Office of Legislative Affairs - "The Friday Wrap-Up"

Governor Gavin Newsom has begun acting on legislation sent to him by the legislature, focusing on several major high-profile issues in the last week including budget, the climate and energy package, and protecting immigrant populations.

We have covered legislation signed by the governor on budget and the climate package in previous updates. The following bills, signed into law on September 20, relate to protecting immigrants in schools and health care facilities, and specifying law enforcement requirements on masks and identification. The law enforcement changes were introduced as legislation when federal immigration enforcement increased across the state. Although the measures are not anticipated to directly impact county operations, they will impact Orange County residents and law enforcement agencies.

AB 49 (Muratsuchi) School sites: immigration enforcement establishes the California Safe Haven Schools Act and prohibits, except as required by state or federal law, school officials and employees of a local educational agency (LEA) from allowing officer or employee of an agency conducting immigration enforcement to enter a school site without providing a valid judicial warrant or court order. It additionally prohibits LEAs from providing information about pupils, their families, teachers, and school employees, to immigration authorities.

SB 81 (Arreguín) Health and care facilities: information sharing, prohibits a health care provider entity and its personnel, unless required by state and federal law, from granting access to the nonpublic areas of the facility for immigration enforcement without a valid judicial warrant or court order.

SB 98 (Pérez) Elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education: immigration enforcement: notification, requires the governing boards of school districts and county offices of education, and the governing boards of charter schools, to include procedures for notifying parents and school staff when immigration enforcement is confirmed on the school site within the school safety plan. It further requires the California State University, each California Community College District, and each Cal Grant qualifying independent institution of higher education, and requests the University of California Regents to issue notification to specified individuals when the presence of immigration enforcement is confirmed on their respective campuses or school sites.

SB 627 (Wiener) Law enforcement: masks, makes it a crime for a law enforcement officer, as defined, to wear a facial covering in the performance of the duties, except as specified, and requires any law enforcement agency operating in California to maintain and publicly post a written policy limiting the use of facial coverings. The governor’s signing message states that the measure requires follow-up legislation in January to provide additional exemptions for legitimate law enforcement activities and remove unnecessary liability for officers carrying out their duties in good faith.

SB 805 (Pérez) Crimes, requires law enforcement agencies to adopt policies on visible display of identification; requires specified law enforcement officers operating in California who are not uniformed to visibly display identification that includes either a name or badge number to the public when performing their duties; and expands the crime of false personation of a peace officer.

Sustainable Insurance Strategy: Proposed Regulations to Change Intervenor Compensation

Earlier this week, as part of his Sustainable Insurance Strategy to stabilize the homeowners' insurance market, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced draft regulations that would reform the intervenor process. Lara has long criticized the intervenor process for increasing costs to consumers’ homeowners’ insurance policies. The reform effort seeks to clarify and strengthen regulations around how intervenor participation is evaluated and compensated so that insurance commissioners, department staff, and all parties in the rate-review process are more accountable to consumers and taxpayers.

Background on Intervenor Process. Proposition 103, passed by California voters in November 1988, authorized a process for the public participation in the administrative process for setting insurance rates. “Intervenors” who participate in rate filings are allowed to recover costs, expenses, and attorney’s fees from insurers, which under law can be passed on to all consumers. Only intervenors that provide a substantial contribution to a rate decision by providing valuable technical input may recover their costs and expenses as well as reasonable attorney's fees. Those representing the insurance industry or other entities are not entitled to receive compensation. To make a determination on whether an intervenor actually represents the interests of consumers, the Department of Insurance requires a potential intervenor to file a request for finding of eligibility, which includes information such as corporate records, consumer protection activities, and funding sources. The Department also publishes past awards of intervenor compensation and previous petitions to intervene, which potential intervenors can use to become familiar with the process and participate as intervenors. Similar to publicly accessible information regarding insurers, information regarding consumer representatives is important to ensure that all participants in the rate application process are complying with applicable statutes and regulations.

Proposed Regulations. According to the “Initial Statement of Reasons,” the regulations aim to improve the rate application review and approval process by streamlining hearing procedures and realigning participation incentives. The Department is responsible for protecting consumers from excessive, inadequate, and unfairly discriminatory insurance rates and to ensure that the state’s insurance marketplace is competitive and accessible. The regulations are aimed at addressing an increase in the volume and complexity of rate filings and to aid the administrative efficiency of the current intervenor regulatory process.

