Image by phakphum patjangkataThe deadline for California Gov. Gavin Newsom to address the hundreds of bills lawmakers sent him last month is on Monday. As always, the bigger measures draw most of the attention, and rightly so. But here are some of those measures the governor has signed or vetoed that are less “above the fold.”
Image by VectorMineOPINION – As Californians move towards EVs, their Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) has projected about a $5 billion dollar decline in gasoline tax revenue over the next decade. This is a significant oversight to a policy change that should have been identified before implementation.
Image by zimmytwsOPINION – California’s homeowners insurance crisis is making it more difficult to build and buy affordable homes — and in some cases impossible. By restricting the supply of housing, particularly condominiums and multi-family housing, lack of insurance availability is driving up consumer housing costs and limiting the lowest priced homeownership option for consumers.
Delegation of work, image by Andrii YalanskyiIn delegating authority to the executive branch of government, a question that is often raised is whether legislatures can be expected to adopt statutes that address every detail of public policy? In some instances, they can, but in others they cannot.
Longtime Capitol lobbyist and regular Capitol Weekly contributor Chris Micheli is a “self-professed legislative geek.” To that end, he has collected and is now sharing with us the following statistics from the recently-concluded 2023-24 California Legislative Session:
Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil, Sen. Roger Niello, Sen. Brian Jones. Photo via Alvarado-Gil X account. California’s Fourth Senate District covers 25,000 square miles, basically 1/6th of the state. It stretches from Death Valley in the South to Truckee in the North and juts out West to grab Modesto, the district’s largest metropolitan area. Now the region’s representation in the Senate over the next legislative cycle could severely compromised because the decision by its senator, Marie Alvarado-Gil, to jump political parties.
Image by Sansert SangsakawratOPINION – This summer in California has been full of both impressive renewable energy milestones and concerning climate change impacts. These contradictions prove that we still have a long way to go on the road to 100% clean, renewable energy, and how important it is for California to drive quickly toward its goals.
Image by LUNAMARINAOPINION – AB 1755 represents a necessary step forward in modernizing the state’s lemon law, keeping it strong and effective while making the legal process faster and more efficient for everyone.
Image by Oleksandr FilonOPINION – With each passing year, the impacts of climate change become more severe, and the need for reliable, affordable energy becomes more urgent. The “Unlock the Grid” package of bills offers a practical and forward-thinking solution that addresses both the immediate needs of our communities and the long-term sustainability of our energy system.
PImage by megafloppTight regulations over the California cannabis industry disallow the preparation and sales of food and beverages in licensed cannabis consumption spaces. This puts them at a severe disadvantage compared to bars, clubs and other venues that can serve alcohol along with food.