The 1995–96 session was a former session of the California State Legislature. The session first convened on December 5, 1994 and adjourned sine die on November 30, 1996.
Major events
Vacancies and special elections July 8, 1994: Republican state senator Frank Hill (29th–Whittier) resigned after being convicted of extortion, money laundering, and conspiracy in a corruption scandal. January 2, 1995: Republican state senator Marian Bergeson (35th–Newport Beach) resigned after being elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors. January 23, 1995: Republican assemblyman Dick Mountjoy (59th–Arcadia) is expelled from the State Assembly. Mountjoy had been simultaneously elected in the November elections to the state assembly and the state senate, the latter in a special election for the 29th State Senate district to replace Hill. Mountjoy was first sworn into the Assembly in December intending to elect a Republican speaker, but was expelled for attempting to hold both offices. He was sworn into the State Senate on January 24. May 11, 1995: Republican assemblyman Ross Johnson (72nd–Placentia) is sworn into office after winning the May 9 special election for the 35th State Senate district to replace Bergeson. Earlier, he had moved his residence to Irvine to run in the district. May 18, 1995: Republican Gary Miller of Diamond Bar is sworn into office after Independent Paul Horcher (60th–Diamond Bar) was recalled on May 16. June 7, 1995: Republican Bob Margett of Arcadia is sworn into office after winning the June 6 special election for the 59th State Assembly district to replace Mountjoy. August 22, 1995: A recall election against Democratic assemblyman Michael Machado (17th–Linden) failed, and Machado remained in office. September 13, 1995: Republican Dick Ackerman of Fullerton is sworn into office after winning the September 12 special election for the 72nd State Assembly district to replace Johnson. November 29, 1995: Republican Scott Baugh of Huntington Beach is sworn into office after Republican Doris Allen (67th–Cypress) was recalled on November 28. December 14, 1995: Republican state senator Tom Campbell (11th–Campbell) and Democratic assemblyman Willie Brown (13th–San Francisco) resigned. Campbell was elected to the United States House of Representatives in a December 12 special election for California's 15th congressional district, while Brown was elected to become Mayor of San Francisco. March 28, 1996: Democratic assemblyman Byron Sher (21st–Palo Alto) is sworn into office after winning the March 26 special election for the 11th State Senate district to replace Campbell. Democrat Carole Migden of San Francisco is sworn into office after winning the March 26 special election for the 13th State Assembly district to replace Brown. April 15, 1996: Democratic assemblywoman Juanita Millender-McDonald (55th–Carson) resigned after being elected to the United States House of Representatives in a March 26 special election for California's 37th congressional district.
Leadership changes December 5, 1994 – January 23, 1995: The Assembly had no speaker after the chamber deadlocked on a 40–40 vote between Democrat Willie Brown (13th–San Francisco) and Republican Jim Brulte (63rd–Rancho Cucamonga), with Paul Horcher (60th–Diamond Bar) voting with the Democrats. On January 24, Brown was elected speaker on a 40–39 vote after expelling Dick Mountjoy (see above). January 2, 1995: Democrat Gray Davis is sworn in as Lieutenant Governor (who is also President of the State Senate) to succeed fellow Democrat Leo T. McCarthy. June 5, 1995: Republican assemblywoman Doris Allen (67th–Cypress) is elected speaker with the support of Democrats to succeed Brown. Brown remained Democratic leader in the State Assembly. August 21, 1995: Assemblyman Curt Pringle (68th–Garden Grove) is elected Republican leader after Jim Brulte (63rd–Rancho Cucamonga) resigned the position on August 18. August 24, 1995: Republican state senator Kenneth L. Maddy (14th–Fresno) is ousted from the position of Republican state senate leader by Rob Hurtt (34th–Garden Grove). September 14, 1995: Republican assemblyman Brian Setencich (30th–Fresno) is elected speaker with the support of Democrats and Allen to succeed Allen. December 18, 1995: Assemblyman Richard Katz (39th–Sylmar) is elected Democratic leader after Willie Brown (13th–San Francisco) resigned from the State Assembly. January 4, 1996: Republican assemblyman Brian Setencich (30th–Fresno) is ousted from the speakership by fellow Republican Curt Pringle (68th–Garden Grove).
Party changes December 5, 1994: Assemblyman Paul Horcher (60th–Diamond Bar) leaves the Republican Party to become an Independent on the first day of the legislative session. December 5, 1995: Assemblyman Dominic L. Cortese (23rd–San Jose) leaves the Democratic Party for the Reform Party.
