Appropriations Committee dispenses with consent and suspense calendars, advances dozens of bills

The Assembly Appropriations Committee began its May 6 hearing by noting 388 bills on the agenda and rapidly moved through long consent and suspense calendars, approving numerous "do pass" motions and placing others on call for later consideration.

The chair described two consent motions: one for bills eligible for the Assembly floor consent calendar and a second for bills that enjoy unanimous committee support but are not consent-calendar eligible. The committee secretary read long lists of bill numbers for both categories; the chair reported those bills "are out on a roll call" or "on call" as appropriate.

Throughout the session members presented bills across policy areas — from education governance (AB 2117) and hepatitis C treatment access (AB 1843) to consumer protections for rent-now-pay-later products (AB 2350) and reforms to a century-old cannery law (AB 2706). Multiple measures were recorded as advanced on roll calls; for many items the transcript indicates the motion was "do pass" (some "as amended") and lists members who did not vote on specific items.

The committee called and deemed the suspense calendar approved after an extended reading of suspense items and then opened the meeting to general public comment, where dozens of individuals and organizational representatives stated positions on bills including AB 1729 (telework), AB 2497 (physical therapy modernization) and AB 1603 (PFAS in pesticides).

What happens next: Bills advanced from Appropriations may proceed to the floor or further committee steps; those placed "on call" or on the suspense calendar will return for future committee action. The committee adjourned after general public comment.