As part of the Commissioner's Sustainable Insurance Strategy, the proposed regulation is designed to modernize the California insurance marketplace, increase accountability among all parties, and improve the rate application review and approval process by streamlining hearing procedures and realigning participation incentives. Specifically, the proposed regulation aims to:

• Increase governmental transparency by requiring the Administrative Law Judges to provide periodic updates to all parties on a pending matter.
• Increase governmental transparency by requiring the Public Advisor to publish a report that describes intervenor activity over the course of the prior calendar year.
• Provide added clarity to the Petition to Intervene process by specifying when petitions may be amended and what issues must be included in the petition before advocacy can be presented.
• Provide added clarity by specifying necessary requirements for submitting a request for award.
• Increase fairness and clarity by including a public comment period and describing exactly what types of intervenor contributions are eligible for compensation awards.
• Increase efficiency by focusing intervenor efforts on more relevant feedback.

The proposed regulations are expected to have minimal costs and were submitted to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for public notice and will be open for public comment for 45 days starting October 3, 2025. A public hearing on the proposed regulations will be held on November 20, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Members of the public are invited to participate and submit comments during the 45-day public comment period. More information is available on the Department’s website at www.insurance.ca.gov.

Competing Insurance Reform Ballot Measures Filed. Separately, Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, filed a proposition called the “Insurance Policyholder Bill of Rights.”

The filing responds to another ballot measure filed by insurance interests, the “California Insurance Market Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2026” which would repeal many provisions of Prop. 103 including the prior approval rate-setting system, and the compensated third-party intervenor process in insurance rate hearings. The measure also includes a provision that would require the Insurance Commissioner to have at least five years of experience in insurance regulation or an insurance related business or consultancy and hold a California property and casualty license.

The proposed “Insurance Policyholder Bill of Rights” proposition filed by Consumer Watchdog would:

• Require homeowners’ insurance companies to sell coverage to anyone who fire- proofs their home.
• Prohibit insurers who refuse to sell homeowners insurance from selling car or home insurance policies to Californians for five years.
• Require insurers to give customers sufficient time to make home repairs and improvements to prevent nonrenewal of policies.
• Require insurers to publicly report where, when, and why they are cancelling or refusing to renew homeowner policies.
• Require insurers to give homeowners at least six months notice if not renewing a policy and disclose specific documented reasons for the nonrenewal. Homeowners must be given a clear explanation of repairs that would qualify them for renewal, the right to repair and appeal, and automatic extensions if delays are due to factors outside of their control.
• Prevent insurance companies from non-renewing or denying coverage because a policyholder inquires about a claim, files a claim the insurer does not pay for any reason, or makes a claim that was not their fault and for which the risk of loss has been removed.
• Require insurance companies to give homeowners every version of a loss estimate prepared by an adjuster for the insurance company.

Both proposed ballot initiatives still need to gather the required signatures to qualify to be placed on the ballot.

August Revenues

The Department of Finance (DOF) and State Controller released their reports on August revenues as compared to the 2025 Budget Act. Remember, due to the January fires, Los Angeles County residents have a deadline of October 15 to pay their taxes. The resulting numbers will be particularly important for the governor’s January 2026 budget proposal.

Grant Opportunities

Below is a list of the latest grant opportunities released by the state. All opportunities for local jurisdictions may be found here.

Deadline: 11/21/25 17:00

Title: FY 2026-27 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant

State Agency / Department: Department of Transportation

Match Funding? 11%

Estimated Total Funding: $17.5 million is available for Sustainable Communities grants. $1.5 million is available for Strategic Partnerships grants. $3 million is available for Strategic Partnerships-Transit grants.

Funding Method: Reimbursement(s)

Deadline: 11/7/25 16:00

Title: FY 2026-2027 Boating Access Grant Program

State Agency / Department: Department of Fish and Wildlife

Match Funding? 25%

Estimated Total Funding: $2,000,000

Funding Method: Reimbursement(s)

Governor’s Press Releases

Below is a list of the governor’s press releases beginning September 17.

September 24:Millions of Californians getting refunds on their electricity bills next month, up to $60 billion in savings starts next year

September 24:California exceeds 200,000 EV chargers

September 23:Governor Newsom’s SAFE Task Force clears Los Angeles encampment, partners with city to connect people with shelter and care

September 23:TOMORROW: Governor Newsom discusses climate and democracy at Climate Week

September 23:California and Brazil ink new climate partnership to cut pollution, protect public health, strengthen economy

September 23:Protecting sensitive habitats across California, state officials remove 21,000 illicit cannabis plants

September 23:Nearly 1 in 4 new trucks, buses and vans in California go zero-emission, 2 years ahead of schedule

September 22:Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis proclaims Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September 22:Governor Newsom blasts Trump administration’s proposal gutting climate and clean air protections as ‘negligence’

September 22:ICYMI: California is now home to 3 of the 4 highest valuation companies in history as September 22:Alphabet joins the $3 trillion club

September 22:Governor Newsom signs law to provide fire survivors with stronger mortgage relief

