Regulations

Bill increases CPUC transparency, restricts private meetings

A measure that will be heard this summer in committee at the statehouse aims to tighten the reins on private communications between utilities and the commissioners who regulate them at the California Public Utilities Commission. But even if SB 660 is passed,

Californians slash water use by 27.3 percent in June

Chris Nichols July 30, 2015

Motivated by a fourth year of drought — and mandatory water cuts — Californians reduced urban water use by 27.3 percent in June, compared with the same month two years ago, the state reported on Thursday. The results are the first since state-ordered

Bill rewrites state travel policy to include sharing economy

John July 30, 2015

Sacramento once again has its eye on the sharing economy. This year, state lawmakers have targeted ride-sharing companies and short-term accommodation services for more regulations that, some fear, could kill the burgeoning industry. But, at least one state lawmaker has

Newsom-led report pushes pot regulations

James Poulos July 29, 2015

Chairing a panel on California’s would-be approach to legal marijuana has tamped down his enthusiasm for pot permissiveness, said Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, as the blue-ribbon panel released a sweeping new report on the question. The commission included Stanford University professor

New bill takes aim at drones near wildfires

Chris Nichols July 27, 2015

Fed up with private drones interfering with firefighting, a state senator has announced another bill to keep unmanned aerial vehicles away from hot spots. Sen. Ted Gaines, R-El Dorado, said SB168 would indemnify emergency responders who damage a drone during

Unlawful immigrants rush for CA drivers licenses

James Poulos July 26, 2015

Emerging statistics have revealed that California’s extension of drivers licenses to unlawful immigrants aroused unexpected demand — with no end in sight. “While state officials expected 1.4 million undocumented immigrants to apply for licenses in the first three years, in the first

DMV issues 400,000 licenses to unauthorized immigrants

Chris Nichols July 23, 2015

The California Department of Motor Vehicles issued nearly 400,000 driver licenses to unauthorized immigrants from January through June, following the start of a contested new law that green-lighted such action. The Safe and Responsible Drivers Act was passed by the

Uber expands CA access despite fines

James Poulos July 22, 2015

For ride-booking services such as Uber and Lyft, California’s roller-coaster ride has only just begun, with recent developments underscoring high demand among the public and high levels of discomfort among public officials. As regulators have cracked down in some places —

Bill gives illegal immigrants access to Medi-Cal

James Poulos July 21, 2015

California Democrats have ramped up their push to extend health benefits to in-staters who immigrated unlawfully. High-stakes legislation Sacramento Democrats have advanced a piece of legislation, authored by State Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, that would grant access to Affordable Care Act benefits to unlawful immigrants. SB4, which would

DOJ advisory groups violate open meetings requirements

Steve Miller July 21, 2015

A subcommittee inside the California Department of Justice is accused of meeting in violation of the state’s open meetings act by failing to publicly disclose what actions it will be discussing in its required public meetings notice. A cadre of