California Legislature

WhatMatters

Truckers demand action from Newsom amid port blockade

As Gov. Gavin Newsom takes action on a slew of gun control bills, truckers are accusing him of failing to respond to a controversial state labor law they’ve been protesting for weeks, halting almost all operations at the Port of Oakland’s shipping terminals and snarling an already severely backlogged supply chain. First up: the gun […]

By Emily Hoeven • July 22, 2022

Environment

California poised to restrict bee-killing pesticides

California is acting later than many states in regulating neonicotinoids, but its rules would be among the nation’s most extensive. They would change how growers kill pests on nuts, citrus and other fruit crops.

By Rachel Becker • July 20, 2022

Health

Health care costs keep rising. A new California agency aims to fix that

For years, consumer advocates and some legislators have been battling to rein in escalating health care costs. Now the state has created a new agency to limit future growth in health care costs — and it will have the power to enforce that mandate.

By Kristen Hwang and Ana B. Ibarra • July 15, 2022

WhatMatters

Capitol bracing for social media showdown

Sacramento is preparing for a showdown over how far the state should go in regulating social media companies that many blame for contributing to a national youth mental health crisis.  At the center of the controversy is a first-in-the-nation bill co-authored by Republican Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham of San Luis Obispo and Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks […]

By Emily Hoeven • July 14, 2022

Economy

Some seniors and disabled people will miss out on new California state payments

Californians who don’t file taxes — because they don’t earn enough to owe any — won’t receive the new round of state payments. That includes some seniors and disabled people, as well as some of the lowest-income adults.

By Grace Gedye • July 11, 2022

Commentary

California just opened the door to ending state’s abortion rights

The state Legislature has made a huge mistake by giving anti-choice voters the chance to deny women’s reproductive rights covered by California's Constitution for the past 50 years.

By Guest Commentary • July 8, 2022

Economy

Will a new oversight position help California’s high speed rail plans get on track?

Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature agreed to create an inspector general job for high-speed rail as part of a compromise that they hope will get the project moving and end with an actual train.

By Ralph Vartabedian • July 6, 2022

Politics

California cuts cannabis taxes to heal ailing industry

Gov. Newsom and the Legislature cut a California cannabis tax, but not everyone is convinced it's enough to stabilize the legal market. Social equity operators say the changes don't do nearly enough to help them.

By Alexei Koseff • July 5, 2022

Politics

California ballot measures: What you need to know

If it's an election year, it must mean California ballot measures for voters to decide. Here's why and how propositions are such a big deal.

By Ben Christopher and Sameea Kamal • June 30, 2022

WhatMatters

Lawmakers OK budget, despite ‘crappy’ parts

Rebates ranging from $200 to $1,050 are one step closer to landing in millions of Californians’ pockets after state lawmakers in marathon Wednesday night floor sessions passed a record-breaking $300 billion budget plan for the fiscal year beginning Friday. Though heated and hours-long, the sessions were in many ways perfunctory: The supermajority-Democratic Legislature was all […]

By Emily Hoeven • June 30, 2022