January 11 , 2024
Golden State Republican Women
Janet Price, President
Submitted by the GSRW Legislative Analyst Committee
Karen Contreras, Lou Ann Flaherty and Elaine Freeman,
The California Legislature reconvened on January 3, 2024 and introduced more than 100 new bills. They are also working on consideration of Governor vetoed bills that occurred in late 2023.
Following are some newly introduced bills including some that have already been marked for January hearings:
AB 1776, as introduced, Ta. Year-round standard time.
Existing state law, Proposition 7, an initiative measure approved by the voters at the November 6, 2018, statewide general election, sets the standard time for California and sets daylight saving time to begin each March and end each November. Proposition 7 authorizes the Legislature to amend these provisions by a 2/3 vote to change the dates and times of the daylight saving time period, consistent with federal law, and authorizes the Legislature to amend these provisions by a 2/3 vote to provide for the application of year-round daylight saving time when authorized by federal law.
This bill would repeal daylight saving time in the state and the provisions regarding the Legislature’s authority to amend the above-described provisions by a 2/3 vote. The bill would instead require the state and all political subdivisions of the state to observe year-round standard time. The bill would exempt the state and all political subdivisions of the state from the provisions of federal law that establish the advancement of time.
AB 1778, as introduced, Connolly. Vehicles: electric bicycles.
Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, a “class 2 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 3 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. Existing law prohibits a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 3 electric bicycle. Existing law requires a person operating, or riding upon, a class 3 electric bicycle to wear a helmet, as specified. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime.
This bill would additionally prohibit a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 2 electric bicycle. The bill would require a person operating, or riding upon, a class 2 electric bicycle to wear a helmet, as specified. The bill would clarify that an electric bicycle can only be placed in a certain class if it ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a max speed regardless of the mode.
SB 575, as amended, Wahab. Marriage: prohibition on minors.
(1) Existing law authorizes an unmarried person who is under 18 years of age to marry upon obtaining a court order granting permission and the written consent of at least one of the parents or the guardian of each underage party to the marriage, as specified. Existing law requires the court, if it considers it necessary, as part of the court order granting permission to marry, to require the parties to the prospective marriage of a minor to participate in premarital counseling, as specified.
Existing law provides that 2 unmarried, unrelated adults who have chosen to share one another’s lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring may establish a domestic partnership by filing a declaration with the Secretary of State, if certain requirements are met. Existing law provides that a person under 18 years of age who, together with the person with whom the person proposes to establish a domestic partnership, meets the requirements for a domestic partnership other than the requirement of being at least 18 years of age, is capable of consenting to and establishing a domestic partnership upon obtaining a court order granting permission to the underage person or persons to establish a domestic partnership. Under existing law, registered domestic partners have the same rights, protections, and benefits as spouses.
This bill would repeal the authorization for a person under 18 years of age from being issued a marriage license or from establishing a domestic partnership, thereby prohibiting a person under 18 years of age from being issued a marriage license or from establishing a domestic partnership, unless that person is an emancipated minor. The bill would make conforming changes.
(2) Existing law required the State Registrar to create a document no later than March 1, 2020, concerning marriage certificates in which one or both of the parties were minors at the time of solemnization of the marriage. Existing law requires the State Registrar to update that document annually, as specified. Existing law requires the local registrar to submit specified information for the purposes of that report.
This bill would instead require that report to contain information concerning marriage certificates in which one or both of the parties were emancipated minors at the time of solemnization of the marriage.
Hearing: Jan 11 @ 9:30 am in 1021 O Street, Room 2100
SB 689, as amended, Blakespear. Local coastal program:. bicycle lane: amendment.
The California Coastal Act of 1976 requires any person wishing to perform or undertake any development in the coastal zone, as defined, in addition to obtaining any other permit required by law from any local government or from any state, regional, or local agency, to obtain a coastal development permit, as provided. The act requires the issuance of a coastal development permit if the proposed development is in conformity with the certified local coastal program. The act provides for the certification of local coastal programs by the California Coastal Commission.
This bill would provide that an application by a local government to convert an existing motorized vehicle travel lane into a dedicated bicycle lane shall not require a traffic study for the processing of either a coastal development permit or an amendment to a local coastal program. The bill would require, if a proposal to create a dedicated bicycle lane within the developed portion of an existing right-of-way requires an amendment to a local coastal program, the amendment be processed according to specified law, if the executive director of the commission makes specified determinations.
Hearing: Jan 9 @ 9:30 am in 1021 O Street, Room 2100
Hearing: Jan 9 @ 1:30 pm in 1021 O Street, Room 1200
SB 53, as amended, Portantino. Firearms: storage.
Existing law generally regulates the possession of firearms, including imposing storage requirements to prevent children from gaining access to firearms.
This bill would, beginning on July 1, 2025, prohibit a person from keeping or storing a firearm in a residence owned or controlled by that person unless the firearm is stored in a locked box or safe that is listed on the Department of Justice’s list of approved firearms safety devices and is properly engaged so as to render it inaccessible by any person other than the owner, as specified. The bill would make a first violation of this offense punishable as an infraction, and a second or subsequent violation punishable as a misdemeanor. The bill would exempt firearms that are permanently inoperable from these provisions. T
he bill would require the Department of Justice to promptly engage in a public awareness and education campaign to inform residents about these standards for storage of firearms. The bill would additionally prohibit a person convicted under these provisions from owning, purchasing, receiving, or possessing a firearm within one year of the conviction, as specified. The bill would make a violation of this provision punishable as a misdemeanor or felony. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Hearing: Jan 9 @ 9:00 am in 1021 O Street, Room 2200
SB 251, as amended, Newman. Candidates’ statements: false statements.
Existing law permits a candidate for nonpartisan elective office, and an officer whose recall is being sought, to file with the elections official a candidate’s statement that includes a brief description of the candidate’s education and qualifications. Existing law requires an elections official to include in the county voter information guide a candidate’s statement from a candidate for nonpartisan elective office and from an officer whose recall is being sought.
Existing law prohibits a candidate for nonpartisan elective office, or an incumbent in a recall election, to knowingly make a false statement of material fact in the candidate’s statement with the intent to mislead the voters in connection with the candidate’s campaign for nomination or election to an office. Violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000.
This bill would increase the maximum fine amount to $5,000.
Hearing: Jan 9 @ 9:00 am in 1021 O Street, Room 2200
Hearing: Jan 9 @ 1:30 pm in 1021 O Street – Room 2200
Legislative Portal links- Express your support or opposition to a bill or directly to the Legislative committee currently reviewing it (as an individual, not as a member of RW or GSRW) – click here, or the bill’s author – click here, enter your bill # and look for tab at top of the bill page labeled “Comments to Author”.
