On Sunday, October 13, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom officially wrapped up the 2019 legislative year by taking final actions on the remaining bills sent to him by the Legislature. Governor Newsom acted on more than 1,000 bills in 2019, signing 870 and vetoing 172, or just over 16% of those that made it to his desk. In 2019, nearly 300 bills were signed which make changes to California’s Education Code. A few measures that stalled this year may return in 2020, including a proposal the League with the help of over 40 colleges opposed, which allow homeless community college students to sleep in campus parking lots (AB 302 [Berman, D]).

Today, both the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees held Suspense File hearings. Bills that survived out of the Suspense File will remain in play this year to be further debated and acted upon by the Legislature. These critical fiscal committees advanced or held over 600 bills. Lawmakers now have until September 13 to pass bills before they leave for Interim Recess.

On June 13, the California Legislature presented Governor Gavin Newsom with a 2019-20 spending plan of over $214 billion – a plan which maintained many of the Governor’s January priorities and campaign promises. Subsequent higher education trailer bill language was approved by the Legislature on June 17. Overall, the 2019 Budget Act (AB 190 and SB 73) identified three investment themes: an effective government, promoting affordability and opportunity, and supporting just and dignified treatment for all Californians.

Today, Governor Newsom presented a May Revision against a backdrop of increasing national risks and the inextricable linkage between fiscal resiliency and the state’s ability to promote affordability and economic opportunity. Building on the January Budget proposal, Governor Gavin Newsom identified three investment themes in the May Revision: an effective government, promoting affordability and opportunity, and supporting just and dignified treatment for all Californians.