California Legislature

As both governor and a likely presidential candidate, Gavin Newsom's final state budget faces a political trap of his own making.

With a dead-on-arrival budget draft, deep differences over revenues, chronic deficits and pressure to offset cuts in federal aid, it’s hard to even find a starting point.

The DUI bill is intended to be the “tip of the spear” in a movement to address how California allows dangerous drivers to stay on the roads.

New California laws taking effect on Jan. 1, 2026 expand coverage for in vitro fertilization, regulate artificial intelligence, protect renters and more.

California lawmakers only spent just a few minutes discussing in public the hundreds of bills they introduce. But these 10 measures had hours of intense debate in 2025.

California lawmakers let automakers opt out of recent changes to the state’s lemon law and approved a law giving used car buyers three days to return a used vehicle.

CARE Court can produce some positive results, but many people may not succeed for reasons unrelated to their ability to survive safely.

Gov. Newsom called for accountability on mental health and homelessness when he proposed his CARE Court program. What became law, however, pleased almost no one.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is tougher on Republican-leaning communities that resist building housing than on similar regions run by affluent Democrats.

Berkeley’s experience shows change is possible when local and state reforms align, and when communities let go of their fears about growth.