Senate Affiliation Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Democratic Independent Republican Vacant End of previous legislature 23 2 14 39 1 Begin 21 2 16 39 1 January 2, 1995 15 38 2 January 24, 1995 16 39 1 May 11, 1995 17 40 0 December 14, 1995 16 39 1 March 28, 1996 22 40 0 Latest voting share
Officers Position Name Party District Notes Lieutenant Governor Leo T. McCarthy Democratic Until January 2, 1995 Gray Davis Democratic From January 2, 1995 onward President pro tempore Bill Lockyer Democratic 10th–Hayward Minority leader Kenneth L. Maddy Republican 14th–Fresno Until August 24, 1995 Rob Hurtt Republican 34th–Garden Grove From August 24, 1995 onward
Members District Name Party Residence Term-limited? Notes 1 Tim Leslie Republican Tahoe City 2 Mike Thompson Democratic St. Helena 3 Milton Marks Democratic San Francisco 4 Maurice Johannessen Republican Redding 5 Patrick Johnston Democratic Stockton 6 Leroy F. Greene Democratic Carmichael 7 Daniel Boatwright Democratic Concord Yes 8 Quentin L. Kopp Independent San Francisco 9 Nicholas C. Petris Democratic Oakland Yes 10 Bill Lockyer Democratic Hayward 11 Tom Campbell Republican Campbell Resigned on December 14, 1995 Vacant from December 14, 1995, to March 28, 1996 Byron Sher Democratic Palo Alto Took office on March 28, 1996 12 Dick Monteith Republican Modesto 13 Al Alquist Democratic San Jose Yes 14 Kenneth L. Maddy Republican Fresno 15 Henry J. Mello Democratic Watsonville Yes 16 Jim Costa Democratic Fresno 17 Don Rogers Republican Tehachapi Yes 18 Jack O'Connell Democratic Carpinteria 19 Cathie Wright Republican Simi Valley 20 Herschel Rosenthal Democratic Los Angeles 21 Newton Russell Republican Glendale 22 Richard Polanco Democratic Los Angeles 23 Tom Hayden Democratic Los Angeles 24 Hilda Solis Democratic El Monte 25 Teresa Hughes Democratic Inglewood 26 Diane Watson Democratic Los Angeles 27 Robert G. Beverly Republican Long Beach Yes 28 Ralph Dills Democratic Gardena 29 Vacant from July 8, 1994, to January 24, 1995 Dick Mountjoy Republican Arcadia Took office on January 24, 1995 30 Charles Calderon Democratic Whittier 31 Bill Leonard Republican San Bernardino Yes 32 Ruben S. Ayala Democratic Chino 33 John Lewis Republican Orange 34 Rob Hurtt Republican Garden Grove 35 Marian Bergeson Republican Newport Beach Yes Resigned on January 2, 1995 Vacant from January 2, 1995, to May 11, 1995 Ross Johnson Republican Irvine Took office on May 11, 1995 36 Ray Haynes Republican Riverside 37 David G. Kelley Republican Idyllwild 38 William A. Craven Republican Oceanside 39 Lucy Killea Independent San Diego Yes 40 Steve Peace Democratic Chula Vista
Assembly Affiliation Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Reform Independent Democratic Republican Vacant End of previous legislature 0 0 47 33 80 0 Begin 0 0 39 41 80 0 December 5, 1995 1 40 January 23, 1995 1 39 39 79 1 May 11, 1995 38 78 2 May 18, 1995 0 39 June 5, 1995 1 38 June 7, 1995 39 79 1 September 13, 1995 40 80 0 September 14, 1995 2 39 November 29, 1995 1 40 December 5, 1995 1 38 December 14, 1995 37 79 1 January 4, 1996 37 1 40 March 28, 1996 April 15, 1996 36 78 2 Latest voting share
Officers Position Name Party District Notes Speaker Willie Brown Democratic 13th–San Francisco From January 24, 1995 until June 5, 1995 Doris Allen Republican 67th–Cypress From June 5, 1995, to September 14, 1995 Brian Setencich Republican 30th–Fresno From September 14, 1995, to January 4, 1996 Curt Pringle Republican 68th–Garden Grove From January 4, 1996 onward Minority leader Jim Brulte Republican 63rd–Rancho Cucamonga Until June 5, 1995 Willie Brown Democratic 13th–San Francisco From June 5, 1995, to September 14, 1995 Richard Katz Democratic 39th–Sylmar From September 14, 1995 onward
Members