Politics

The new state budget that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed includes $55 million for the DMV to build a data-sharing system, a program meant to bring the state in compliance with the federal REAL ID law.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers reached a final budget deal last week that largely relies on AI revenue projections and new taxes to delay social service cuts and shrink future deficits.

Hospitals and a healthcare union have agreed to pull rival initiatives from the ballot, but a proposed one-time 5% tax on billionaires remains headed to November voters.

California voters will decide on 14 statewide policy proposals come November, including the high-stakes billionaire tax, an $11 billion affordable housing bond and voter ID requirements.

The final deal puts a stripped-down tax-cut measure to voters in November but doesn't touch real-estate transfer taxes.

Following years of local resistance, tech billionaires are turning to the state to fast track their plan to build a new city in the Bay Area. They are lobbying for legislation to expedite environmental review of their project, enlisting political heavyweights to make their case.

Some Democrats are divided over a bill that would cap how much homeowners associations can raise fees each year.

Ahead of a Thursday deadline, California Democrats are striking deals with interest groups to kick controversial measures off the November ballot. They are also finalizing a pair of ballot measures to fund affordable housing and allow the state to save more money in financially good years

Democratic leaders in California agree that speeding up the vote count would be nice. But they refuse to pursue any changes that would decrease voter access despite voter frustration with the slow trickle of results.

A balance act: To help fund the safety net, lawmakers have voted through a health tax extension that could increase premium costs for Californians with private insurance