Senate Appropriations Committee moves 79 bills to suspense for financial evaluation

The Senate Appropriations Committee convened on May 19, 2025, in Room 2200 of the 0 Street Building for its final regular order hearing on Senate bills. The meeting began with a quorum established, allowing the committee to proceed with the agenda, which included 79 measures designated as suspense file candidates.

All authors of the bills waived their presentations, streamlining the process. The committee emphasized the importance of focusing on the fiscal aspects of each bill during public testimony, urging witnesses to avoid lengthy policy discussions.

Throughout the session, numerous bills were discussed, with testimony both in support and opposition. Notable measures included SB 79, which received support from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and several student representatives, while facing opposition from multiple cities. Similarly, SB 336 garnered backing from the mayor of San Francisco but did not face any opposition during the meeting.

The committee moved all discussed bills to suspense without objection, indicating that further evaluation of their fiscal implications will occur in future sessions. The meeting concluded with acknowledgments of attendees, including members of the Black Women's Collective and labor leaders, highlighting the engagement of various stakeholders in the legislative process.

Overall, the session was marked by a systematic approach to reviewing a large number of bills, with a clear focus on fiscal responsibility and public input. The next steps will involve assessing the financial impacts of the bills that have been moved to suspense.