Capitol Corner | January 2025

The calm seas of the holiday season in Sacramento and Washington are about to become very stormy again beginning in early January.   

The State Legislature convened for its organizing session on December 2 during which new members were sworn in, rules governing both houses were adopted, and the bill introduction process was opened.  Bills have been introduced daily since then but the process is now halted until the Assembly and Senate return to the State Capitol on January 6. 

Similarly, both houses of Congress convened in a post-election “lame duck” session the purpose of which was primarily to fashion a spending mechanism to keep the government funded, at least temporarily, until the new Congress convenes in early January.  After much angst, the House and Senate passed a temporary funding bill and a few other measures including one making the bald eagle the official bird of the United States. 

But it’s now time to put tray tables up and in their upright position, and to fasten seatbelts because the legislative process on both coasts is now upon us.  Floor sessions, committee meetings, and statements galore from new and veteran State Senators, State Assembly Members, U.S. Representatives, and U.S. Senators and being developed as we speak and will be ready for distribution very soon. 

And if that’s not enough, while Governor Gavin Newsom works through his final two years in office and a host of candidates are testing the waters and raising money to work to become his successor, there is a new Sheriff (aka:  Former President and current President-Elect Donald Trump) in Washington to be inaugurated on January 20 and senior appointed officials including cabinet secretaries of the various federal government departments will be all new faces reflecting the vision and mission articulated by Mr. Trump during the recent general election. 

So as we enter into this new year, rest assured that CAHSAH has its finger on the pulse of everything that is (and will be!) happening in Sacramento and Washington in the weeks and months to come that impact our industry, and will be directly involved in representing home health, hospice, and home care when these issues affecting directly who we are, what we do, and how we do it are considered in the U.S. Capitol, the State Capitol, the White House, the Governor’s office, and throughout the bowels of federal and state government.