California Legislature

Commentary

Rebate reform will lower medication costs for California patients

AB 933 would address the cost barriers to medication that can prevent people from getting the help they need.

By

Guest Commentary

• January 10, 2022

Dr. Shura Alexis Moreno sees a patient at Gabriel Medical Center in East Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2021. Jessica Pons for CalMatters

WhatMatters

Tax hikes for universal health care in California?

A group of Democratic legislators on Thursday unveiled a package of bills to create a universal health care program funded by new taxes.

By

Emily Hoeven

• January 7, 2022

State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, speaks to media about reopening schools at Barron Park Elementary in Palo Alto on March 2, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier/Palo Alto Online

Politics

Potential COVID exposure sidelines legislators

Multiple members of the California Legislature, including Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, were absent Jan. 6 after potential COVID-19 exposure at a going-away event for colleague the first week of the new session.

By

Alexei Koseff

• January 6, 2022

Commentary

Rebuild our decimated public health workforce and infrastructure

Lawmakers and the governor must look ahead and plan for a public health system that is not just adequate, but second to none.

By

Guest Commentary

• January 6, 2022

Room 1190 at the state Capitol was the site of many important press conferences by state governors. Jan 5, 2022. Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

Farewell to a staple of Capitol news coverage

Room 1190 is a place where elected leaders were answerable to the public and where so much of California’s political history was written.

By

Guest Commentary

• January 6, 2022

Commentary

Local bans on licensed cannabis sales bolster illicit market

It’s time for local officials to put an end to unwarranted fears surrounding the establishment of marijuana retailers.

By

Guest Commentary

• January 5, 2022

A San Francisco police department vehicle stands in front of the Dyson store in Union Square on Nov. 24, 2021. Videos on social media showed masked people running with goods from several high-end retailers in the storied shopping area. Photo by Samuel Rigelhaupt/Sipa USA

WhatMatters

Prop. 47 targeted by Dem, GOP lawmakers

A Democratic bill would reverse a key aspect of Proposition 47 by reducing the felony threshold for petty theft and shoplifting, while a Republican one would overturn Prop. 47 altogether.

By

Emily Hoeven

• January 5, 2022

Commentary

Funding desert conservation will help achieve climate goals

The program aims to provide funding to protect and conserve California's deserts, a large and incredibly biodiverse region.

By

Guest Commentary

• January 4, 2022

Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, a San Diego Democrat, says goodbye to colleagues after she announced her resignation from the state assembly today. January 3, 2022. Miguel Gutierrez Jr./CalMatters

WhatMatters

Labor’s top ally resigns from Legislature

Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, a key union backer in the California Legislature, will step down to take over the California Labor Federation.

By

Emily Hoeven

• January 4, 2022

A mask on the sculpture of a bear outside of Gov. Gavin Newsom's Capitol office, in Sacramento, on July 6, 2021. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

Politics

The California Legislature is back: What to expect in 2022

As the Legislature reconvenes, Californians can expect lawmakers to continue focusing on housing and climate, plus COVID-19, healthcare and how to spend another budget surplus.

By

Sameea Kamal

• January 3, 2022