There exists a significant amount of legislation at the state level, as anyone would surmise. Many of the laws passed at the state level are, for the most part, known by residents. However, there are amendments and resolutions that slightly alter or add to those laws; including the Constitution which has been amended 27 times since its creation. These resolutions widely go unnoticed by the public and are often dismissed by the lawmakers themselves once an alteration is passed.
These resolutions to state legislation offer little no actual enforcement and are, in essence, forms of recognition or a means to pacify constituents in times of crisis.
That isn’t to say that is the case for every law throughout legislative history.
Recently, a California legislature resolution was proposed which addressed the federal tax cuts. The Senate Joint Resolution 21 aims to correct the deficit imposed on state funding due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act by reaching out to taxpayers.
As noted before many of these resolutions are glossed over, even by those who are invested in legislation. However, the Senate Joint Resolution 21 seems to have gotten people’s attention.
The California legislative resolution to a federal position is at best, a shot in the dark. Quite simply, it asks taxpayers who “disapprove of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to donate their tax savings to the State of California’s General Fund.”
The resolution acknowledges the positive impacts the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has had at the individual level within the state, as well as some at the upper levels. However, because of the tax cuts, the state of California is considering many new tax proposals that would surely negate any benefits received.
The resolution might have supporters and opponents on both sides of the table, but even if it should pass its effect will be somewhat inconspicuous. The resolution would have no actual ability of enforcement and wouldn’t require taxpayers to make donations even if it went into effect. Also, the Senate Joint Resolution 21 (being a resolution and not California law) is only asking for donations rather than imposing them.
So whether or not the resolution passes is somewhat arbitrary, but it does show that resolutions to state legislation can be impactful and debated — despite their lack of enforcement.