Senator Scott Wiener delivers the Keynote at the California and AI conference on July 8, 2025. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol WeeklyAt the latest Capitol Weekly-University of California Student and Policy Center conference this week, “California and AI,” panelists explored the policy implications of the transformative technology sweeping the globe and embraced by fields as diverse as medicine and hospitality.
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California's historic Capitol dome. Image by :WallentineWe are marching quickly toward the Capitol’s summer recess, but we’re not there yet. This week’s Capitol Briefs are here.
Image by Fokusiert. Capitol Weekly welcomes Opinion pieces and Commentaries on California public policy or politics. Please note that we receive many submissions, often on the same topic, and not all submissions will be published. Acceptance for publication is at the discretion of the editor.
Image by ANAN YOSSINGKUM. OPINION – The Verified Emissions Reduction Association, or VERA, is a coalition of members with vast experience in achieving real, quantifiable, permanent, enforceable and addition emissions reductions in a cost-effective manner.
Image by hapabapaAs I make my way through bills in the second house policy committee, I continue to run across interesting provisions contained in these bills. Here is a short explanation of some recent examples from 2025 bills that the “legislative geek” in me finds interesting.
Sacramento lobbyist George Steffes.Longtime Capitol lobbyist and Reagan aide George Steffes has passed. He died at UCD Med Center after weeks of hospitalization after suffering a fall. He was 90.
Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-AshtariCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: We’re joined today by Christina Snider-Ashtari, Tribal Affairs Secretary to Governor Gavin Newsom and head of the Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs. Snider-Ashtari was first appointed to the position in 2018 by Governor Brown and previously served as Executive Secretary of the California Native American Heritage Commission. We spoke to her about both governors’ approaches to Tribal policy, about the California Truth & Healing Council, and about the deep Native history on Alcatraz, which President Trump has suggested might be returned to use as a federal prison.
Image by dusanpetkovicOPINION – Los Angeles stands at a critical juncture. As the city recovers from devastating fires and prepares for a wave of national and international events, the demand for skilled workers will surge. These challenges offer a unique opportunity to drive innovation, equity, and economic success by tapping into an often-overlooked resource: the talents and experience of older adults.
Image by VladTeodor. OPINION – AB 597, authored by Assemblymember Harabedian and now moving through the Legislature, would restrict the ability of wildfire survivors to hire public adjusters, professionals who work exclusively on behalf of policyholders to ensure they receive fair insurance payouts.