ab 5

Assemblyman Anthony Rendon smiles at his wife, Annie Lam, before he was sworn-in as 70th Speaker of the California Assembly

Capitol

‘Adjustments, for sure’: CA Speaker talks 2020 priorities, politics — and parenting

As California lawmakers return for a new year, Anthony Rendon (the Assembly leader, not the ball player) talks wildfires, housing, ballot measures, the gig economy, affirmative action, Gov. Gavin Newsom and supermajorities. And babies. And home runs.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• January 5, 2020

WhatMatters

Old problems, new rules: California rings in 2020

New laws in a minute, court challenges to AB 5, homelessness tops the agenda for 2020 in California, and a look back at the old year, via satellite.

By

CalMatters Staff

• January 1, 2020

Economy

New Year, new laws: Our video playlist will get you up-to-speed on 11 key 2020 laws in a minute

New California laws explained in 60 seconds. Ring in 2020 by learning about California's new do's and don'ts, and how they will affect us all.

By

Byrhonda Lyons

• December 31, 2019

Protesters for and against the AB 5, the gig economy law, at the state Capitol. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters. The California gig economy law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. Sacramento, CA.

California Divide

Watch new 2020 law #6: Certain gig workers to be treated as employees

Starting Jan. 1, a new California law will require some businesses to re-classify independent contractors as employees — granting them benefits such as overtime pay and the right to join a union. Businesses and organized labor both heavily lobbied lawmakers over the bill, and while some industries won exemptions, others did not. The law is […]

By

Byrhonda Lyons

• December 19, 2019

Economy

CA’s labor chief wants the jobs of the future — and she wants them to cut inequality

Economists project massive labor upheaval but California is trying to roll with those disruptions while making sure jobs here continue to pay a living wage, offer worker protections and accommodate working families.

By

Judy Lin

• October 16, 2019

WhatMatters

Newsom vents on blackouts as PG&E begins restoring power, Becerra’s privacy rules, and an idea for homeless courts

Politicians pile on PG&E over power shutdown. Race is on to implement privacy rules. Homeless courts proposal may be headed to ballot.

By

Dan Morain

and

Ben Christopher

• October 11, 2019

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez speaks emotionally on favor of her bill AB 5, which would re-classify contract workers, before the concurrence vote in the assembly on September 11, 2019. The bill passed 56-15.

Capitol

The Deciders: Meet the lawmaker behind new gig economy law

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, a Democrat from San Diego, is among California’s more powerful state lawmakers and an ally of labor unions. This year, she led the fight to win new protections for gig workers, and won passage of a landmark workplace bill, AB 5. To launch our new video series of political profiles, “The Deciders,” […]

By

Byrhonda Lyons

and

Laurel Rosenhall

• September 20, 2019

Economy

Labor had a banner year in California — now will workers unionize?

Turning paper victories into a meaningful labor movement with more private-sector members could take work, even in pro-labor California.

By

Judy Lin

and

Ben Christopher

• September 19, 2019

WhatMatters

Tailpipe fight pits Trump against Newsom, plus gig workers, Janet Napolitano, and the end of a friendship?

Tailpipe fight pits Trump against Newsom. Battle over gig workers bill is far from over. Newsom veto may exacerbate Delta water tensions.

By

Dan Morain

and

Ben Christopher

• September 19, 2019

Economy

Who’s in, who’s out of AB 5?

AB 5 would upend longstanding employment practices that have seeped into the Democratic presidential debate about how workers should be treated, particularly in today’s gig economy.

By

Judy Lin

• September 11, 2019