Facing a midnight deadline to pass most bills, the Legislature
finished its 2019-2020 session in the early morning hours on
Tuesday. Like all sectors in California, the Legislature’s year
was marked by considerable challenges resulting from the COVID-19
pandemic, including extended recesses when statewide lockdown
measures were first imposed and when two Assembly Members were
diagnosed with COVID-19 in the summer.
Despite a truncated legislative calendar, the Legislature
considered major proposals of concern to counties, including
late-breaking bills dealing with opioid litigation and a proposal
to close the State Department of Juvenile Justice and shift those
responsibilities to counties. Other topics high on the agenda
included wildfire and disaster resilience, as well as workers’
compensation legislation—not to mention a number of
budget-related issues, including Realignment backfill funding to
counties.
In addition to these big ticket items, CSAC actively engaged on
many individual measures of note, including a number of bills
that counties support and that were sent to the Governor’s desk.
Governor Newsom now has until September 30 to sign or veto these
bills. A summary of key legislation by CSAC policy area is
available at the following links:
Administration of Justice Bill Roundup
Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Bill Roundup
Health and Human Services Bill Roundup
