Assembly members move 14 bills to suspense file without committee objections

The Senate Appropriations Committee of the California State Senate convened on July 14, 2025, to review a series of bills, primarily focusing on their fiscal implications. The meeting proceeded with a structured agenda, where multiple Assembly Bills (AB) were discussed, with many moving to suspense files without objection.

The session began with AB 650, which was quickly moved to suspense after no questions were raised from the committee. This pattern continued with AB 653, AB 670, AB 689, and AB 1007, all of which were similarly placed in suspense following brief testimonies in support and opposition, and without any inquiries from committee members.

AB 690, presented by Assemblymember Schultz, faced opposition from the Department of Finance due to concerns about additional costs not accounted for in the 2025 budget. Despite this, it was also moved to suspense without objection. The committee then reviewed AB 694, where the Department of Finance highlighted potential administrative costs of $571,000 in 2026 and ongoing costs of $1.1 million, yet it too was placed in suspense.

The committee continued with AB 772 and AB 775, both of which were moved to suspense after receiving testimonies and facing opposition from the Department of Finance regarding their fiscal impacts. Notably, AB 775 was projected to incur costs of $177,000 in the first year and $170,000 ongoing.

Subsequent bills, including AB 798, AB 846, and AB 947, followed the same trajectory, moving to suspense without objection after brief discussions. AB 1440, presented by Assemblymember Connolly, was noted for its absorbable costs by relevant departments, while AB 1011 raised concerns about potential general fund costs due to longer prison stays.

The meeting concluded with several more bills, including AB 1272 and AB 1288, being moved to suspense. The committee chair emphasized the importance of fiscal impact assessments for ongoing discussions.

Overall, the meeting reflected a systematic approach to evaluating the fiscal implications of proposed legislation, with many bills being set aside for further consideration as the committee continues to assess their financial viability. The next steps involve gathering additional fiscal data from stakeholders to inform future discussions.