# California State Legislature, 2021–2022 session

The 2021–2022 session is the most recent former session of the California State Legislature. The session first convened on December 7, 2020 and ended November 30, 2022.

## Major events
### Vacancies and special elections

* December 6, 2020: Democratic senator Holly Mitchell (30th–Los Angeles) resigns one day before the session begins to take her seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
* January 29, 2021: Democratic assemblymember Shirley Weber (79th–San Diego) resigns to become Secretary of State
* March 11, 2021: Democratic assemblymember Sydney Kamlager (54th–Los Angeles) resigns and is sworn into office after winning the March 2 special election for the 30th State Senate district to replace Mitchell
* April 19, 2021: Democratic councilmember Akilah Weber (La Mesa) is sworn into office after winning the April 6 special election for the 79th State Assembly district to replace her mother
* April 23, 2021: Democratic assemblymember Rob Bonta (18th–Alameda) resigns to become Attorney General
* May 28, 2021: Democratic policy advisor Isaac Bryan (Los Angeles) is sworn into office after winning the May 18th special election for the 54th State Assembly district to replace Kamlager
* September 7, 2021: Democratic school board member Mia Bonta (Alameda) is sworn into office after winning the August 31 special election for the 18th State Assembly district to replace her husband
* October 31, 2021: Democratic assemblymember David Chiu (17th-San Francisco) resigns to become the City Attorney of San Francisco
* December 10, 2021: Democratic assemblymember Ed Chau (49th-Arcadia) resigns to become a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court
* December 31, 2021: Democratic assemblymember Jim Frazier (11th-Discovery Bay) resigns to work in the transportation sector
* January 5, 2022: Democratic assemblymember Lorena Gonzales (80th-San Diego) resigns to become leader of the California Federation of Labor of the AFL–CIO
* January 31, 2022: Democratic assemblymember Autumn Burke (62nd-Marina Del Ray) resigns due to family challenges from the COVID-19 Pandemic
* February 22, 2022: Democratic county administrator Mike Fong (Alhambra) is sworn into office after winning the February 15 special election for the 49th State Assembly district to replace Chau
* April 6, 2022: Democratic mayor Lori Wilson (Suisun City) is sworn into office after winning the April 5 special election for the 11th State Assembly district to replace Frazier
* May 3, 2022: Democratic county supervisor Matt Haney (San Francisco) is sworn into office after winning the April 19 special election for the 17th State Assembly district to replace Chiu
* June 15, 2022: Democratic former city councilmen David Alvarez (Barrio Logan) is sworn into office after winning the June 7 special election for the 80th State Assembly district to replace Gonzales
* June 20, 2022: Democratic activist and former legislative staffer Tina McKinnor (Hawthorne) is sworn into office after winning the June 7 special election for the 62nd State Assembly district to replace Burke

### Leadership changes

* January 20, 2021: Republican senator Scott Wilk (21st–Santa Clarita) replaces senator Shannon Grove (16th–Bakersfield) as Senate minority leader, as Grove was ousted after she incorrectly blamed the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol on antifa.
* January 19, 2022: Democratic senator Mike McGuire (2nd-Healdsburg) replaces senator Robert Hertzberg (18th-Van Nuys) as Senate majority leader
* February 8, 2022: Republican assemblymember James Gallagher (3rd–Yuba City) replaces assemblymember Marie Waldron (75th–Valley Center) as Assembly minority leader.

