Amanda McAllister-Wallner. Photo courtesy of Health Access California. We sat down recently with Amanda McAllister-Wallner, Executive Director of Health Access California, a consumer advocacy coalition that advocates for more accessible, equitable, affordable, quality health care for all Californians to talk about the impact of impending federal budget cuts. The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Image by Sparky2000. Most of the provisions of the California Constitution concerning the Legislature are found in Article IV, Sections 1 thru 28. Nonetheless, there are a number of provisions found in other Articles of the state constitution affecting the duties and powers of the Legislature. This article highlights the other major constitutional provisions concerning the Legislature.
Dr. S Monica Soni, Keynote speaker at The California Health Care Conference, October 1, 2025 in Sacramento. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol Weekly.CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Capitol Weekly and the University of California Student and Policy Center presented A Conference on Health Care on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 in Sacramento. In today’s episode we present the Keynote: A conversation between Dr. S. Monica Soni of Covered California and Capitol Weekly Editor Rich Ehisen. Stick around til the end; Rich and special guest Robin Epley of the Sacramento Bee tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics.
Dr. S. Monica Soni and Capitol Weekly editor Rich Ehisen. Photo by Joha Harrison. On Wednesday Capitol Weekly and The University of California Student and Policy Center presented the Health Care in California Conference, which tackled President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” and its impact on patients, medical research, hospitals and overall access to healthcare for Californians across the state.
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
Image by Wallentine. We’re entering the final two weeks of the gubernatorial signing session and Gavin Newsom has over 700 bills to act upon. Here are a few high profile measures he signed this week, a few more bills folks are closely watching and some interesting legislative data from intrepid Capitol insider Chris Micheli.
Image by WallentineWhen the California Legislature adjourned its 2025 Session, it was not “adjournment sine die.” Instead, that will occur after the conclusion of the second year of the biennium session. There is a distinction between adjournment and adjournment sine die.
Lobbyist Jennifer Fearing, right, with Senate Pro Tem Designate Monique Limón, left, and Assemblymember Gregg Hart, middleCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Host Rich Ehisen is back from the wilderness, just in time to welcome lobbyist Jennifer Fearing. High on her priority list this session were three bills that would curtail “puppy mill” sales in the state; SB 312, AB 519 and AB 506 have passed the legislature and are currently waiting on the Governor’s signature. She spoke with us about those bills, about the unstable environment nonprofit orgs have found themselves in, what she, and her clients are doing about it. And of course we asked her about First Dog Sutter Brown.
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced Friday proposed regulations that seek to strike at a financial model employed by Consumer Watchdog, the crusading consumer advocacy organization that has long faced criticism over money it makes by intervening in insurance rate-setting proceedings.