Legislator Card

Almost 30 years ago Californians passed Proposition 187, a ballot measure that denied public benefits to undocumented immigrants. This year, a new state law took effect offering government-subsidized health insurance to the same population.

Locking up a California state prisoner for one year costs nearly twice as much as tuition at the state’s top private universities. The number surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, and remains high because of inmate medical costs and pay boosts for prison guards and other workers.

Each year, California lawmakers pass temporary extensions to COVID-era rules that allow people to attend court remotely via video conferencing services. One of the state’s most powerful unions has been a barrier to making the popular feature permanent.

Prop. 1 would funnel more money into housing and treatment for homeless Californians struggling with mental illness and addiction. But it’s far from a one-stop solution.

The Assembly has until the end of January to decide the fate of the youth tackle football bill, which would prevent kids under 12 from playing the sport to protect them from brain trauma.

To keep more police on patrols, law enforcement groups would like officers to spend less time in court. Legislation would allow non-sworn community service officers to testify in preliminary hearings instead of police.

About 500,000 California health care workers were expected to see pay increases under a law that set a new minimum wage for their industry. Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to delay the pay bumps until the state budget has a stronger outlook.

State lawmakers reconvene with a lot of problems to fix, but not a lot of money to spend on solutions with a projected $68 billion budget deficit. The first day is cut short by a protest over the Gaza war.

California lawmakers made an effort in 2023 to remove red tape around building new houses.

California adopted several laws to increase access to contraception and abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade. The latest one eliminates out-of-pocket charges for birth control for millions of Californians.