Image by ohmygouche. Special interests, AKA “lobbyist employers” as the California Secretary of State calls them, paid lobbying firms more than $91 million to lobby state government in the third quarter of 2025, according to a Capitol Weekly analysis of lobbying firm reports.
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
FPPC Chair Adam SilverCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Adam Silver was appointed Chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission in March 2024. The FPPC was created in 1974 when California voters approved Proposition 9, The Political Reform Act, in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Five decades later, the FFPC is plenty busy. Silver joined us to talk about the Commission’s work, the challenges posed by Cryptocurrencies and his path to the Chairmanship.
Image by Vitalii VodolazskyiDuring his recent review of the more than 900 bills sent to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom, intrepid McGeorge law professor, Capitol lobbyist and regular Capitol Weekly contributor Chris Micheli compiled a number of legislative drafting notes and decided to share them with our readers.
Image by Mykhailo Repuzhynskyi. For years, pharmacy benefit managers – prescription drug middlemen often referred to by the shorthand term PBMs – have gone virtually unregulated in California. With Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature on October 11th of a PBM regulation bill (SB 41) authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), that is going to change significantly.
California's historic Capitol dome. Image by :WallentineLawmakers are away, but all sorts of things are still happening in California’s Capitol community…even here at Capitol Weekly!
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
The state Capitol in Sacramento. Photo: Feoktistoff, via Shutterstock)This edition of the Micheli Files is intended to provide an orientation to the California State Capitol and its accompanying Swing Space for individuals participating in a lobby day. Part II of last week’s Micheli Files, More insights on drafting legislation in California, will run next week.
Leah Barros of Barros Clay and AssociatesCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today we welcome lobbyist Leah Barros of Barros Clay and Associates. Barros is a familiar face in Sacramento, having worked in the Capitol as a staffer and later as a lobbyist for various firms before launching her own shop. Among her notable wins was leading the lobbying effort to enact The CROWN Act, the first statewide law in the country to prohibit racial discrimination on the basis of natural hairstyles in the workplace and schools. That experience changed her perception of what she could – and should – do as an advocate.
Jose Barerra. Photo by Joha Harrison.Despite being just 30 years old, Jose Barrera sits atop the leadership ranks in LULAC, or the League of United Latin American Citizens, as the Chairmen of the California LULAC Foundation and National Vice President for the Far West Region. He is currently the youngest person and first DACA recipient to have held three leadership roles in LULAC.