Capitol Briefs: Here come the bills!

It has been another busy week around the Capitol. Her are some of the highlights, lowlights and one big eye roll…in brief!

Bills, bill, bills: With the bill introduction deadline just seven days away we saw the flow of new legislation this week move from a trickle to a burgeoning stream. Here are a handful of the notable proposals.

AB 1900, a bill authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) that would enact a comprehensive, single-payer health care system in California. It is at least the third time that Kalra has introduced the proposal.

SB 1032, a bill from Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes (D–Colton) that would require temporary staffing agencies to register with the office of the state labor commissioner, show proof of workers’ compensation insurance and financial capacity, and bar a business from using the services of a staffing agency without verifying that the staffing agency is registered.

SB 986, a bill authored by Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) that would require the Legislature to vote to approve major regulations adopted by state boards, commissions, and agencies before they can take effect.

AB 1605, a proposal from Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton) that would give judges the option to place a “no alcohol sale” notice on the driver’s licenses or Real IDs of drivers convicted of serious or repeat DUI offenses.

Newsom signs bill to combat “claim sharks”: Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 694, co-authored by Sen. Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera) and Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth), requires companies or attorneys that help veterans filing their disability benefits to be federally accredited.

Lindsey Sin, the Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, said the measure not only helps safeguard veteran’s privacy and security, it also protects them from unauthorized fees.

“This is a proud moment of our state. SB-694 makes it clear, California will not tolerate claim sharks that target and exploit our veterans and their families,” she said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo by Rich Ehisen, Capitol Weekly

The secretary stated that even though all these services are offered for free, many veterans are not aware of it; hence, they get exploited by unaccredited companies. These companies charge them with outrageous fees, despite federal law forbidding them from doing so.

“They bombard veterans with phone calls, and pressure them into contacts they don’t fully understand, charge excessive fees, and interfere with legitimate claims, often delaying or damaging access to care and compensation,” said David West, President of the California Association of county Veteran Service Officers.

West said that any veteran currently under contract with an unaccredited company will have those contracts voided as of January 1, 2027.

Press conference drama: Newsom also signed SB 106, a budget bill that provides Planned Parenthood of California with $90 million in state funding to bolster the organization in light of significant federal spending cuts.

The signing came amidst great fanfare, with dozens of lawmakers on hand and speechifying from both legislative leaders, Planned Parenthood CEO and president Jodi Hicks and the governor himself.

Bill signing sessions rarely have any spark to them, but this one most certainly did.

It started when reporters were informed that all the chairs in the heart of the Swing Space media room were reserved for staff, with reporters allowed only at the back of the room. This went over…not well…to say the least. After objections were raised a handful of reporters were eventually allowed to take open seats closer to the podium, though many remained banished to the cheap seats.

“You wonder why we have such a horrific war on women in this country and that these guys are getting away with it, and you don’t seem to care.”

The drama was not over. After Newsom gave his remarks and signed the bill he opened the floor to questions, which not surprisingly included those on subjects other than the Planned Parenthood funding. Normal stuff, or it was until First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom unexpectedly stepped to the podium and castigated reporters for not sticking to just that single subject.

“We have Planned Parenthood here and women are 51% of the population and the majority of the questions, all of these questions have really been about other issues,” she said. “You wonder why we have such a horrific war on women in this country and that these guys are getting away with it, and you don’t seem to care.”

For his part, Gov. Newsom seemed to have no issue with answering the wide array of questions thrown his way – a standard occurrence for any of his press briefings – the majority of which came from female reporters.

The First Partner’s scolding sparked another question or two on the funding bill before both reporters and the governor returned to their usual question and answer routine.

As for the seating situation, the governor’s office has indicated it will address the issue.

AI opts for lawmakers over voters…for now: Just days after receiving a title and summary from the state attorney general’s office on the proposed Parents and Kids Safe AI Act ballot measure, Open AI and Common Sense media have sidelined their efforts to focus on getting a bill through the Legislature instead. As reported by Politico, the campaign is “keeping its 2026 ballot measure committee open and reserving the option to go for the 2028 ballot” if it can’t work out a suitable legislative solution.

Bonta launches Eaton fire investigation: California Attorney general Rob Bonta announced his office has opened an investigation into the emergency response to the January 2025 Eaton fire in Los Angeles. That blaze burned over 14,000 acres, 9,000 buildings and took 19 lives before it could be extinguished.

“My office will be investigating whether there was race, age, or disability discrimination in the emergency response in West Altadena, which claimed the lives of at least 19 people. Specifically, we’ll be looking at whether the systems and structures at play contributed to a delay in the County’s evacuation notice and possible disparities in emergency response in West Altadena,” Bonta said in a statement.

Alex Vassar, Chris Micheli and Brian Ebbert, authors of the California Capitol Trivia Book. Photo by Rich Ehisen, Capitol Weekly

Trivial pursuit, Capitol style: The authors of the California Capitol Cocktail Trivia Book held a book signing on Thursday evening at Café a Cote, complete with signature cocktails like the Unruh-tini and Gov. Moonbeam Manhattan. Authors Chris Micheli, Alex Vassar and Brian Ebbert signed books, shared stories and generally basked in sharing a wealth of Legislative tidbits with a large gathering of Capitol notables, including Sen. John Laird and Richard Stapler of Calkins Public Affairs. Neither Jess Unruh or Jerry Brown were in attendance but both would have been pleased with their signature drinks.

Capitol Weekly intern Jasleen Kaur contributed to this story. The next round of Capitol Weekly internships will begin in June 2026. If you or someone you know is interested in an internship, please submit two writing samples, your resume and a cover letter to [email protected] by April 17, 2026.