The California Assembly convened on December 2, 2024, for its Floor Session, focusing on the adoption of new house rules for the upcoming 2025-26 regular session. The session began with the introduction of House Resolution 4 (HR 4) by Assembly Member Acele, which aimed to establish a set of rights for the minority party within the Assembly. Acele emphasized the importance of ensuring that the voices of the minority, representing over 9 million Californians, are heard and respected in legislative discussions.

HR 4 proposed five specific rights for the minority party, including the right to make committee appointments, ensure bill hearings, provide uninterrupted speaking time in committee, guarantee fair floor proceedings, and protect members from retaliation for their legislative actions. Acele argued that these rights are essential for fostering debate and improving policy outcomes, especially in a supermajority environment.

However, the resolution faced immediate opposition. The Majority Leader moved to lay HR 4 on the table, which was seconded and subsequently passed with a vote of 57 to 19, effectively sidelining the proposal. Following this, Assembly Member De Maio raised concerns about the lack of access to the supermajority's rules package, which had not been shared with the minority until the meeting. He called for a recess to allow members time to review the lengthy document, but this motion failed with a vote of 19 to 56.

The Assembly then proceeded to House Resolution 1 (HR 1), presented by Assembly Member Pacheco. This resolution outlined various changes to the standing rules, including revisions to the assembly's structure, committee organization, and procedural clarifications aimed at enhancing legislative efficiency. HR 1 was adopted with a vote of 58 to 19.

Next, House Resolution 2 (HR 2) was introduced by Majority Leader Agha Karim, designating non-member officers for the session. Sue Parker was reappointed as Chief Clerk, and Cheryl Craft was promoted to Chief Sergeant at Arms. HR 2 passed unanimously with 76 votes in favor.

The session concluded with the swearing-in of Parker and Craft, followed by the introduction of House Resolution 3 (HR 3), which authorized routine administrative functions for the Assembly. HR 3 also passed unanimously.

Overall, the session highlighted the ongoing tensions between the majority and minority parties, particularly regarding procedural rights and access to legislative materials, while also establishing the framework for the Assembly's operations in the upcoming session.