WhatMatters

Realtors are funding an initiative on the November ballot that would give homeowners 55 and older a property tax break. Oddly, they’re already proposing a repeat for 2020.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to limit electric utilities’ liability costs for future fires faced tough questions at a committee hearing even as utility representatives said the change is needed to keep them solvent.

Legislation that would alter liability law for California utilities whose equipment sparks wildfires faces a show-down today before a special two-house legislative conference committee.

Actress Jane Fonda and Jennifer Siebel Newsom, appearing on a panel across in Sacramento from the Capitol, called for passage of legislation to limit forced workplace arbitration agreements.

Legislators convened Monday to focus on hundreds of bills left to approve or kill in the final four weeks of the session—and raise money from the interests that care deeply about those bills

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein remains adamantly opposed to draining Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, the source of water for 2.6 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area water. Sen. Kevin de Leon, challenging Feinstein, has not weighed in on the issue.

The Trump administration proposed to revamp—and loosen—fuel mileage standards, challenging California’s authority to regulate air pollution within its borders, and enraging California officials.

Gov. Jerry Brown warned that the high cost of liability for wildfires could be the end of private utilities such as Pacific Gas & Electric.

Ten California Congress members sent a letter to the Trump administration warning that the escalating trade war is damaging farm exports. Some could pay a price if they can't persuade Trump to come to farmers' aid.

After touring the Carr fire devastation in Redding, Assembly Republican leader Brian Dahle added urgency to his call to thin forests to prevent fires. He has an ally in Assemblyman Jim Wood, a Democrat whose district was devastated by fire last year.