Image by Valery EvlakhovOPINION – Addressing the theft crisis and the fentanyl epidemic is a complicated problem and requires comprehensive solutions. However, there are actions California can take immediately to help stem the tide of theft, drug use, and the pain addicts experience.
Photo by Associated PressCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom has made national headlines touting his plan to add a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would implement what he’s called “common sense constitutional protections and gun safety measures that Democrats, Republicans, independent voters, and gun owners overwhelmingly support.” But there is not universal agreement that California’s gun laws actually amount to a functional ban on assault weapons.
Image Karin Hildebrand Lau
What is a mandated local program? Both the California Constitution and the California Government Code describe in detail a state-mandated local program. As a result of these laws, a California bill is identified as mandating or not mandating a local program that requires reimbursement of costs by the state.
Image by ADLCOPINION – While state planners see offshore wind as key to meeting our climate and 100% clean-electricity goals established in SB 100, this will not happen without significant investments to upgrade our ports for offshore wind deployment.
Image by LevanMoseOPINION – The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) creates a structured legal environment for tribal gaming. IGRA mandates that gaming revenue is used in specific ways to benefit the community, such as funding tribal government operations or programs, providing for the general welfare of the tribe and its members, and promoting tribal economic development and charitable contributions to the broader community.
Image by Sepp photographyOpinion – Climate change has clear causes and proven solutions but California’s investments in them are inadequate. Unless we square our investment with the scope of the challenge, the lives we build face dire but preventable risk.
Image by Vitalii VodolazskyiOn occasion, a reader may find in a bill in the California Legislature that contains in the text of the measure a phrase similar to the following: “notwithstanding any other provision of law…”. What does this phrase mean? Why is it used? What is its purpose in a California bill?
Prop. 47 co-author Lenore Anderson speaks at Capitol Weekly's Conference on Crime. Moderator Emily Hoeven, left; Sheriff Jim Cooper, right. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol WeeklyState lawmakers have proposed a series of bills aimed at curbing retail thefts, dealing with opioid abuse and reforming – ever so slightly – California’s landmark Proposition 47. Last week Capitol Weekly brought together a stellar group of lawmakers, law enforcement officials, advocates and others for a deep dive into these serious and complex issues.
Image by BCFCDefined terms can play an important role in any legislation. Defining words or phrases is done to provide the reader of the legislative or statutory text with clear guidance regarding how those words or phrases are to be interpreted and applied in the context of that specific text.
Photo by Sheila FitzgeraldU.S. Rep. Katie Porter’s (D-CA), once considered a rising national star for the Democratic Party, finished a distant third in her bid for the Senate seat once held by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). With that in mind, we posed the following question to our panel of esteemed experts: With her campaign for U.S. Senate over and her time in the House coming to a close, where does Katie Porter go from here?