Opinion
We must not ignore California’s medically fragile population
Image by gorodenkoff. OPINION – We can no longer ignore the needs of our state’s medically fragile patients – nor should we.
Posts Tagged: Legislature
Image by gorodenkoff. News
Spending on lobbying firms tops $66M through first quarter of 2025
Image by DesignRageSpecial interests, or as the California Secretary of State calls them “lobbyist employers,” paid lobbying firms more than $66 million to lobby state government in the first quarter of 2025, according to a Capitol Weekly analysis of lobbying firm reports.
Capitol Spotlight
Capitol Spotlight: Erica Costa, Senate Fellows Program
Erica Costa. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly. The Capitol’s Fellows programs are considered some of the toughest to break into, and Erica Costa is no stranger to that challenge. A graduate of the Assembly Fellows Program, followed by over 15 years of public service experience, she was recently named director of the Senate Fellows Program at the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State University.
Micheli Files
Guidance for drafting a California criminal or penal statute
Image by designer491. Drafting criminal or penal code statutes is an important undertaking for any bill drafter because of the consequences for those who violate such statutes and because courts strictly construe these types of statutes. As a result, those who draft criminal laws must have taken a number of issues under consideration.
Opinion
California must strengthen tenant protections
Image by Renata Hamuda. OPINION – Despite what many think, California spends a mere 1% of its total budget on housing and homelessness. Until we take bold action by dramatically increasing public investment and strengthening tenant protections, this crisis will only worsen.
Opinion
AB 255 is commonsense reform for addiction recovery
Image by Albina GavrilovicOPINION – Over the past decade California’s homeless residents have endured a catastrophic addiction epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives and spread despair in communities across the state. Compassion requires a new course. AB 255 by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) is a commonsense reform to support addiction recovery and save lives.
Opinion
California can lead on PFAS reform—but not with SB 682
Image by Francesco Scatena. OPINION – Reintroduced this year without addressing previous critical concerns from legislators and stakeholders, SB 682 would create a vague and overly broad regulatory framework that could put California’s economy at risk.
News
Bill calls for audit of State Bar’s disastrous February exam
Image by PromesaArtStudioIn late March, Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, amended a spot bill, SB 47, to order the State Auditor to conduct an audit of the February 2025 bar exam. The bill would direct the auditor to submit findings “as soon as possible” to the Bar’s board of trustees, the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court and the Senate Judiciary Committee and its Assembly counterpart.
Micheli Files
California’s budget process: questions and answers
Flag of State of California. Image by Arseniy45. What are the main component parts that comprise the California state budget? What is the “Budget Bill Jr.”? What is a Trailer Bill? The intrepid Chris Micheli, answers these and many other burning budget questions in this week’s Micheli Files.
Experts Expound
Experts Expound: The best and worst jobs in California politics
The California State Capitol Building in Sacramento. Image by t:Marcopolo9442While we all wait to see if former Vice President Kamala Harris will throw her hat into the ring to succeed soon-to-be termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom, it’s a good time to pose a tangentially-related question to our esteemed panel of experts.