In moments of crisis, incarcerated firefighters provide a lifeline for California. They are often the frontline in our ever-growing list of destructive wildfires and even during floods or other natural disasters.
Yet once released from prison, they struggle to get firefighting jobs, despite their qualifications.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a bill by Assemblymember Sade Elhawary that will give incarcerated firefighters credentials to help validate their experience and a preference in entry-level hiring at Cal Fire, the state’s firefighting department.
For Elhawary, whose family in Altadena was affected by the Eaton Fire last year, the bill stems in part from her own experience seeing hardworking incarcerated firefighters on the frontlines.
It took almost two years to iron out the bill because of concerns that it would create a hiring quota. This year, a formerly incarcerated firefighter and nonprofit leader, Royal Ramey, helped her negotiate language that gives formerly incarcerated firefighters preference in the hiring process without promising them a job.
- Ramey: “The bill tells incarcerated firefighters that their hard-earned experience counts.”
Read more here.
More new laws — and vetoes: Newsom is up against a Wednesday deadline to finish signing or rejecting the last bills he’ll see as governor. Stay with us, folks, we’ll be covering Newsom’s bill signings all week. Here are some highlights.
Bolstering public defense: Two new laws will force California counties to improve their public defender systems by limiting their use of low-pay contracts with private attorneys and requiring reporting on attorney caseloads. They follow a 2025 CalMatters investigation into the state’s public defense system.
Survivors vetoed: While Newsom signed a new law related to smoke damage, he vetoed two other bills put forward by fire survivor groups, who question his motives.
No new money for Delta levees: Even with an El Niño winter looming and memories of flooding still fresh, Newsom vetoed a bill aimed at shoring up the Delta’s aging levees.
Learning from disaster: Another new law tightens building rules for sites that store explosive chemicals, responding to an Orange County chemical incident that forced thousands of residents to evacuate Memorial Day weekend.
Love for firefighters: Newsom signed a law that signals a significant raise for firefighters at Cal Fire, although exactly how much will be up to the next governor.
We’re bringing our voter guide to life through VotingMatters events across California, in collaboration with on-the-ground partners. Our next event is today in Santa Barbara at Grace Fisher Foundation Inclusive Arts Clubhouse at 4:30 p.m. with Noozhawk.
Other Stories You Should Know
The liberal asking Republicans for their votes
How does an upstart Democrat take down a 14-term incumbent congressman from the same party in California?
By trying to appeal to progressives and anti-establishment conservatives fuming over the gerrymandering voters approved last year.
At least that’s the strategy for 35-year-old Eric Jones, who’s running against Rep. Mike Thompson, a Democrat of this stretch of Northern California’s wine country and rice fields. It could backfire if Democrats see his overture to conservatives and hold it against him.
Jones: “You have so many people in America who are fed up with both parties. … And people are sick and tired of that approach to politics and government.”
Read more by CalMatters’ Maya C. Miller here.
When will the San Joaquin Valley get its own medical school?
The San Joaquin Valley spans over 250 miles, more than eight counties and roughly 4.3 million people, but it’s short on doctors — about half as many, per capita, as the Bay Area.
This month, Newsom vetoed an attempt to explore building a new medical school in Kern County and another, unrelated effort to set up an emergency room in Stanislaus County. Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, a Bakersfield Democrat, said the Kern decision was myopic:
“All we’ve done is invest in short term solutions and that’s why the valley continues to suffer.”
State lawmakers have tried for years to rectify the region’s physician shortage, which is linked to worse health outcomes for residents. The state is putting $2 million toward a private medical school at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. The University of California has committed to building a standalone medical school at UC Merced, but it will take years, even decades perhaps before it enrolls any students.
Read more by Adam Echelman here.
And lastly: Fixing CARE Court, again
Each year since Newsom launched his signature mental health court in 2023 – known as CARE Court – he’s signed new clean-up bills that change or expand the program in an effort to help it reach more people.
This year, he signed two more. Senate Bill 989 by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, a Democrat from Encinitas, makes it easier for first responders to get people into CARE Court. Senate Bill 1242, by Irvine Republican Steven Choi, allows the loved ones of CARE Court participants to provide information to their care team that might be relevant to their treatment.
Read more here. And check out our investigation into the law.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Unions celebrated last week when Gov. Newsom signed a bill calling on the state to study corporate tax loopholes, but it isn’t likely to yield major savings for the state. Many loopholes are small. The costly ones, like the sales tax exemptions for healthcare and mortgages, are popular.
Immigrant homebuyers are left out, even when they have the money, says Anastasiia Chystiukhina, a San Diego realtor who immigrated to California in 2022. Like many of her clients, she arrived to the U.S. with no credit history even though she had spent decades running a business and paying bills. That lack of credit history is a problem for homebuyers.
Other things worth your time:
Almost of California’s richest suburbs are in the Bay Area // San Francisco Chronicle (gift link)
California’s plan to save coastal homes from El Niño could end up killing beaches // Los Angeles Times (paywall)
Why is ICE making arrests so close to schools? San Diego grapples with enforcement surge // EdSource (free)
The Palisades is furious with Karen Bass. That doesn’t mean they’ll vote for Nithya Raman // Politico (free)
Valley leaders object to high-speed rail plan that would take station out of downtown Merced // The Merced Focus (free)
MAGA candidate in small town convicted of 9 counts of election fraud // SFGate (free)
What do newly unionized Uber and Lyft drivers want? // Abridged (free)
The cure for loneliness may lie in a suburban duplex // The New York Times (gift link)
