Image by Racide. OPINION – We know that as the nation’s most populous and diverse state, what happens here doesn’t stay here — it ripples outward, influencing national conversations, elections, and policy. That’s why recent trends in our state should be both a point of pride and a wake-up call.
Image by Alexandrum79OPINION – Without legislative intervention, an impending hike in the cannabis excise tax will accelerate the collapse of California’s regulated cannabis market, harming consumers, public health, and ironically, the state’s bottom line.
Car enthusiast Gary Ellison. Image by Ellie ApplebyIs the latest legislative effort to exempt classic cars from California’s emissions laws about to run out of gas? The answer to that question could come as early as Friday when the Senate Committee on Appropriations weighs in on SB 712, also known as “Leno’s Law” for its support from former Tonight Show host and noted car enthusiast Jay Leno.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly. On Wednesday, May 14, Capitol Weekly hosted “California’s Insurance Crisis,” its first in-person gathering of the year and second conference of 2025. Held at the University of California Student and Policy Center, the event featured three panels and a keynote address from the California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Discussions ranged from the overall state of the insurance industry to the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires and the path forward.
Image by kodda. OPINION – California desperately needs the resources to protect residents from the inevitable reality of the climate crisis. Thankfully, legislation currently moving through the California legislature could be a lifeline for our budget and get us back on the right track.
Image by robert brownOPINION – Ensuring adequate housing to meet community needs is essential to California’s long-term stability and prosperity. That’s why it’s deeply disappointing and concerning to see Senate Bill 682 advancing, as it risks exacerbating the very crisis we are working to resolve.
Image by Francesco Scatena. OPINION – California stands at a crossroads: either continue allowing companies to produce and sell dangerous “forever chemicals” like PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that pollute our environment and jeopardize public health, or take bold, science-based action to eliminate their non-essential uses.
Image by Alexander Sikov. The California Government Code provides for aspects of the Legislature and the legislative process in this state. There have been many court decisions over the past century interpreting key provisions of the Government Code. The following cases highlight some of the key decisions interpreting these statutory provisions. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.
Image by photobyphotoboy. OPINION – In order to protect Californians and provide the type of transparency our residents expect and deserve, we must bring lawsuit financing out of the shadows and start to regulate it like any other risky financial product.
Former Senate pro Tem Toni Atkins, photo by AP. We’re a long way off from the 2026 gubernatorial election, but 14 candidates – nine Democrats and four Republicans – have already kicked their campaigns to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom into high gear. Some are familiar names and faces; others are not. And of course all of them are, like the rest of us, waiting to see if former California Attorney General, U.S. Senator and Vice President Kamala Harris adds her name to the list. While Harris ponders her future, over the next few months Capitol Weekly will take a brief look at how the current candidates shape up.