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, our comprehensive Legislative Report contains positions on all bills of interest to the CFT, our State Budget Briefs track education expenditures in the California budget, and an annual Legislative Scorecard tracks how legislators vote on bills and issues that matter to CFT members.

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Legislative Action

Know the new laws for 2020
Legislative Update

The governor signed eight CFT-sponsored bills from the 2019 legislative session into law, as well as numerous others important to educators and support staff in California schools and colleges. Below is a summary of significant bills that will become law in 2020. You will also find significant bills vetoed by the governor along with his veto message. The CFT positions are indicated. The next legislative session begins when the Legislature reconvenes on January 6, 2020.

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Legislative Action

Governor signs eight union bills — landmark charter reform, loan forgiveness eligibility, classified probation
Legislative Update

September 13 marked the end of the first year of the two-year legislative session, in which an unprecedented 10 CFT-sponsored or co-sponsored bills passed the Legislature and made it to the governor’s desk for his consideration. The governor had until October 13 to sign or veto those bills that made it to his desk.

The governor signed eight of CFT’s bills and vetoed two. Six became two-year bills. In addition, the CFT succeeded in securing the enactment of Senate Concurrent Resolution 29, which recognizes the anniversary of the commencement of the UC-AFT representation of librarians.

Article Legislative Updates
Legislative Action

CFT lands an unprecedented 10 bills on the governor’s desk
Legislative Update

Of this year’s 16 CFT-sponsored or co-sponsored bills, the union lobbied successfully to pass 10 of them through the Legislature and onto the governor’s desk for his consideration. The governor has until October 13 to sign or veto the bills.

September 13 marked the end of the first year of the two-year legislative session. Six of CFT’s bills became two-year bills and will be considered again when the Legislature returns from Interim Recess on January 6. 

Article Legislative Updates
Legislative Action

Sponsored bills move to next house or become two-year bills
Legislative Update

May 31 was the last day for bills to pass out of their house of origin. The bills that were not heard on the floor in their house of origin became two-year bills. Bills that did not achieve a majority vote on the floor of their respective chamber are dead unless the author was granted reconsideration. Policy committees resumed on June 3, 2019, to begin hearing bills from the other chamber.

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Legislative Action

CFT succeeds in moving bills out of Appropriations Committee
Legislative Update

The Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committees both held their Suspense hearings May 16 to report which bills would make it out of Appropriations and go to the Floor in their respective chambers.

The CFT was successful in securing the passage of most sponsored and co-sponsored bills out of the Appropriations Committees. Those bills address priority issues for the CFT, including increasing school funding, ensuring accountability for charter schools, and providing support for community college and UC faculty.

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Legislative Action

CFT lobbies for charter reform, paid maternity leave
Legislative Update

The CFT was successful in securing the passage of a number of our sponsored and co-sponsored bills out of their first policy committees. These bills address priority issues for the CFT, including increasing funding for schools, ensuring accountability for charter schools and providing support for community college and University of California faculty.