Editors · Policy and legislation
Legislation, budgets and ballot measures in California
The Policy Desk covers the bills, budgets and ballot measures moving through California, explained in plain language and sourced from public records.
47 stories published
News · CA
A new ordinance adds Mayor Karen Bass’ municipal-property restrictions for immigration agents to the Los Angeles city code.
News · CA
SB 1067, a California math-testing measure associated with a San Diego state senator, has been signed into law.
News · CA
The new California law changes the legal landscape for lawsuits involving pen registers, without a directly linked election or candidate race.
News · CA
Padilla, Cortez Masto and Wyden say the Trump administration cannot change tax credits enacted by Congress.
News · CA
Three people are seeking to sue ICE and DHS after California’s governor signed the measure.
News · CA
The new state laws are intended to protect California workers from risks connected to artificial intelligence.
News · CA
The state is reducing education barriers tied to repeated testing and rules that could slow students’ progress.
News · CA
The California Supreme Court directed the Riverside County sheriff to return 650,000 ballots taken into custody.
News · CA
The California measures focus on security and safe access for faith-based and nonprofit communities.
News · CA
The package addresses health-data privacy, veterans’ support, youth services, conversion therapy and access to HIV prevention drugs.
News · CA
The California legislation is intended to accelerate the deployment of electric-vehicle charging infrastructure across the state.
News · CA
The governor signed legislation that California describes as supporting Native American communities across the state.
News · CA
The California Supreme Court directed that seized ballots be returned, changing who has custody of the election materials.
News · CA
California Sen. Alex Padilla said federal staffing and funding cuts have weakened election security and enabled false information to spread.
News · CA
The California Supreme Court directed Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to return 650,000 ballots that had been seized.
News · CA
The California Supreme Court ruled that a Republican sheriff unlawfully took possession of more than 650,000 ballots.
News · CA
The California Supreme Court ruled that the Riverside sheriff unlawfully seized the ballots and ordered their return.
News · CA
The return order changes who holds ballots seized during a voter-fraud inquiry but does not establish that fraud occurred.
News · CA
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order allows California to prepare resources, personnel and infrastructure for possible winter flooding and landslides.
News · CA
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 13 measures into law and linked the package to concerns about Trump’s involvement in California elections.
News · CA
The executive order calls for a way to stop AI models from operating, making shutdown capability a focus of California policy.
Candidate profile · CA
Saikat Chakrabarti is one of four candidates listed in California’s 11th Congressional District race for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
News · CA
The measure expands fuel options with the stated goal of helping Californians spend less at the pump.
News · CA
The California laws are intended to prevent Donald Trump from interfering in midterm elections and are not tied to a specific race.