Inside the Black Box of Appropriations

Inside the Black Box of Appropriations

This post was originally published on May 10, 2023. It was updated on April 30, 2025. In May, California’s appropriations committees wield their influence in the legislative process, as the state’s budget begins to come into focus. Appropriations committees in both the Senate and Assembly have outsize power and can affect the passage of a bill in unexpected ways. Here’s a look behind the scenes. Kill bill A recent CalMatters investigation found …