CalMatters

California is suing the Trump administration over new conditions on emergency preparedness grants that link funding to election and immigration policies. The lawsuit, joined by 24 Democratic-led states, challenges requirements such as verifying voter citizenship and using hand-marked paper ballots, arguing the rules pressure states to comply with federal preferences. The Trump administration defends the conditions as necessary for election security.

Democratic lawmakers in California propose a bill to study reintroducing grizzly bears, supported by tribes and environmentalists as an ecological restoration effort. Rural communities, ranchers, hunting groups, and Republican senators oppose the plan, citing safety concerns and ecosystem changes. The last California grizzly bear died over a century ago.

Democrats are advancing a bill to study reintroducing grizzly bears to California, facing opposition from rural residents, ranchers, and Republicans. The grizzly bear on California’s flag became extinct in the state over a century ago, and tribes and environmentalists argue its return could benefit the ecosystem.

Los Angeles is testing urban planning changes, including temporarily closing Wilshire Boulevard, to improve safety and cleanliness in MacArthur Park, which continues to struggle with addiction, crime, and homelessness despite increased police patrols and social services.

California's CalSHAPE program, intended to upgrade school heating and cooling systems, was cut short in 2024, leaving $200 million unspent. Only 172 of over 4,500 schools with faulty systems received funding due to a complex process, and lawmakers now debate using interest from the funds for an unrelated energy program.

Attila Colar's 2023 conviction on 44 felony charges related to a $1 million COVID benefit fraud scheme was overturned by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals due to a juror with disqualifying bias being allowed to participate in his trial. The court ruled the conviction invalid and ordered a retrial, citing the juror's inability to remain impartial after reacting negatively to Colar's claims about law enforcement bias.

Cal State has offered a $343,920 consultant role to Tomás Morales, ex-president of Cal State San Bernardino, who stepped down after a discrimination lawsuit. The university settled the case for $12 million, and Morales will focus on international education programs during a one-year transition period.

Gavin Newsom opposes a California billionaire tax but supports a national wealth tax on individuals earning over $100 million. He faces pressure to balance populist economic messaging with political realities tied to wealthy donors in Silicon Valley.

Gavin Newsom's return-to-office mandate for California state workers, in effect since July 1, contrasts with Greg Abbott's reversal of a similar Texas policy after a survey showed telework did not reduce productivity. The Service Employees International Union Local 1000 argues remote work benefits taxpayers and reduces traffic and emissions, while Newsom emphasizes in-person collaboration and community building. Other blue states maintain hybrid work policies, differing from Texas's adjusted stance.

California's AI transparency law, Assembly Bill 302, failed to enforce accountability as state agencies underreported or concealed high-risk automated systems used for consequential decisions like housing, healthcare, and cash assistance. The law relies on self-reporting without verification, leading to inaccurate public disclosures and systemic gaps in oversight.

The California State University system agreed to a $12 million settlement in a lawsuit alleging gender-based harassment and discrimination by two female employees against Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás Morales and former dean Jake Zhu. Morales is seeking a transition job with emeritus status as his resignation approaches, while the university denies wrongdoing in the case.

The Trump administration canceled $2 billion in University of California research grants, using keywords like diversity and gender to target projects. Legal teams argue this mass termination violated the First Amendment and other constitutional protections, with a court hearing scheduled for October 20.

California state workers must report to the office four days a week under an executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom, stricter than policies in many states including Texas. Unions and employees argue remote work is effective and beneficial, but Newsom’s mandate remains in effect with limited exemptions.

Randy Villegas, a progressive college professor, defeated Democratic Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains in a primary election, advancing to face Republican U.S. Rep. David Valadao in the general election. Bains, known for occasionally voting against her party, lost support due to her moderate stances compared to Villegas' progressive views. Republican Assemblymember Juan Alanis continues to vote according to his conscience despite risks of primary challenges from right-wing opponents.

Most California lawmakers rarely vote against their party, but a few mavericks, including Assemblymember Greg Wallis, occasionally defy party lines. Wallis, representing the 47th Assembly District, broke from his party 8% of the time, influenced by his competitive district. Challenges for moderates like Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains highlight growing polarization, with hard-line candidates winning primaries over moderates.

California's reading scores have improved since the state invested $500 million in literacy coaches and reforms, though a shortage of coaches may limit further progress. The state's 2013 fourth-grade reading proficiency rate was 27%, but it rose to 46% by 2024, with Mississippi's success in literacy also attributed to similar strategies.

Every person sentenced to death in California over the last five years has been Black or Latino, highlighting racial bias in the state's death penalty system. A lawsuit filed by the Office of the State Public Defender and civil rights groups, supported by empirical studies, claims the death penalty violates equal protection guarantees, and the California Supreme Court has allowed the case to proceed.

California's Public Utilities Commission lowered the temperature threshold from 100 to 90 degrees to prevent power shutoffs for delinquent customers during heatwaves. Two new laws address heat safety in schools, requiring heat-safety plans and education on heat illness, though critics note they lack funding for infrastructure improvements.

California's Assembly Bill 2748 aims to reduce building costs for affordable housing by allowing developers to follow 2022 building standards instead of 2025 standards. However, critics argue this would halve EV charging access for residents, disproportionately affecting low-income and minority communities who rely on affordable home charging. The 2025 code was designed to expand charging access while minimizing developer costs.

California has restricted utility power shutoffs for delinquent customers during dangerous heat, lowering the temperature threshold from 100 to 90 degrees and requiring region-specific heat standards. Utilities missed a deadline for improved safeguards, prompting regulators to impose stronger rules after finding their proposals insufficient to protect public health.