Appropriations Committee advances dozens of bills from suspense file, chair says 637 bills were reviewed

The California State Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced dozens of bills from its suspense file during a May 14, 2026 hearing, and the chair said the panel had reviewed 637 bills on the file.

Chair opened the session by thanking committee and Assembly staff and emphasizing how the panel assesses measures: the committee considers the budget impact if a bill becomes law, looks for a return on investment for constituents, avoids creating new financial burdens, and seeks to bolster the state’s social safety net. "We are well aware of the budget difficulties and constraints that we are under," the Chair said, adding the panel is weighing items to protect access to health care, housing, education and other services.

Early in the hearing the chair called AB 1539 (Addis). "I see we have a motion by Mr. Fong and a second by Mr. Solace," the Chair said before announcing the motion passed on an "a" roll call for that bill. The Chair then said, "without objection, we will substitute the motion in second for all due pass or due pass with amendments on the rest of the suspense file," a procedural step that applied the same motion across the remaining measures on the file.

Vice Chair Hoover offered brief remarks thanking committee colleagues and staff for their partnership; Hoover said it was his first suspense hearing and he appreciated the opportunity to work with the committee.

Over the course of the hearing the Chair read a long series of bills by author and announced dispositions including "due pass," "due pass as amended," and several items held in committee or made contingent on future appropriations. The Chair repeatedly noted where author amendments changed bill language and where bills were advanced "out on an a roll call." In numerous instances the Chair also noted Republican members did not vote on particular actions.

The Chair told attendees that amendment language will be available on the California legislative information website and that the committee would post the suspense-file hearing results on the Assembly Appropriations Committee website (apro.assembly.ca.gov) later the same day.

The committee adjourned after completing its reading of the suspense-file items. The Chair summarized that the committee had moved a large number of bills to the Assembly floor, either as due pass or due pass with amendments, and repeated that members should consult posted materials for amendment text and full vote records.

Votes at a glance: the transcript records a motion by Mr. Fong (mover) seconded by Mr. Solace to move AB 1539 on an "a" roll call and the Chair’s substitute procedural motion that applied the same disposition to the remainder of the suspense file. The transcript does not include roll-call tallies for every bill in-line with the reading; the Chair directed that full results and amendment text be posted online.