Lola Smallwood-Cuevas

The California Legislature's secretive earmark process allows lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom to dole out money for projects with little public scrutiny or notice, raising transparency and equity concerns even among some lawmakers.

California leaders approved the hospital funding within days even as they questioned the narrow criteria, the amount and the number of hospitals that would qualify. The speed stunned some hospitals that are now scrambling to apply by the deadline.

California’s security guards earn low pay and have dangerous jobs. Legislative Democrats are pressuring companies to unionize.

A bill to close a loophole in a landmark housing law to make it clear which cities are affected has Democratic lawmakers divided again about the state’s role in telling cities where to build.

Labor unions are trying once again to regulate self-checkout lanes at California stores. This year’s bill waters down a version that died last session, but businesses still warn it will increase costs and lead to consumer frustration.

One of the most powerful political blocs in California, the Latino Caucus had to balance reining in Medi-Cal's rising costs with helping undocumented immigrants. All but four overcame their misgivings and voted to freeze new enrollment and make other cuts to immigrant health insurance.

The legislative analyst has a plan to fix the "structural insolvency" of the unemployment benefits fund — but businesses aren't happy and it’s unclear if lawmakers will get on board.

Reflecting concern about too many bills, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas lowered the number legislators are allowed to introduce.

Lawmakers and the governor use a fund reserved for labor enforcement to plug budget holes, and leave tens of millions unspent. Business and labor agree more of the money could be spent to hire more staff to speed investigations of wage theft claims.

A group of Democratic legislators outline a package of bills to offer more services to offenders and crime victims. The proposals come during an election year and when Democrats are divided on how to address crime.