### Legislation

In 2022, notable laws passed included:
* A new court system for people with mental illness and addiction called the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court (CARE Court)
* AB257 for unionization of fast-food workers
* AB2011 and its companion SB6 for changing permitting processes to streamline affordable housing
* AB 2097, a ban on parking minimums for buildings within 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) of public transit.
* For climate change, a variety of climate-related bills which were part of an agenda by Governor Newsom, including:
** a bill which would keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open until 2035
** a law named the California Climate Crisis Act, AB1279, which was similar to a proposed law of the same name in 2021 which did not pass
* For reproductive rights, expanded access to abortion
* For gun reform, laws which allowed victims of gun violence to sue gun manufacturers
* A law allowing the California Medical Board to discipline doctors who promote misinformation about COVID-19 vaccination
* On plastic pollution and plastic recycling, SB54 was passed which requires 65 percent of single-use plastic to be recycled by 2032; this law had been originally introduced in 2018 and had been the subject of lengthy negotiation over 4 years
In 2021, notable laws passed included:
* Several police reform laws, including SB2 which outlines a process for officers to be removed for misconduct, including facing potential civil liability
* A law to prevent wildfires through preventive measures, including through hiring more state employees
* A climate change law (AB1395) named the California Climate Crisis Act failed to pass, but a similar bill (AB1279) with the same name passed in 2022
* California HOME Act (SB9), which creates a legal process by which owners of certain single-family homes can create additional units on their property, and prohibits cities and counties from interference

## State Senate

| 31 | 9 |
| Democratic | Republican |

### Officers

| Position | Position | Name | Party | District |
| | Lieutenant Governor | Eleni Kounalakis | Democratic | |
| | President pro tempore | Toni Atkins | Democratic | 39th–San Diego |
| | Majority leader | Mike McGuire | Democratic | 2nd-Healdsburg |
| | Assistant majority leader | Susan Eggman | Democratic | 5th-Stockton |
| | Majority whip | Nancy Skinner | Democratic | 9th–Berkeley |
| | Assistant majority whips | Maria Elena Durazo | Democratic | 24th–Los Angeles |
| | Assistant majority whips | Scott Wiener | Democratic | 11th–San Francisco |
| | Democratic caucus chair | Connie Leyva | Democratic | 20th–Chino |
| | Minority leader | Scott Wilk | Republican | 21st–Santa Clarita |
| Secretary | Secretary | Erika Contreras | Erika Contreras | Erika Contreras |
| Sergeant-at-Arms | Sergeant-at-Arms | Jodie O. Barnett III | Jodie O. Barnett III | Jodie O. Barnett III |
| Chaplain | Chaplain | Sister Michelle Gorman, RSM | Sister Michelle Gorman, RSM | Sister Michelle Gorman, RSM |
The Secretary, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the chaplain are not members of the Legislature.

### Members

| District | Name | Party | Residence | Term-limited? | Notes |
| 1 | Brian Dahle | Republican | Bieber | | |
| 2 | Mike McGuire | Democratic | Healdsburg | | Majority Leader since January 19, 2022 |
| 3 | Bill Dodd | Democratic | Napa | | |
| 4 | Jim Nielsen | Republican | Red Bluff | Yes | |
| 5 | Susan Eggman | Democratic | Stockton | | |
| 6 | Richard Pan | Democratic | Sacramento | Yes | |
| 7 | Steve Glazer | Democratic | Orinda | | |
| 8 | Andreas Borgeas | Republican | Fresno | | |
| 9 | Nancy Skinner | Democratic | Berkeley | | |
| 10 | Bob Wieckowski | Democratic | Fremont | Yes | |
| 11 | Scott Wiener | Democratic | San Francisco | | |
| 12 | Anna Caballero | Democratic | Salinas | | |
| 13 | Josh Becker | Democratic | Menlo Park | | |
| 14 | Melissa Hurtado | Democratic | Sanger | | |
| 15 | Dave Cortese | Democratic | San Jose | | |
| 16 | Shannon Grove | Republican | Bakersfield | | Minority Leader March 1, 2019 to January 20, 2021 |
| 17 | John Laird | Democratic | Carmel | | |
| 18 | Robert Hertzberg | Democratic | Van Nuys | Yes | Majority Leader January 7, 2019 to January 19, 2022 |
| 19 | Monique Limón | Democratic | Santa Barbara | | |
| 20 | Connie Leyva | Democratic | Chino | | |
| 21 | Scott Wilk | Republican | Santa Clarita | | Minority Leader since January 20, 2021 |
| 22 | Susan Rubio | Democratic | Baldwin Park | | |
| 23 | Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh | Republican | Yucaipa | | |
| 24 | Maria Elena Durazo | Democratic | Los Angeles | | |
| 25 | Anthony Portantino | Democratic | La Cañada Flintridge | | |
| 26 | Ben Allen | Democratic | Santa Monica | | |
| 27 | Henry Stern | Democratic | Malibu | | |
| 28 | Melissa Melendez | Republican | Lake | Yes | |
| 29 | Josh Newman | Democratic | Fullerton | | |
| 30 | Vacant from December 7, 2020 to March 11, 2021 | Vacant from December 7, 2020 to March 11, 2021 | Vacant from December 7, 2020 to March 11, 2021 | Vacant from December 7, 2020 to March 11, 2021 | Vacant from December 7, 2020 to March 11, 2021 |
| 30 | Sydney Kamlager | Democratic | Los Angeles | | |
| 31 | Richard Roth | Democratic | Riverside | | |
| 32 | Bob Archuleta | Democratic | Pico Rivera | | |
| 33 | Lena Gonzalez | Democratic | Long Beach | | |
| 34 | Tom Umberg | Democratic | Santa Ana | | |
| 35 | Steven Bradford | Democratic | Gardena | | |
| 36 | Patricia Bates | Republican | Laguna Niguel | Yes | Minority Leader until March 1, 2019 |
| 37 | Dave Min | Democratic | Irvine | | |
| 38 | Brian Jones | Republican | Santee | | |
| 39 | Toni Atkins | Democratic | San Diego | | President pro tempore |
| 40 | Ben Hueso | Democratic | San Diego | Yes | |

