Legislative Updates

Overview

Legislative Updates

The CFT Legislative Department introduces and lobbies for passage of union-sponsored bills. To communicate the progress of these and other priority bills, the department publishes regular Legislative Updates, which are posted below.  In addition, you may find legislative information in these places also. 

  • State Budget Briefs track and analyze education expenditures in the California budget.
  • Legislative Report is a comprehensive listing of our positions on all bills of interest to the CFT, but published less frequently.
  • Legislative Scorecard is published annually and tracks how legislators vote on bills and issues that matter to CFT members. The California Labor Federation also publishes an annual scorecard.
Article Coronavirus
Legislative Action

Governor signs 10 important bills to close unprecedented session
Legislative Update

August 31 marked the end of an unprecedented two-year legislative session, one in which the number of bills heard was pared down because of the COVID-19 pandemic and all hearings were held online.

Governor Newsom had until September 30 to sign or veto those bills that made it to his desk. Below is a summary of several CFT priority bills that the governor has either signed or are on his desk awaiting his action. Bills without an emergency clause and signed into law will take effect on January 1, 2021.

Article Coronavirus State Budget
Legislative Action

Pandemic leads to big cuts for education in May Revision
Legislative Update

Governor Newsom released the May Revision to the 2020-21 state budget on May 14. California began 2020 with a solid fiscal foundation. As the proposal notes, the state started the year with a “strong and diverse economy, historic reserves, and a structurally balanced budget.

The state had eliminated past budgetary debts and deferrals and was making extraordinary payments to reduce pension liabilities. In January, a budget surplus of $5.6 billion was projected for the 2020-21 fiscal year. Revenues through March were running $1.35 billion above projections.

Article Coronavirus
Legislative Action

Legislature passes three emergency coronavirus bills
Legislative Update

The California Legislature took emergency action yesterday and passed Senate Bill 117 to address several of the issues confronting schools and their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. SB 17 and two other emergency bills passed by the Legislature will take effect immediately. 

The CFT will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates from the California Legislature. 

Article Coronavirus
Legislative Action

CFT introduces new bills, emergency legislative recess delays action
Legislative Update

The CFT was successful in introducing sponsored legislation for 2020. Our new bills address priority issues for the CFT, including providing affordable housing for public school employees, ensuring that school employees who are on extended medical leave receive full pay, requiring charter schools to participate in CalSTRS and CalPERS, and providing support for community college and University of California faculty.