Amending California’s Constitution The California Constitution, ratified in 1879, is the supreme law of the state and has been amended 525 times. This body of law is known for being quite lengthy and for allowing citizens to directly change the law of the state through the initiative process, a feature often used for major policy shifts. But first, a little background starting with the infancy of our Constitution: California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850. The state's first Constitution was adopted in 1849 and was used until 1879, when the second constitution became effective. California’s only two constitutional conventions ... Read More >
Feb 27
The Past is Always Present
LEGISLATIVE INTENT SERVICE, INC. Your partner in legislative history research for 50 years! (530) 666-1917 • www.legintent.com LIS NEWS AND NOTES This newsletter brings a bit of constitutional, legislative and administrative history … THE PAST IS ALWAYS PRESENT: RESEARCHING LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY HISTORY ... is the topic of Friday, March 6th’s Northern California Association of Law Librarians (NOCALL) Spring Institute. I am honored to be presenting on one of my favorite regulatory history topics (yes, I have a favorite regulatory topic to research): the Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC). The IWC was established by the ... Read More >
Feb 24
California’s Legislative Priorities for 2026
California’s Legislative Priorities for 2026 Part 2 of the two-year cycle of California’s legislative session is underway here in 2026 and we thought we would take a quick look at some of the goals our lawmakers are prioritizing. Targeted issues include: Protecting taxpayer dollars by defending established programs that are already paid for and relied upon and stepping up to help California residents when the federal government does not, Protecting the affordability of health care by reducing costs, preserving coverage and helping families afford health without having to give up other necessities, Building homes faster and ... Read More >
Oct 12
What is the Legislative Intent Behind a Subsequent Omission of Language in a Statute?
Clients have asked us how to use our legislative history materials in cases where an earlier bill enacts a particular word or phrase but then a subsequent bill makes changes to the statute omitting the earlier phrase. In other words, what did the Legislature intend when it omitted the earlier enacted language? Short of finding specific discussion in the legislative history research material as to why the language was left out, case law can be useful in understanding legislative intent. While Legislative Intent Service, Inc. provides an objective service summarizing the historical material provided, an added help to clients can be ... Read More >
Jan 10
How Do California’s Statutes Differ From Other States?
Every state has its own set of laws, regulations, and statutes. A statute refers to an arrangement of laws that is subject-based and permanent. The jurisdiction's legislature has passed it. According to USC Gould, as of right now, California has 29 different statutory codes. California is known to be the most heavily regulated state, but it is also known to have some of the most unique statutes and legislatures. California laws stand out against laws passed in other states for various reasons. The most prominent is that the citizens of California follow a separate constitution from the federal constitution. The California Constitution was ... Read More >
Dec 30
Happy New Year!
LEGISLATIVE INTENT SERVICE, INC. Your partner in legislative history research (530) 666‑1917 • www.legintent.com Happy New Year! We hope this finds you happy, healthy and ready to ring in 2023. While our operations have adapted (if you leave a voicemail, a team member working remotely will call you back), we remain committed to meeting your legislative intent needs. Our 2022 gratitude list includes: 1) “New” technologies that allow us to work remotely and scan legislative documents more efficiently; 2) Our partners in offices, libraries and archives; and 3) YOU! ~ Check out our 2022 Holiday Card HERE ... Read More >