## State Assembly

| 59 | 1 | 19 |
| Democratic | I | Republican |

### Officers

| Position | Position | Name | Party | District |
| | Speaker | Anthony Rendon | Democratic | 63rd–Lakewood |
| | Speaker pro tempore | Kevin Mullin | Democratic | 22nd–South San Francisco |
| | Assistant speaker pro tempore | Mia Bonta | Democratic | 18th–Alameda |
| | Majority leader | Eloise Reyes | Democratic | 47th–Grand Terrace |
| | Assistant majority leader | Chris Ward | Democratic | 78th–San Diego |
| | Assistant majority leader for policy and research | Tasha Boerner Horvath | Democratic | 76th–Encinitas |
| | Democratic caucus chair | Mike Gipson | Democratic | 64th–Carson |
| | Republican leader | James Gallagher | Republican | 3rd–Yuba City |
| Acting Chief Clerk | Acting Chief Clerk | Sue Parker | Sue Parker | Sue Parker |
| Acting Chief Sergeant-at-Arms | Acting Chief Sergeant-at-Arms | Alisa Buckley | Alisa Buckley | Alisa Buckley |
| Chaplain | Chaplain | Imam Mohammad "Yasir" Khan | Imam Mohammad "Yasir" Khan | Imam Mohammad "Yasir" Khan |
The Chief Clerk, the acting Chief Sergeant-at-Arms, and the chaplain are not members of the Legislature.

