Economy

Anti-poverty organizations are calling for the state to target some of its projected surplus to families making up to $30,000 a year. 

A pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling could hollow out a California law that lets employees collectively sue their employers over workplace law violations. Thousands of workers have used the law to address workplace issues, sometimes winning large settlements and changing company policies. But critics say the law mostly benefits the private attorneys doing the suing.

A state senator wants to send no-strings-attached checks to homeless high school seniors in California, where basic income programs are beginning to “feel a lot more like a movement.”

California has invested heavily in switching away from gas-powered cars to meet its climate goals. Now Gov. Newsom has proposed sending out checks to car owners to help with the price of gas. That move wouldn’t necessarily prop up demand for gas — economists say people may use the money to buy other things.

State lawmakers have several proposals for sending checks to people to help with the increased cost of gas. One-time checks would be especially helpful for people with lower incomes, economists and policy experts said. Republicans are pushing to temporarily suspend the state gas tax to reduce the price of gas.

Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed pausing tax increase on gas sellers and Republican state lawmakers have pushed for suspending the tax entirely in the short term. Those plans would likely reduce the price of gas, but it’s not clear by how much. Newsom also teased a possible rebate to deal with gas prices, and a group of Assemblymembers proposed sending $400 to each California taxpayer.

California has almost $20 billion of debt from the surge in unemployment claims during the pandemic, more than any other state. One reason is California’s higher unemployment rate; another is that employer taxes haven’t kept up with increasing benefits. Now, employers will see an automatic tax increase to start paying off the debt, and Newsom has proposed spending $3 billion in state funds to reduce the debt.

A state law that requires California companies to have women on their boards is facing a legal challenge in Los Angeles, where a trial concluded Wednesday. Since the law passed in 2018, the share of women on boards has increased from 15.5% to 29%.

A new law will give most California workers up to 80 hours of COVID-related sick leave. But workers at small businesses, who make the lowest wages, won’t be covered under the new plan.

Hampered by worker illnesses and pandemic restrictions, government offices are getting creative. Obtaining building permits, paying bills and other services have moved online. But what about residents who don’t have computer access?