The California Legislature is setting a new limit on the number of bills lawmakers can file

Four thousand, eight hundred and twenty-one: That’s the number of bills introduced by the California legislature in the last legislative session. Those responsible say this is too much and are setting new limits.

Last year, members of parliament could submit a maximum of 50 bills and senators 40. Now both are limited to 35 after both chambers adopted new rules for the legislative session that began this week.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said this will help lawmakers narrow their focus — and suggests they spend their time on bills that promote affordability. The Salinas Democrat cited the need for legislation that lowers energy costs and supports the construction of more housing.

“Everyone in this room has good and important ideas, but we all know our time and energy here are limited,” he told the congregation Monday after new members were sworn in.

Alex Vassar, a spokesman for the California State Library, said the new legislative cap could prompt lawmakers to pack a similar amount of ideas into fewer bills.

“So instead of trying to solve one problem with one bill, a legislator might introduce a bill that’s a little bit more comprehensive and tries to address two different problems,” he said.

Lawmakers first introduced legislative caps in the 1990s, which have fluctuated since then.

Vassar said help with staffing capacity is limited.

“Every bill, as it goes through committee, as it gets to the floor, is analyzed by staff,” he explained. “The more invoices go through the system, the more work it means for employees.”

Vassar added that when billing volumes are high, not everyone is adequately accounted for.

“Limiting the number of bills really allows staff and members to spend more time thinking about each proposal,” he said.

Nearly half of the bills proposed last session were signed or vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

In 1957, there were nearly 7,000 bills ever filed in the California Legislature.