California Gov. Gavin Newsom smiles and holds up a signed document while surrounded by a group of applauding lawmakers and supporters at a bill-signing ceremony. The group, dressed largely in pink, smiles and celebrates behind him as he sits at a table bearing the governor’s seal.
Gov. Gavin Newsom at the Capitol Annex Swing Space in Sacramento on Feb. 11, 2026, after signing legislation providing funding for Planned Parenthood and reproductive health services. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

It’s official: Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed and vetoed his last bills as California governor. 

Wednesday was the final day for Newsom to weigh in on 1,160 bills that were sent to him by state legislators. 

The governor, widely understood to be gearing up for a run for president, wanted the spotlight on some bills more than others. Special attention was paid to placing guardrails on artificial intelligence and standing up to President Donald Trump. 

During his first signing ceremony, in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, Newsom signed 13 bills that aim to change how children and teens can use social media and AI, including one that prohibits social media companies from giving teens under 16 “addictive” features like infinite scroll, and another that holds companies liable if they fail to protect a child from harm. 

In the weeks since then, his team drummed a steady beat of criticism against Trump. In a news release partially titled  “THE OPPOSITE OF TRUMP!” he highlighted a new law prohibiting public officials from issuing cryptocurrency meme coins, which Trump did in 2025.

At the finish line Wednesday, he signed bills to ban child marriage, strengthen the state’s ability to rein in big business, and grant tax credits to the collapsing local news industry. 

During a news conference for the journalism bill, the governor told reporters he will have considered nearly 8,000 bills during his time in office, and the last batch is making him nostalgic.

“I love this stuff,” he said. “We’ve had more fun devouring even bills that sunset a commission, which, trust me, I didn’t spend a lot of time on before.”

CalMatters has a full rundown here.

Let us know what you think of the bills. Email us at whatmatters@calmatters.org.

Join CalMatters and the UC Student and Policy Center on Oct. 8 in Sacramento or online for a conversation with the candidates for California Insurance Commissioner. State Sen. Ben Allen and Jane Kim will share their plans to steady the state’s troubled insurance market as wildfires and other climate-driven risks grow. Register.

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Becerra and Hilton’s only debate

From left, gubernatorial candidates Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton, during CNN’s California Gubernatorial Debate at CNN’s studio in Burbank on Sept. 30, 2026. The debate was moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Photo by Grace Widyatmadja, CNN

In their only debate, Xavier Becerra repeatedly linked Republican Steve Hilton to President Donald Trump — while Hilton accused the Democrat of dodging California’s real problems.

  • Becerra: “You’re going to end up with Trump results if you follow Steve Hilton’s plans.” 

It’s a predictable strategy in the race for the governor’s office for Becerra, who enjoys a double-digit lead over Hilton in the heavily Democratic-leaning state where voters also disapprove of Trump by wide margins. Becerra has laid low since getting the most votes in the crowded all-party primary election in June, making few public appearances and agreeing only to one debate.

  • Hilton: “All you ever say is ‘Trump, Trump, Trump. And that’s nothing but an insult to every Californian who is desperate for something to change in this state.”

Read more on last night’s debate from CalMatters’ Jeanne Kuang here.

And don’t miss our Dan Walters’ commentary on the night.

Billionaire tax, explained

A large crowd fills an ornate theater, raising fists and holding signs that read “Billionaire Tax Now,” “Support Public Education” and “Keep Hospitals Open.” Supporters pack both the main floor and balcony, many holding signs urging a yes vote.
People cheer during a performance by Tom Morello at a campaign event for a proposed “billionaires tax,” in Los Angeles on Feb. 18, 2026. Photo by Jae C. Hong, AP Photo

California would have to spend money to make money under a proposition that would impose a one-time tax on the assets of the state’s 200 billionaires. 

Proposition 40 would force the state to create a new system to tax the bank accounts, investment portfolios, car collections, art galleries, wine vaults and, yes, even machine gun depots of the state’s wealthiest residents. 

They’re fighting back with two counter measures and more than $130 million in spending from one donor alone. 

But it’s not all Rolls Royces and Rothkos. The state’s definition of wealth and property would have to be broad, said UCLA tax law professor Kirk Stark. 

  • Stark: “Otherwise there would be a very simple workaround, which is, if there’s something that’s exempt then you know there would be an incentive to just shift wealth from one form to another.”

Read more by Kuang and Kristen Hwang.

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Kate Wolffe is a politics reporter at CalMatters, where she tracks whether lawmakers deliver on their promises and how their decisions show up in Californians' lives. She previously covered the California...