session on September 30, having signed a significant number of bills into law. A breakdown by Chris Micheli, a lobbyist and adjunct professor at McGeorge School of Law and UC Davis King Hall School of Law, shows that out of the 4,821 bills introduced in this session, 1,017 were signed into law while 189 were vetoed.
An analysis of these legislative efforts shows that an average Assembly member introduced 37 bills and successfuly saw 12 of them signed. They also put forward four resolutions, with two receiving approval. Resolutions, though legally non-binding, address issues such as designating May 24, 2024, as Schizophrenia Awareness Day, illustrating the varied focus of legislative efforts that range from significant legal stipulations to public awareness.
The role of party dominance is starkly evident in these figures. Democratic members of the Assembly, leveraging their 62-seat strength out of 80, introduced 38 bills on average and witnessed 15 become law. Conversely, the average Republican Assembly member introduced 35 bills and secured the governor’s signature on just eight.
A similar party dominance prevails in the state Senate, which consists of 31 Democrats and 9 Republicans. Here, Democrats introduced an average of 36 bills, with 18 getting enacted, while their Republican counterparts saw only seven of their 30 proposed bills become law.
Despite the apparent advantage, Democrats faced a higher rate of vetoes, bearing 74 compared to 16 for the Republicans. This was indicative of a higher legislative output from the Democrats, who introduced nearly three times as many bills as Republicans across both chambers.
While the ability to pass legislation is a key marker of a legislator’s effectiveness, Micheli emphasizes that this should not be the sole criterion for assessing legislative performance. Legislators are also expected to oversee state government functions and provide constituent services, aiding residents in navigating the complexities of government processes.
The significant Democratic majority does place Republican members at a notable disadvantage. Nevertheless, as noted by American politics professor Jack Pitney of Claremont McKenna College, Republicans can still influence state business by focusing on non-partisan, practical issues that require cross-aisle support.
Pitney cites the example of Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh from Redlands, who successfully passed legislation aimed at preventing damage to underground utilities during excavation projects—a practical, yet crucial legislative achievement.
However, effectiveness can vary widely among Republicans. As noted by Marcia Godwin, a professor at the University of La Verne, while Ochoa Bogh had several bills signed into law, Assemblymember Bill Essayli from Corona did not see similar legislative success, partly due to the ideological nature of many of his bills.
Micheli urges the electorate to look beyond mere legislative productivity when evaluating their representatives. Addressing critical issues like homelessness, retail theft, the fentanyl crisis, and housing shortages, remains a significant concern for constituents, influencing their perspective on legislative effectiveness.
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