Seen at the Capitol

Who will Gov. Brown believe: MADD or DMV?

Who will Gov. Jerry Brown believe: the Mothers Against Drunk Driving or his own Department of Motor Vehicles? That’s what it boils down to when Brown decides whether to sign Senate Bill 1046, a bill by Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San

Farmworker overtime bill to get second chance soon

Matt Fleming August 17, 2016

After a staged, 24-hour hunger strike, proponents of a bill to increase overtime pay for farmworkers announced on Wednesday the once-dead measure will be on the Senate floor next week. The hunger strike was designed link the legislators’ sacrifice of

CA Senate panel kills whistleblower protection bill for the third time

Matt Fleming August 12, 2016

For the third straight year, the Senate Appropriations Committee killed a bill on Thursday that would have extended whistleblower protections to legislative staff — a response to the unrelated legal troubles of three senators in 2014. There are already whistleblower

Bill removing tampon sales tax advances in Legislature

Matt Fleming August 12, 2016

A bill to eliminate sales tax on feminine hygiene products came one step closer to becoming law on Thursday, ok’d by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Proponents have argued it’s a matter of gender fairness, as these products — including tampons,

Bill punishing Fentanyl kingpins dies in committee

Matt Fleming August 11, 2016

A bill that would have imposed mandatory sentences on large-scale dealers of a powerful opioid responsible for a rash of deaths and overdoses over the last few years died in committee Thursday. Fentanyl, an anesthetic said to cause a euphoric high

Controversial requirements dropped from Title IX, religious colleges bill

Hannah Niemeier August 11, 2016

After weeks of opposition from religious colleges and their supporters, Sen. Ricardo Lara announced he would drop provisions from a bill that would have made it more difficult for faith-based institutions to receive Title IX exemptions. The Bell Gardens Democrat said

Gut and amend going nowhere, Assembly speaker says

Matt Fleming August 9, 2016

Even as a measure to end the most egregious offenses waits for voters in November, even as the procedure is discouraged by leadership and even as the move is prohibited by the Legislature’s rules, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon will continue

Four things to watch for in the Legislature in August

Matt Fleming July 29, 2016

August is sure to be a busy month in Sacramento, as legislators fight to get their priorities passed before the legislative session ends on August 31. While a large number of bills will be debated, there are four things to watch

Is Democratic CA senate leader’s ammo-sales bill legal?

Matt Fleming July 5, 2016

Legislative Democrats pushed through a gun-control measure last week that is almost certain to be challenged in court — where it’ll have a tough time surviving — all for the sake of what some claim is a political grudge. The Legislature

Assemblyman accused of domestic violence removed from leadership post

Matt Fleming July 2, 2016

Speaker Anthony Rendon on Friday finally took action against a lawmaker accused of domestic violence by removing him from his committee assignments, which included a committee chairmanship. The Paramount Democrat’s move follows a court order for Assemblyman Roger Hernández to stay