It’s going to take a minute to sift through the avalanche of lawmaking in the long, final days of the Legislature.
And it isn’t over quite yet: Gov. Gavin Newsom called lawmakers back for a special session focused on gas prices, even though the state Senate isn’t playing along. As CalMatters Capitol reporters Sameea Kamal and Alexei Koseff explain, Senate leader Mike McGuire says he won’t convene the session, but is working with Newsom and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas on the issue. Rivas, however, is fully on board. He told reporters he expects hearings to begin next week.
Lawmakers voted right up to the stroke of midnight Saturday (the Assembly ran out of time on a few bills) and adjourned after closing remarks, ending their regular session that started in early January. But before wrapping up, some major legislation went to Newsom, other proposals fell by the wayside and some common threads emerged:
Democrats strike back: Democrats in the Legislature passed bills to shut down revolts in some conservative enclaves, Alexei reports. They include bills to block a voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach and another to prohibit library book committees from blocking materials based on race or sexuality.
Reparations drama: Two key bills to address centuries of discrimination against Black Californians stalled in the final hours, write CalMatters’ Wendy Fry, Alexei and Sameea. One bill would have established a new state agency to help Black residents confirm their eligibility for reparations payments, while the other would have created a fund for reparation policies. Several other reparations bills did make it to the governor’s desk.
Essayli shut down: First-term Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli has been a thorn in the side of Democrats. In the final hours, Democratic leaders finally had enough, refusing to let him speak as he repeatedly objected to debate getting cut off at 30 seconds so they could get to as many bills as possible. Essayli shouted and banged on his desk before leaving the chamber. He later complained that he was silenced by an “enemy of democracy.” Assembly GOP leader James Gallagher also accused Democrats of abusing their power.
Mixed bag for energy, environmental regulations: A last-minute bill to give households a one-time rebate on their electric bills is dead, writes CalMatters climate reporter Alejandro Lazo. Lawmakers also delayed for another three years a 2022 law that requires oil companies to monitor oil operations, explains CalMatters environmental reporter Julie Cart. And a bill before Newsom would dramatically increase fines for water rights scofflaws, writes CalMatters water reporter Rachel Becker.
Money for housing: CalMatters housing reporter Ben Christopher examines a bill that would guarantee $500 million annually for affordable housing construction. The bill would also require developers to pay workers union-level wages, which critics argue would lead to fewer affordable units being built.
On Newsom’s desk: The governor has to decide the fate of hundreds of bills by Sept. 30. CalMatters is tracking noteworthy ones on nearly 30 issues. The latest include:
