SR4 - Relative to the Standing Rules of the Senate for the 2025–26 Regular Session.

Enrolled December 03, 2024 Passed IN Senate December 02, 2024 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Resolution No. 4 Introduced by Senator Gonzalez December 02, 2024 Relative to the Standing Rules of the Senate for the 2025–26 Regular Session. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SR 4, Gonzalez. Digest Key Bill Text Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the following rules be, and the same are hereby adopted as, the Standing Rules of the Senate for the 2025–26 Regular Session: STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE Convening and Sessions Hours of Meeting 1.The Senate shall meet at 9:00 a.m. daily, except Saturdays and Sundays, unless otherwise ordered by the Senate. Calling to Order 2.The President pro Tempore, Vice Chair of the Committee on Rules, or senior member present shall call the Senate to order at the hour stated and, if a quorum is present, shall proceed with the order of business. Attendance of Senators 3.No Senator may be absent from attendance upon the Senate without first obtaining leave. A lesser number than a quorum of the Senate is authorized to send the Sergeant at Arms for any and all absent Senators at the expense of the absent Senators, unless an excuse for nonattendance made to the Senate when a quorum is present shall be judged sufficient, and in that case the expense shall be paid out of the Senate Operating Fund. The President pro Tempore, or less than a quorum present, shall have the power to issue process directly to the Sergeant at Arms to compel the attendance of Senators absent without leave. Any Senator who refuses to obey that process, unless sick or unable to attend, shall be deemed guilty of contempt of the Senate, and the Sergeant at Arms shall have power to use force as may be necessary to compel the attendance of the absent Senator, and for this purpose the Sergeant at Arms may command the force of the county, or of any county in the state. Order of Business 4.The order of business shall be as follows: (1) Rollcall. (2) Prayer by the Chaplain. (3) Pledge of Allegiance. (4) Privileges of the Floor. (5) Communications and Petitions. (6) Messages from the Governor. (7) Messages from the Assembly. (8) Reports of Committees. (9) Motions, Resolutions, and Notices. (10) Introduction and First Reading of Bills. (11) Consideration of Daily File: (a) Second Reading. (b) Special Orders. (c) Unfinished Business. (d) Third Reading. (12) Announcement of Committee Meetings. (13) Leaves of Absence. (14) Adjournment. Executive Sessions 5.When a motion is adopted to close the doors of the Senate, on the discussion of any business that may require an executive session, the Presiding Officer shall require all persons, except the Senators, Secretary, Minute Clerk, and Sergeant at Arms, to withdraw, and during the discussion of that business the doors shall remain closed. Every Senator and officer present shall keep secret all matters and proceedings concerning which secrecy shall be enjoined by order of the Senate. Officers of the Senate The President 6.The President may preside upon invitation of the Senate. The President pro Tempore 7.The President pro Tempore shall take the Chair and call the Senate to order at the hour of the meetings of the Senate. The President pro Tempore is the Presiding Officer of the Senate. It shall be the particular responsibility of the President pro Tempore to secure the prompt and businesslike disposition of bills and other business before the Senate. The President pro Tempore shall maintain order in the Senate Chamber and, in case of a disturbance or disorderly conduct outside the bar or in the gallery, the President pro Tempore shall have the power to order the same cleared. The President pro Tempore shall serve ex officio as a member of all Senate and joint committees of which the President pro Tempore is not a regular member, with all of the rights and privileges of that membership except the right to vote. In counting a quorum of any of these committees, the President pro Tempore may not be counted as a member. The Vice Chair of the Committee on Rules shall, in the absence of the President pro Tempore, perform the duties, and have all powers and authority, of the President pro Tempore. Presiding by Senators 8.The President pro Tempore of the Senate may name a Senator to perform the duties of the Chair in the absence of the President pro Tempore. The Senator so named shall be vested, during that time on the floor, with all the powers of the President pro Tempore, and the Senator who performs these duties shall be known as the Presiding Officer. In the absence of the President pro Tempore or the Vice Chair of the Committee on Rules, any Senator may perform the duties of the Chair. Secretary of the Senate 9.It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Senate to attend every session, call the roll, and read all bills, amendments, and resolutions, and all papers ordered read by the Senate or the Presiding Officer. The Secretary of the Senate shall superintend all printing to be done for the Senate. The Secretary of the Senate shall certify to, and transmit to, the Assembly all bills, joint and concurrent resolutions, constitutional amendments, and papers requiring the concurrence of the Assembly, after their passage or adoption by the Senate. The Secretary of the Senate shall also keep a correct Journal of the proceedings of the Senate, and shall notify the Assembly of the action by the Senate on all matters originating in the Assembly and requiring action on the part of the Senate. The Secretary of the Senate shall have custody of all bills, documents, papers, and records of the Senate and may not permit any of the bills, documents, records, or papers to be taken from the Desk or out of the Secretary of the Senate’s custody by any person, except in the regular course of the business of the Senate. The Secretary of the Senate is the Executive Officer of the Committee on Rules and shall act as its authorized representative in all matters delegated to the Secretary of the Senate by the committee. Initiative measures received by the Secretary of the Senate in accordance with Section 9034 of the Elections Code shall be transmitted to the Committee on Rules and referred by the Committee on Rules to the appropriate committee. Sergeant at Arms of the Senate 10.The Sergeant at Arms shall attend the Senate during all of its sittings, and shall execute the commands of the Senate from time to time, together with all process issued by its authority, as shall be directed to the Sergeant at Arms by the President pro Tempore. The Sergeant at Arms is authorized to arrest for contempt all persons outside the bar, or in the gallery, found in loud conversation or otherwise making a noise to the disturbance of the Senate. The actual expenses of the Sergeant at Arms for every arrest and for each day’s custody and release, and the Sergeant at Arms’s traveling expenses, shall be paid out of the Senate Operating Fund. The Sergeant at Arms shall place copies of all bills, joint and concurrent resolutions, constitutional amendments, Journals, Histories, and Files, when printed, on the desks of Senators, at least one hour previous to the opening of the session. If printed copies are not available, electronic copies will suffice for purposes of this rule. Elected and Appointed Officers 10.5.On the first day of each session, the President pro Tempore, members of the Committee on Rules, Secretary of the Senate, and Sergeant at Arms shall be elected by a majority vote of the duly elected and qualified Members of the Senate and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualify. The Committee on Rules shall appoint an Assistant Secretary, a Minute Clerk, a Chaplain, and other employees with such duties as the committee requires. Officers and Employees Compensation: Approval 10.6.The Controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw warrants in favor of officers and employees who render services to the Senate, as certified by the Committee on Rules or by its authorized representative, from the fund set aside for the pay of officers and employees of the Senate at the rate of compensation certified by the committee or its representative, and the Treasurer is hereby directed to pay the same. Committees of the Senate Appointment of Committees 11.The Committee on Rules shall consist of the President pro Tempore of the Senate, who shall be the chair of the committee, and four other Members of the Senate to be elected by the Senate. There is a vacancy on the committee in the event a member ceases to be a Member of the Senate or resigns from the Committee on Rules. Any vacancy occurring during a summer, interim study, or final recess, except in the case of the President pro Tempore, shall be filled by the President pro Tempore. A vacancy occurring at any other time shall be filled by election by the Senate. The President pro Tempore shall appoint all other committees of the Senate and shall designate a chair and vice chair of each committee. In making committee appointments, the President pro Tempore shall give consideration to seniority, preference, and experience. However, in making committee appointments, the President pro Tempore shall, as far as practicable, give equal representation to all parts of the state. Standing Committees 12.The standing committees of the Senate and subjects to be referred to each are set out below. The provisions set forth below as to the assignment of bills are intended as a guide to the Committee on Rules, but are not binding upon the committee. (1) Agriculture. Bills relating to agriculture. (2) Appropriations. Bills that are subject to Joint Rule 10.5 and are not referred to the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Bills that constitute a state-mandated local program. (3) Banking and Financial Institutions. Bills relating to financial institutions, lending, and corporations. (4) Budget and Fiscal Review. The Budget Bill and bills implementing the Budget. Bills that directly affect the State Budget, including deficiencies and reappropriations. (5) Business, Professions and Economic Development. Bills relating to business and professional practices, licensing, and regulations. Bills relating to economic development, commerce, and international trade. (6) Education. Bills relating to education, higher education, and related programs. Bills relating to education employee issues and collective bargaining. (7) Elections and Constitutional Amendments. Bills relating to elections and constitutional amendments, ballot measures, the Political Reform Act of 1974, and elected officials. (8) Energy, Utilities and Communications. Bills relating to public utilities and carriers, energy companies, alternative energy development and conservation, and communications development and technology. (9) Environmental Quality. Bills relating to environmental quality, environmental health, air quality, water quality, waste management, recycling, toxics, and hazardous materials and waste. (10) Governmental Organization. Bills relating to horse racing, public gaming, and alcoholic beverages. Bills relating to the management of public safety emergencies and disaster response. Bills relating to state government organization and bills regarding the use of state-controlled lands and buildings, state contracting, and interstate compacts. (11) Health. Bills relating to public health, alcohol and drug use, mental health, health insurance, managed care, long-term care, and related institutions. (12) Housing. Bills relating to housing and community redevelopment. (13) Human Services. Bills relating to welfare, social services and support, and related institutions. (14) Insurance. Bills relating to insurance, indemnity, surety, and warranty agreements. (15) Judiciary. Bills amending the Civil Code, Code of Civil Procedure, Evidence Code, Family Code, and Probate Code. Bills relating to courts, judges, and court personnel. Bills relating to liens, claims, and unclaimed property. Bills relating to privacy and consumer protection. (16) Labor, Public Employment and Retirement. Bills relating to labor, industrial safety, unemployment, workers’ compensation and insurance. Bills relating to state and local public agency collective bargaining; state and local nonschool public employees; noncertificated and classified public school employees; public retirement systems; public employees’ compensation and employment benefits, including retirement and health care; and state social security administration. (17) Local Government. Bills relating to local governmental procedure and organization. Bills relating to land use. Bills that have been considered by other committees having jurisdiction of the appropriate subject, for consideration of any questions relating to local government administration. (18) Military and Veterans Affairs. Bills relating to veterans, military affairs, and armories. Bills amending the Military and Veterans Code. (19) Natural Resources and Water. Bills relating to conservation and the management of public resources, fish and wildlife, regulation of oil, mining, geothermal development, wetlands and lakes, global atmospheric effects, ocean and bay pollution, coastal resources, forestry practices, recreation, parks, and historical resources. Bills relating to water supply management. (20) Public Safety. Bills amending the Evidence Code, relating to criminal procedure; the Penal Code; and statutes of a penal nature. Bills relating to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Board of State and Community Corrections. (21) Revenue and Taxation. Bills relating to state and local revenues and taxation, except bills described in subdivision (a) of Rule 28.9. (22) Rules. Proposed amendments to the rules and other matters relating to the business of the Legislature. (23) Transportation. Bills relating to the operation, safety, equipment, transfer of ownership, licensing, and registration of vehicles, aircraft, and vessels. Bills relating to the Department of Transportation and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Bills relating to highways, public transportation systems, and airports. The standing committees of any regular session shall be the standing committees of concurrent special or extraordinary sessions unless otherwise ordered by the Senate. Committee on Legislative Ethics 12.3.(a) (1) The Committee on Legislative Ethics is hereby created. The committee shall consist of six Senators, at least two of whom are members of the political party having the greatest number of members in the Senate and at least two of whom are members of the political party having the second greatest number of members in the Senate. The members of the committee shall serve two-year terms. The President pro Tempore and the Minority Floor Leader shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the committee. No more than one member of the Committee on Rules from each of those politica [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]