The operative question is does it matter that lawmakers missed the deadline yet again?

“Not really”

That’s Tim Hodson, Director of the Center for Government Studies at Sacramento State University.

“It’s in the constitution, but there is no enforceable penalty to it.”

The more important date is July first – the start of the new fiscal year.  Without a budget the state has trouble paying its bills.  They’ve missed that date more often than not, too…but Hodson says this year they’ll probably be close – because of turnover:

 “so the cultural acceptance that it’s ok to be late might well have been seriously weakened by term limits.”

He says lawmakers are also looking to make a good impression on voters, who they hope will approve a ballot measure to change term limits next year.