### Members

| District | Name | Party | Residence | Term-limited? | Notes |
| 1 | Megan Dahle | Republican | Bieber | | |
| 2 | Jim Wood | Democratic | Santa Rosa | | |
| 3 | James Gallagher | Republican | Yuba City | | Minority leader since February 8, 2022 |
| 4 | Cecilia Aguiar-Curry | Democratic | Winters | | |
| 5 | Frank Bigelow | Republican | O'Neals | | |
| 6 | Kevin Kiley | Republican | Rocklin | | |
| 7 | Kevin McCarty | Democratic | Sacramento | | |
| 8 | Ken Cooley | Democratic | Rancho Cordova | | |
| 9 | Jim Cooper | Democratic | Elk Grove | | |
| 10 | Marc Levine | Democratic | Greenbrae | | |
| 11 | Jim Frazier | Democratic | Discovery Bay | | Resigned on December 31, 2021 |
| 11 | Vacant from December 31, 2021 to April 6, 2022 | Vacant from December 31, 2021 to April 6, 2022 | Vacant from December 31, 2021 to April 6, 2022 | Vacant from December 31, 2021 to April 6, 2022 | Vacant from December 31, 2021 to April 6, 2022 |
| 11 | Lori Wilson | Democratic | Suisun City | | |
| 12 | Heath Flora | Republican | Ripon | | |
| 13 | Carlos Villapudua | Democratic | Stockton | | |
| 14 | Tim Grayson | Democratic | Concord | | |
| 15 | Buffy Wicks | Democratic | Oakland | | |
| 16 | Rebecca Bauer-Kahan | Democratic | Orinda | | |
| 17 | David Chiu | Democratic | San Francisco | | Resigned on October 31, 2021, to become City Attorney of San Francisco |
| 17 | Vacant from October 31, 2021 to May 3, 2022 | Vacant from October 31, 2021 to May 3, 2022 | Vacant from October 31, 2021 to May 3, 2022 | Vacant from October 31, 2021 to May 3, 2022 | Vacant from October 31, 2021 to May 3, 2022 |
| 17 | Matt Haney | Democratic | San Francisco | | |
| 18 | Rob Bonta | Democratic | Alameda | | Resigned on April 22, 2021, to become Attorney General of California |
| 18 | Vacant from April 22, 2021, to September 7, 2021 | Vacant from April 22, 2021, to September 7, 2021 | Vacant from April 22, 2021, to September 7, 2021 | Vacant from April 22, 2021, to September 7, 2021 | Vacant from April 22, 2021, to September 7, 2021 |
| 18 | Mia Bonta | Democratic | Alameda | | |
| 19 | Phil Ting | Democratic | San Francisco | | |
| 20 | Bill Quirk | Democratic | Hayward | | |
| 21 | Adam Gray | Democratic | Merced | | |
| 22 | Kevin Mullin | Democratic | South San Francisco | | |
| 23 | Jim Patterson | Republican | Fresno | | |
| 24 | Marc Berman | Democratic | Palo Alto | | |
| 25 | Alex Lee | Democratic | San Jose | | |
| 26 | Devon Mathis | Republican | Visalia | | |
| 27 | Ash Kalra | Democratic | San Jose | | |
| 28 | Evan Low | Democratic | Campbell | | |
| 29 | Mark Stone | Democratic | Scotts Valley | | |
| 30 | Robert Rivas | Democratic | Hollister | | |
| 31 | Joaquin Arambula | Democratic | Fresno | | |
| 32 | Rudy Salas | Democratic | Bakersfield | | |
| 33 | Thurston Smith | Republican | Hesperia | | |
| 34 | Vince Fong | Republican | Bakersfield | | |
| 35 | Jordan Cunningham | Republican | Paso Robles | | |
| 36 | Tom Lackey | Republican | Palmdale | | |
| 37 | Steve Bennett | Democratic | Ojai | | |
| 38 | Suzette Martinez Valladares | Republican | Santa Clarita | | |
| 39 | Luz Rivas | Democratic | North Hollywood | | |
| 40 | James Ramos | Democratic | Highland | | |
| 41 | Chris Holden | Democratic | Pasadena | | |
| 42 | Chad Mayes | Independent | Yucca Valley | | |
| 43 | Laura Friedman | Democratic | Glendale | | |
| 44 | Jacqui Irwin | Democratic | Thousand Oaks | | |
| 45 | Jesse Gabriel | Democratic | Encino | | |
| 46 | Adrin Nazarian | Democratic | North Hollywood | | |
| 47 | Eloise Reyes | Democratic | Grand Terrace | | |
| 48 | Blanca Rubio | Democratic | Baldwin Park | | |
