Image by Thanakorn Lappattaranan. A bill that would have allowed drivers to opt in to usage-based insurance was held under submission by the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this month, leaving California as the only state not to allow car insurance rates based on driving data
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California Death Row. Photo by the Associated Press. As his time as governor comes to an end, Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing a life-or-death decision: whether to commute the sentences of the 547 men and 18 women in state prison who have been condemned to death. There is good reason to believe Newsom will take that step, and there is reason to believe he won’t. Neither he nor his aides are telegraphing his plan.
Image by cmannphoto. Left in limbo by the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom, California’s private foster agencies say they’re struggling to stay afloat until the new year, when they hope a new governor will help them navigate an ongoing insurance crisis that threatens their existence.
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo has worked for a number of political candidates in his long career, including heavyweights like Hillary Clinton and Antonio Villaraigosa. He joins us on the Capitol Weekly podcast this week to talk about life in the political arena, the ongoing civil war within the Democratic Party, his role in the downfall of former Congressman and aspiring gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell and…breakdancing.
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
Multitasking. Image by CreativaImages. The latest question posed to our panel of experts: “Should there be a hard limit on the number of committees a legislator can serve on?”
Image by Baris-Ozer. A little more than three dozen large, stable lobbying firms dominate the Capitol market. According to lobbying disclosures filed through the fifth quarter of the current cycle, the top 40 firms analyzed by Capitol Weekly received 57% of the more than $436 million spent on lobbying firms in 2025 and 2026.
California Assembly Chambers. Photo by Capitol Weekly. With the final weeks of Session upon us, several procedural items that regularly occur on the Floors of the California Legislature may be in order. Today intrepid Capitol lobbyist, law professor and regular Capitol Weekly contributor Chris Micheli offers insights into understanding the session’s closing moments.
Image by ABimagestudio.AB 2253 will restrict recycling methods we need to handle plastic waste, continuing the flow of plastic into our oceans and environment.