Mental health stigma. Image by designer491OPINION – Two bills currently in the state Legislature follow the lead of many in the disability rights movement by bringing our state’s codes up to date with person-first language where appropriate and stop the stigmatization around mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
High voltage transmission towers - image by peterschreiber.mediaOPINION – California urgently needs solutions to our energy affordability and reliability crisis, especially as we approach summer and inevitable heat waves that drive up temperatures along with energy bills. Fortunately, a suite of bills rapidly advancing through the state legislature would go a long way towards solving problems of energy reliability, affordability and safety.
Image by peterschreiber.mediaMany Capitol observers are aware of the single subject rule. Some know that the California Constitution, in Article II, Section 8(d), provides that “an initiative measure embracing more than one subject may not be submitted to the electors or have any effect.” But does a similar rule exist for bills considered by the California Legislature?
tCapitol Briefs: Budgets, insurance and police dogs, oh my! It’s all in the new edition of Capitol Briefs.
Image by Apichat NoipangOPINION – California’s Office of Healthcare Affordability (OHCA) recently adopted spending targets to slow healthcare spending growth and make it more affordable for Californians. The targets are ambitious and will be difficult to meet.
Sacramento capitol rotunda, image by Reina SmythAround the Capitol, one big bill effort dies and another one comes back from the grave.
Image by wildpixelOPINION – Both AB 2557 and AB 2561 are being promoted as good government bills. They are the exact opposite. If enacted, local services will suffer, local governments will be unable to prioritize the most important needs of our communities, and costs for local services will skyrocket.
Image by style-photographyOPINION – In an effort to look tough on retail theft, the California Legislature is considering an action that could eliminate a form of commerce that has long been a lifeline for working-class consumers: the ability to buy and sell used goods through online classifieds.
Image by Yuliia BukovskaThe ongoing conflict in Gaza has sparked intense debates and protests all over the country. With that in mind, we asked our panel of experts to weigh in on how this might impact the November elections. The question: Will ongoing campus strife over the situation in Gaza negatively impact Dems at any level of government in November?
Power Supplies on blade server in rack. Shot in data center. Image by kjekolOPINION – California’s 260-plus data centers must change to reduce the rising competitive demand for water and electricity and the increasing growth in CO2 emissions that artificial intelligence will accelerate in data centers.