The California State Senate passed Senate Bill 941, which would prohibit private detention facilities from selling commissary items at markups exceeding 35% above vendor costs.
A coalition of lawmakers, public defenders, and advocates gathered at the State Capitol to push for increased funding and structural reforms to California’s public defense system, warning that overwhelming caseloads, staffing shortages, and resource disparities are undermining the constitutional right to counsel.
California lawmakers and students have highlighted the “Empowering California’s Future” initiative, which recognizes universities that serve Hispanic, Latino, Asian American, and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander communities, and provides economic security and funding for additional services within these institutions.
California Assemblymember Alex Lee has introduced a bill to eliminate state tax breaks for companies that contract with federal immigration enforcement agencies, which has passed its first policy committee and is now headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Sen. Scott Wiener’s SB 875, which sought to reform the California Public Utilities Commission process to allow cities to create their own public utilities and provide more affordable and reliable energy, was stalled in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee due to PG&E’s lobbying efforts.
The Committee to Bridge the Gap welcomed the failure of AB 2647, which sought to overturn California’s moratorium on new nuclear power plant construction, citing concerns about the cost and safety of nuclear power and the lack of a viable long-term disposal solution for radioactive waste.
California lawmakers have passed AB 1240, which would prohibit institutional investors from buying more single-family homes in California and converting them into rentals, in an effort to make homeownership more accessible to working families.
The THRIVE Act, AB 2247, is a proposed bill in California that would provide free and comprehensive mental health services to youth survivors of gun violence, emphasizing trauma recovery and long-term healing rather than punitive measures.
The California State Assembly’s Public Safety Committee voted to advance legislation that would require counties to document public defender caseloads, in an effort to address a growing crisis in indigent defense.
Civil rights and labor advocates are urging California lawmakers to pass AB 2558, a bill that would cap the annual percentage rate on loans provided by payday lenders at 36%, in order to protect families from predatory payday lending practices.
The California Senate Public Safety Committee voted 5-1 to advance Senate Bill 1004, which seeks to strengthen accountability measures for law enforcement agencies in the state by ensuring the No Secret Police Act applies uniformly to all law enforcement agencies, including federal entities.
The California State Legislature has proclaimed April 10 as Dolores Huerta Day, recognizing her decades of work on behalf of workers and civil rights, and encouraging educational institutions to hold activities that reflect her values.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has sponsored Senate Bill 1399, which aims to extend transparency and oversight of immigration detention facilities in the state, as the measure advances through the Legislature amid increased scrutiny of detention practices.
Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, has introduced legislation to tighten changes to the California Environmental Quality Act, responding to concerns that last year’s reforms created overly broad exemptions for industrial development.
Assembly Bill 2214 aims to address food insecurity across California by strengthening agriculture, infrastructure and access to food resources, while Assembly Bill 2213 seeks to combat federal budget cuts and provide direct funding to farmers and residents.
California State Senator Jerry McNerney has introduced a bill to protect the state’s nonprofit sector from federal budget cuts, which would create an Office of Nonprofit Empowerment to help nonprofits access resources and navigate state government.
State Sen. Anna M. Caballero has introduced Senate Bill 1091 to create a statewide program to acquire and preserve existing affordable housing for low-income Californians, with $500 million allocated in both Senate and Assembly affordable housing bond proposals to support the program.
A federal judge has blocked California’s law banning federal and local law enforcement officers from wearing masks during operations, ruling that the statute likely violates the Constitution, but upheld the requirement that all law enforcement officers must display visible identification.
California Senate Majority Leader Angelique Ashby has introduced the CalFresh for Students Act, which aims to streamline access to CalFresh benefits for college students, in order to improve student retention, degree completion, and overall campus well-being.
Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom has introduced Assembly Bill 1659 to support the continuation of education for justice-involved youth by providing transition support and reducing disruptions when students return to their home school districts.