The pandemic created an extraordinary legislative calendar beginning in the spring of 2020 in Sacramento. In addition to the legislature currently being out for summer recess and staff working remotely, a new budget shortfall ended many promising policy bills and budget requests. As of this writing, the legislature is planning on resuming at the end of July through the end of August with a compressed calendar.
Regarding the budget, California had a surplus of $6 billion in January 2020 when the Governor released his budget. In the May Revise, the budget reflected a $54 billion shortfall. Between the budget shortfall and the unpredictability of the legislative calendar, many worthy policy bills died, most before being heard in Committee. In January 2021, new legislative efforts will begin. There will be an even greater need, due to the pandemic, to develop trauma-informed approaches to health, education, and juvenile justice in legislation then.
Janis Lambert Connallon
Senior Health Policy Associate
Children’s Defense Fund-California
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