California State Legislature

California Capitol to reopen for visitors next week

Jun. 11, 2021 04:09 PM EDT
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California Capitol will reopen to the public starting next week, legislative leaders announced Friday. During...

FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, voters cast their ballots at a polling place in Newport Beach, Calif. It will cost California counties an estimated $215 million to stage an expected recall election this year that could oust Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Democrats move to cover recall costs, speed up election date

By Michael R. Blood Jun. 10, 2021 05:41 PM EDT

After mass shooting, new gun tax falls short in California

By Adam Beam Jun. 03, 2021 08:59 PM EDT
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California Assembly on Thursday failed to pass a bill that would have raised taxes on handguns and ammunition. ...

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2021, file photo, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center workers walk outside the hospital, in Los Angeles. The California Senate has rejected a bill aimed at making it easier for some hospital workers to get workers compensation benefits. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello,File)

California Senate rejects workers compensation proposal

By Adam Beam Jun. 03, 2021 08:16 PM EDT

This Thursday, May 27, 2021, photo shows the closed Sears in Buena Park Mall in Buena Park, Calif. California state lawmakers are grappling with a particularly 21st-century problem: What to do with the growing number of shopping malls and big-box retail stores left empty by consumers shifting their purchases to the web. A possible answer in crowded California cities is to build housing on these sites, which already have ample parking and are close to existing neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

California eyes shuttered malls, stores for new housing

By Adam Beam May. 31, 2021 04:53 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2019, file photo, California state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins of San Diego speaks on the floor of the Senate in Sacramento, Calif. Democrats in the California Senate have proposed $3.4 billion in new spending to combat the state's drought. The proposal would equal all of the state's combined spending during the previous drought, according to the independent Legislative Analyst's Office. Atkins said the state needs to take advantage of a surprise state surplus and billions of dollars in new federal funding to prepare for drought. The most recent drought lasted about five years and ended in 2016. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

California Senate proposes to spend $3.4 billion on drought

By Adam Beam Apr. 29, 2021 03:02 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2020, file photo, a merchant closes her shop for the day on Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles. The California Legislature approved a major tax break for small businesses on Monday, April 26, 2021, voting to give up as much as $6.8 billion in revenue over the next six years so it can lower the bills owed by most small business owners. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

California Legislature OK's tax break for small businesses

By Adam Beam Apr. 26, 2021 06:14 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2021, file photo, people dine under a tent outside a restaurant in West Hollywood, Calif. California lawmakers on Monday, April, 19, 2021, revived a multi-billion tax break for some businesses after the Biden administration assured them the proposal would not jeopardize the state's own federal coronavirus aid. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

California lawmakers revive virus tax break for businesses

By Adam Beam Apr. 19, 2021 07:18 PM EDT

FILE - This Tuesday, March 16, 2021, file photo shows a sign advertising a restaurant opening, in Santa Monica, Calif. California has added 119.600 new jobs in March. It's the second straight month of growth following a year of enormous losses and inconsistent gains during the pandemic. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Signs of recovery as California adds jobs for 2nd month

By Adam Beam Apr. 16, 2021 02:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 25, 2020, file photo, Sen. Nancy Skinner speaks during debate at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. The California Legislature has passed a bill Thursday, April 15, 2021, requiring some hotels and event centers to offer laid-off workers their jobs back. Democrats say the the bill protects workers. State Sen. Nancy Skinner, a Democrat from Berkeley, said women lost more jobs and left the workforce in greater numbers than men during the pandemic. "So you could also look at this bill as a very important bill to get women back in the workplace," she said. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

California Legislature OKs bill to help displaced workers

By Adam Beam Apr. 15, 2021 04:30 PM EDT

Immigrant health care is on California Senate's wish list

By Adam Beam Apr. 14, 2021 06:49 PM EDT

FILE - In his Dec. 18, 2020, file photo a runner passes the office of the California Employment Development Department in Sacramento, Calif. California lawmakers on Thursday, April 8, 2021, advanced what they called commonsense legislation requiring two state agencies to share information aimed at helping stop billions of dollars in pandemic-related unemployment fraud. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

California advances bill aimed at massive unemployment fraud

By Don Thompson Apr. 08, 2021 04:14 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2021, file photo, people dine under a tent outside a restaurant in West Hollywood, Calif. The California Legislature has delayed a bill that would give a tax break for businesses because of a provision in the latest federal coronavirus relief bill that bans states form using federal stimulus dollars to pay for tax cuts. Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration is worried the U.S. Treasury Department might view the bill as a tax cut and require the state to pay back some of the stimulus money it is owed. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Federal relief delays tax break for California businesses

By Adam Beam Mar. 19, 2021 05:06 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 25, 2020, file photo, Sen. Nancy Skinner speaks during debate at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. The California Legislature on Thursday, March 18, 2021, voted to expand paid sick leave for about 10.4 million workers, sending a bill to Gov. Gavin Newsom that mandates up to two weeks of paid time off for things like having coronavirus symptoms, scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine or caring for a child who is doing school at home. "The absolutely best way to contain the spread (of the virus), beyond the fact of wearing masks as we are and keeping our distance, is to ensure people who have COVID or who are asymptomatic with COVID are not going to work," said Sen. Skinner, a Democrat from Berkeley and primary author of the bill. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

California Legislature OKs expansion of paid sick leave

By Adam Beam Mar. 18, 2021 02:54 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom watches as a farmworker receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic for farmworkers at the Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea Community Center in Fresno, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration says the massive new federal coronavirus relief bill will pump more than $150 billion into the state's economy. Nearly half of that money will go to Californians directly in the form of $1,400 stimulus checks and expanded unemployment benefits. Another $26 billion will go to the state government. (John Walker/The Fresno Bee via AP, Pool, File)

California could get $150B from federal virus relief bill

By Adam Beam Mar. 11, 2021 02:49 AM EST

Jennifer Becker, right, Science Teacher at the Sinaloa Middle School, talks to one of her students in Novato, Calif. on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. The school just reopened Monday, Feb. 22, 2021 for in-person learning. (AP Photo/Haven Daily)

California Legislature OKs plan aimed at in-person learning

By Adam Beam Mar. 04, 2021 02:33 PM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2020, file photo, is the Assembly gallery overlooking a legislative session in Sacramento, Calif. California lawmakers on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, approved a COVID stimulus package that includes $600 in cash for 5.7 million people. (AP Photo/Hector Amezcua, File)

California OKs $600 stimulus payments for 5.7 million people

By Adam Beam Feb. 22, 2021 06:39 PM EST

California Legislature OKs $600 payments for 5.7 million people, part of state stimulus package amid COVID pandemic

Feb. 22, 2021 06:38 PM EST
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Legislature OKs $600 payments for 5.7 million people, part of state stimulus package amid COVID pandemic. ...

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2021, file photo, vehicles queue up outside the Disneyland Resort parking lot for a COVID-19 vaccine in Anaheim, Calif. California has closed some vaccination centers and delayed appointments following winter storms elsewhere in the country that hampered the shipment of doses. Orange County shut its large-scale vaccination site at Disneyland through Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, after a shipment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses didn't arrive this week. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

California will set aside vaccine doses for educators, staff

By Kathleen Ronayne And Amy Taxin Feb. 19, 2021 11:32 AM EST

Students and parents attend distance learning Zoom classes at Midtown Terrace Playground in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

California lawmakers, governor at odds on school reopening

By Jocelyn Gecker And Adam Beam Feb. 18, 2021 04:55 PM EST