SB 702: Legislative and gubernatorial appointments: report.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes various boards and commissions in state government with specified duties and responsibilities. Existing law generally provides for legislative oversight of state board formation, which includes, among other things, any administrative or regulatory board, commission, and committee, whose members are appointed by the Governor, the Legislature, or both. Existing law requires the Governor to appoint every officer whose mode of appointment is not prescribed by law.

This bill would require the office of the Governor, commencing January 1, 2027, to maintain on its internet website a list of each state board and commission and the membership list, stated purpose, duties, meeting frequency, internet website, and vacancies in the membership for each board or commission. The bill would require the office of the Governor, on or before January 31, 2028, and annually on January 31 thereafter, to create and publish on its internet website a report containing aggregate demographic information, as defined, of appointments made by the office during the prior calendar year, as specified.

The bill would require the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the Assembly, commencing January 1, 2027, to maintain on their respective internet websites, or to include a link on their respective internet websites to any available resources that contain, a list of each state board or commission that each house has appointment authority over and the membership list, stated purpose, duties, meeting frequency, internet website, and any vacancies in the membership for that board or commission. The bill would also require the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the Assembly, on or before January 31, 2028, and annually on January 31 thereafter, to publish on their respective internet websites, to the extent available, aggregate demographic information, as defined, on their respective legislative appointments, made during the prior calendar year, as specified. The bill would require the aggregate demographic information to only include legislative appointments created by statute, and prohibit the information from including ex officio appointments of members of the Senate and the Assembly.

The bill would require the above-described published aggregate demographic information on gubernatorial or legislative appointments to, among other things, be published on the respective entity’s internet websites in a prescribed manner for purposes of ensuring the anonymity of the appointed individuals.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 14 · Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 6, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 423, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 6, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 22, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
4. September 10, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2798.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. September 9, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. September 9, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3090.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. September 3, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. September 3, 2025Ordered to third reading.
9. September 3, 2025Read third time and amended.
10. September 2, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
11. August 29, 2025From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 29).
12. July 16, 2025July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.