Regulations

BOE: New services tax could boost CA revenue by $122 billion

Placing a tax on business services in California has the potential to raise an additional $122.6 billion annually for state and local governments, according to a recent Board of Equalization study. A services tax could become a reality if Senate

CA lawmakers taking on Bitcoin

James Poulos May 8, 2015

A bill bringing statewide regulations to Bitcoin and other digital currencies has cleared its first hurdle in Sacramento. AB1326, introduced by Assemblyman Matt Dababneh, D-Encino, received a majority vote in the Banking and Finance Committee. Crafting regulation According to Inside

Mandated vaccination bill advances

James Poulos May 6, 2015

After a surprisingly fierce challenge from anti-vaccine advocates, Sacramento legislators worried about the language of the landmark new vaccination bill have succeeded in crafting a passable draft. As CalWatchdog reported previously, supporters of SB 277 discovered that its original wording

Hertzberg proposes plan to reduce traffic penalties, restore suspended licenses

John May 6, 2015

Drivers who’ve had their licenses suspended could soon get a reprieve. State Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, has introduced legislation that would reduce outstanding penalties and fines for drivers with a suspended license. In addition to reducing penalties, Senate Bill

Officials eye statewide marijuana regs

James Poulos May 5, 2015

With marijuana legalization initiatives looming, Sacramento has turned its attention to standardizing regulations covering the popular decriminalized drug. Competing alternatives Legislators have advanced two different proposals, differing largely in how much regulatory control they leave to local government. The plan put forward by Assemblyman

Caltrans greenlights bike lane expansion

James Poulos May 4, 2015

Bending to legislative prodding from Sacramento, California’s transportation bureaucracy has moved ahead with statewide plans to standardize and expand the Golden State’s bike lanes. Despite persistent criticism from bike-friendly advocacy groups like the Green Lane Project, Caltrans opted against such sweeping measures.

‘Job killer’ employee schedule bill passes Assembly committee

Dave Roberts May 4, 2015

A bill that punishes businesses for changing employees’ work schedules recently passed the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, despite the California Chamber of Commerce warning that it’s a “job killer.” Assembly Bill 357 affects California food and retail businesses with

Minimum wage debate heats up in Los Angeles

Joel Fox May 3, 2015

What if three different studies on the effects of a minimum wage increase in Los Angeles each came up with a different conclusion — who do you trust? That was a question asked at the Town Hall Los Angeles debate Thursday

CA legislation, lawsuits shake up immigration law

James Poulos May 3, 2015

A series of political and policy moves have dramatically unsettled immigration law in California, both at the state and federal level. Legislation developed in Sacramento, in the wake of President Obama’s executive actions shielding many from deportation, would grant expansive new rights to unlawful

Sacramento eyes new Uber regulations

James Poulos May 1, 2015

As the world’s leading driver service faced continued litigation, California lawmakers set out to constrain Uber further. Whereas some previous regulatory efforts were interpreted as attacks on consumer choice, however, one bill now under consideration in Sacramento has promised to increase consumer privacy. Determining data control