Stop Politicians from Violating Our Constitutional Rights Act of 2025.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on enforcement consistency and the exact number of possible reductions in salary.

Stop Politicians from Violating Our Constitutional Rights Act

This act would reduce the salaries of California legislators and governors if they vote for or sign laws later found unconstitutional by federal courts.

What This Bill Does

• Reduces a legislator's salary by 25% for one year if they voted in favor of a law that is later ruled unconstitutional by a federal court, up to the full annual salary of the legislator.
• Requires the governor to forfeit their salary for one year for each law they sign that is later found unconstitutional, up to the number of years they remain in office.

Who It Names or Affects

• Members of the California Legislature who voted in favor of laws that are later ruled unconstitutional by federal courts.
• The Governor of California if they signed a law that is later found unconstitutional by federal courts.

Terms To Know

Constitutional rights

Rights protected by the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions, such as freedom of speech or religion.

Federal court ruling

A decision made by a federal court that determines whether something is in line with the laws and constitution.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill was passed by the legislature but died at the Governor's desk.
• It does not specify how many times a legislator or governor could have their salary reduced, only up to the full annual salary for legislators and up to the number of years in office for governors.

Official Summary Text

ACA 1, as introduced, DeMaio.
Stop Politicians from Violating Our Constitutional Rights Act of 2025.
The California Constitution vests the legislative power of the State in the California Legislature, which consists of the Senate and Assembly. Under the California Constitution, a bill may not be passed unless, by rollcall vote entered in the journal, a majority of the membership of each house concurs, except for certain bills that require a higher threshold vote. The California Constitution requires a bill passed by the Legislature to be presented to the Governor and provides that the bill becomes a statute if it is signed by the Governor or if it is in the possession of the Governor and is not returned to the house of origin within a specified number of days.
The California Constitution creates the California Citizens Compensation Commission and requires the commission to establish the annual salary and other benefits of state officers,
including the Governor and the Members of the Legislature.
Under this measure, a Member of the Legislature who voted in favor of a law that is enacted and that is held unconstitutional by a final ruling of a federal court would have their salary reduced by 25% for one year or until the Member leaves that office, whichever is shorter. The measure would require the Member to have their salary reduced by 25% for each law they voted in favor of that was held unconstitutional, not to exceed the amount of the Member’s salary. The measure would also require a Governor who signs a law that is held unconstitutional by a final ruling of a federal court to forfeit their salary for one year or until they leave office, whichever is shorter. The measure would require the Governor to forfeit their salary for one year for each law held unconstitutional, not to exceed the number of years the Governor continues to hold that office.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF