Posts Tagged: legislation
Micheli Files
Because bills cannot be amended in the final three days of the Session, authors and interest groups have been utilizing letters to the Assembly and Senate Daily Journals in an effort to modify their “intent,” or even address concerns with explicit bill language that cannot be amended. Unfortunately, the use of these letters cannot be a substitute for making actual changes to the proposed statutory language.
Capitol Briefs
Lawmakers come back next week for the annual sprint to the legislative finish line. Today we look at a handful of bills and issues on the August docket.
Opinion
OPINION — Since 1996’s Proposition 209, California has prohibited the consideration of race in public education, employment and contracting. While framed around fairness, the measure’s real-world effect has been to blindfold the state, creating a painful disconnect between the clearly visible systemic inequities and our legal ability to fix them.
Micheli Files
This article is intended to provide a step-by-step instruction detailing how a bill becomes law in the California Legislature, sometimes referred to as the “life cycle” of a bill.
Opinion
OPINION — As an attorney who has spent many years litigating privacy rights, I take seriously any claim that legislation could make vulnerable families less safe.
Opinion
OPINION — Research on scripted lesson plans shows that teachers overwhelmingly believe these prescriptive materials are only effective for students already proficient in English.
Micheli Files
In my continuing review of pending legislation in the 2026 California Legislative Session, I offer the following observations on a number of bills working their way through the second house policy committees.
News
We are in a short lull in the legislative battle between Big Tech and Big Labor over the impact of AI on jobs in California. But when lawmakers return in a few weeks, they will deal with a plethora of measures aimed at how artificial intelligence is utilized the workplace.
Micheli Files
California has over 200 State agencies, departments, boards, and commissions (referred to as rulemaking bodies) that make public policy through their authority to adopt regulations.
Opinion
OPINION — This spring, the candidates for governor gathered in Fresno for the California Gubernatorial Candidate Forum, “Affordability and Rural California,” and spent time talking about water.
Letter from the 9/12/25 Senate Daily Journal. Image courtesy of Chris Micheli. 
