California Legislature

Recent grassroots campaigns to increase access to menstrual products are part of a growing push by young, diverse communities in California to engage with the legislative process and create laws that span race, gender and sexual orientation.

The record rain and snow falling on California since late last year may have relieved the drought that plagued the state for the last three years, but the battles over water management will continue.

Throughout the state, schools with the highest rates of low-income students have fewer experienced teachers. Increasing teacher pay is one way to lure more experienced applicants, but teachers unions keep fighting that idea.

Enrollment is down at the University of California and the Cal State, which has frustrated lawmakers who gave both systems more money to increase their number of students.

The governor eliminated $40 million for restoring floodplains, halting projects that help protect vulnerable, disadvantaged communities like Stockton. San Joaquin Valley legislators are pushing back.

Gov. Newsom signs an oil profits penalty plan that is supposed to keep California gas prices under control. The oil industry says it will closely watch the regulations.

From CalMatters’ politics reporter Alexei Koseff: The California Assembly handed Gov. Gavin Newsom a long-awaited win on Monday, approving his revised proposal to punish alleged price gouging by oil companies and sending the measure to his desk for a signature, nearly six months after he first called on state lawmakers to take action on record […]

Supporters of a bill reintroduced this year requiring large corporations to disclose their carbon emissions argue it will empower consumers, disrupt greenwashing and help spotlight sustainable companies for others to model.

Opponents of a bill reintroduced this year requiring large corporations to disclose their carbon emissions argue it could increase costs for California consumers and fail to promote transparency.

It takes the state nearly 800 days — four times longer than is legal — to handle wage claims. Lawmakers ordered an audit to start Sept. 1, if agency issues aren’t addressed by then.