| 49 | Ed Chau | Democratic | Arcadia | | Resigned on December 10, 2021, to become a judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court |
| 49 | Vacant from December 10, 2021 to February 22, 2022 | Vacant from December 10, 2021 to February 22, 2022 | Vacant from December 10, 2021 to February 22, 2022 | Vacant from December 10, 2021 to February 22, 2022 | Vacant from December 10, 2021 to February 22, 2022 |
| 49 | Mike Fong | Democratic | Alhambra | | |
| 50 | Richard Bloom | Democratic | Santa Monica | | |
| 51 | Wendy Carrillo | Democratic | Boyle Heights | | |
| 52 | Freddie Rodriguez | Democratic | Pomona | | |
| 53 | Miguel Santiago | Democratic | Los Angeles | | |
| 54 | Sydney Kamlager | Democratic | Los Angeles | | Resigned on March 11, 2021, to assume seat in the California State Senate |
| 54 | Vacant from March 11, 2021, to May 28, 2021 | Vacant from March 11, 2021, to May 28, 2021 | Vacant from March 11, 2021, to May 28, 2021 | Vacant from March 11, 2021, to May 28, 2021 | Vacant from March 11, 2021, to May 28, 2021 |
| 54 | Isaac Bryan | Democratic | Los Angeles | | |
| 55 | Phillip Chen | Republican | Yorba Linda | | |
| 56 | Eduardo Garcia | Democratic | Coachella | | |
| 57 | Lisa Calderon | Democratic | Whittier | | |
| 58 | Cristina Garcia | Democratic | Bell Gardens | | |
| 59 | Reggie Jones-Sawyer | Democratic | Los Angeles | | |
| 60 | Sabrina Cervantes | Democratic | Riverside | | |
| 61 | Jose Medina | Democratic | Riverside | | |
| 62 | Autumn Burke | Democratic | Marina del Rey | | Resigned on January 31, 2022 |
| 62 | Vacant from January 31, 2022 to June 20, 2022 | Vacant from January 31, 2022 to June 20, 2022 | Vacant from January 31, 2022 to June 20, 2022 | Vacant from January 31, 2022 to June 20, 2022 | Vacant from January 31, 2022 to June 20, 2022 |
| 62 | Tina McKinnor | Democratic | Hawthorne | | |
| 63 | Anthony Rendon | Democratic | Lakewood | | Speaker |
| 64 | Mike Gipson | Democratic | Carson | | |
| 65 | Sharon Quirk-Silva | Democratic | Fullerton | | |
| 66 | Al Muratsuchi | Democratic | Rolling Hills Estates | | |
| 67 | Kelly Seyarto | Republican | Murrieta | | |
| 68 | Steven Choi | Republican | Irvine | | |
| 69 | Tom Daly | Democratic | Anaheim | | |
| 70 | Patrick O'Donnell | Democratic | Long Beach | | |
| 71 | Randy Voepel | Republican | Santee | | |
| 72 | Janet Nguyen | Republican | Huntington Beach | | |
| 73 | Laurie Davies | Republican | Laguna Niguel | | |
| 74 | Cottie Petrie-Norris | Democratic | Laguna Beach | | |
| 75 | Marie Waldron | Republican | Escondido | | Minority leader from November 8, 2021, to February 8, 2022 |
| 76 | Tasha Boerner Horvath | Democratic | Encinitas | | |
| 77 | Brian Maienschein | Democratic | San Diego | | |
| 78 | Chris Ward | Democratic | San Diego | | |
| 79 | Shirley Weber | Democratic | San Diego | | Resigned on January 28, 2021, to become Secretary of State of California |
| 79 | Vacant from January 28, 2021, to April 19, 2021 | Vacant from January 28, 2021, to April 19, 2021 | Vacant from January 28, 2021, to April 19, 2021 | Vacant from January 28, 2021, to April 19, 2021 | Vacant from January 28, 2021, to April 19, 2021 |
| 79 | Akilah Weber | Democratic | La Mesa | | |
| 80 | Lorena Gonzalez | Democratic | San Diego | | Resigned on January 5, 2022 to become head of the California Labor Federation |
| 80 | Vacant from January 5, 2022 to June 15, 2022 | Vacant from January 5, 2022 to June 15, 2022 | Vacant from January 5, 2022 to June 15, 2022 | Vacant from January 5, 2022 to June 15, 2022 | Vacant from January 5, 2022 to June 15, 2022 |
| 80 | David Alvarez | Democratic | Barrio Logan | | |