Requirements for Approving Key Legislative Actions in California

A table showing the requirements for approving key legislative actions in California, including legislative vote thresholds, whether the governor's signature is required, and whether the voters need to sign off on the change.
* Under rules established by Prop. 25 (2010), trailer bills generally can be passed by a simple majority vote of each house of the Legislature and take effect immediately upon being signed by the governor. The only requirements for trailer bills are that they (1) be listed in the Budget Act and (2) contain an appropriation of any amount. However, even with Prop. 25, some types of trailer bills require a supermajority — generally two-thirds — vote of each house. This includes, for example, trailer bills that would raise taxes or amend a state law that was approved by voters through a ballot initiative. However, most trailer bills will need only a simple majority vote to pass.
** The state Constitution allows the Legislature to pass a majority-vote bill that amends or repeals an initiative statute. However, any such bill must be approved by voters at a statewide election unless the initiative waives this requirement. In practice, initiative statutes often allow lawmakers to pass amendments, typically by a two-thirds vote of each house, without voter approval if such changes would further the purpose of the initiative. Other types of changes, including repeal, typically remain subject to voter approval.
Source: Legislative Analyst's Office, Senate Bill 202 (Hancock, Chapter 558 of 2011), and Budget Center analysis of California ConstitutionEmbed Download imageDownload PDF