September 22:Governor Newsom signs legislation cutting taxes on cannabis, promoting the long-term success of the legal industry

September 22:California announces funding to create thousands of affordable homes for California families

September 20:Governor Newsom signs laws to protect school children and hospital patients, and limit fear tactics used by Trump’s secret police force to terrorize communities

September 19:Governor Newsom issues emergency proclamation to help Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties recover from TCU Lightning Complex Fires

September 19:Governor Newsom announces appointments 9.19.25

• Anthony “Tony” Sertich, of Sacramento, has been appointed Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency
• Hazel Miranda, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Policy Advisor to the President at the California Public Utilities Commission
• Eraina Ortega, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Public Employment Relations Board
• Randall Chenworth, of Ontario, has been appointed to the California Apprenticeship Council
• Jaime Lee, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Coastal Commission
• Dennis Alfieri, of Pasadena, has been reappointed to the California Horse Racing Board

September 19:TOMORROW: Governor Newsom signs a historic legislation package to protect immigrant communities, hold Trump accountable

September 19:Governor Newsom proclaims California POW/MIA Recognition Day

September 19:Governor Newsom signs historic package of bipartisan legislation saving billions on electric bills, stabilizing gas market and cutting pollution

September 18:Governor Newsom announces judicial appointments 9.18.25

• Meera T. Parikh, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court.
• Gregory Brown, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court
• Andrew Verriere, of Contra Costa County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Contra Costa County Superior Court
• Sally Ackerknecht, of Kern County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Kern County Superior Court
• Amir Aharonov, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court
• Matthew Siroka, of Marin County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Marin County Superior Court
• FredRicco McCurry, of Mendocino County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Mendocino County Superior Court
• Susel Carrillo-Orellana, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court
• Amy K. Nett, of Riverside County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Riverside County Superior Court
• Sylwia Luttrell, of Riverside County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Riverside County Superior Court
• Elizabeth Ulsh, of San Bernardino County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Bernardino County Superior Court
• Bobby Luna, of Sacramento County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Francisco County Superior Court
• Ai Mori, of San Francisco County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Francisco County Superior Court
• Mandy Tovar, of Santa Cruz County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Cruz County Superior Court
• Kendall Hannon, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Siskiyou County Superior Court

September 18:TOMORROW: Governor Newsom to sign big, beautiful bills on climate and energy affordability

September 18:California prepares state resources ahead of heavy rain, dry lightning, and increased fire threats

September 18:Governor Newsom’s expanded CHP deployment makes early impact on crime, seizing drugs and illegal guns

September 18:Governor Newsom honors fallen Caltrans worker

September 18:Governor Newsom proclaims Preparedness Month

September 18:ICYMI: California hotline receives 1,200 reports of hate in 2024

September 18: Californication of AI? Golden State is #1 in AI, and the birthplace of modern tech, so yeah — be quiet, Ted Cruz

September 17: Governor Newsom announces appointments 9.17.25

• Lucia Saldivar, of Sacramento, has been appointed as Deputy Director of Board and Bureau Relations at the California Department of Consumer Affairs
• Shelly Jones, of Rocklin, has been appointed as Assistant Deputy Director of Board and Bureau Relations at the California Department of Consumer Affairs
• Ram M. Vaderhobli, of Belmont, has been appointed to the Dental Board of California
• Olivia Mae Asuncion, of Oakland, has been appointed to the California Commission on Disability Access
• Nancy Duong, of San Gabriel, has been reappointed to the California Board of Accountancy
• Jeffery Molnar, of Crescent City, has been appointed to the 41st District Agricultural Association – Del Norte Fair Board
• Kevin G. Walthers, of Santa Maria, has been appointed to the 35th District Agricultural Association – Santa Maria Fair Board

The House and Senate were in recess this week while the President was in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly. The probability of a federal government shutdown increased due to a lack of progress on substantive negotiations in Congress.

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ACTIVITY

Shutdown is Increasingly Likely on October 1

A government shutdown on October 1 is increasingly likely, as Congress has yet to initiate substantive negotiations on either full-year appropriations bills or a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to extend funding beyond the end of Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).

On September 19, the House passed a clean CR to maintain current funding levels for seven weeks, allowing more time to pass the 12 annual appropriations bills. Meanwhile, the House and Senate Minority released a draft CR outlining their negotiating position. Advancing either CR in the Senate requires support from seven Democratic Senators, which has not been secured. The Senate Minority has withheld support, citing a lack of meaningful engagement from the Majority.

After passing the clean CR, House Speaker Mike Johnson cancelled votes scheduled for September 29 and 30, sending members home through October 6. This was broadly seen as forcing the clean CR in the Senate, which is scheduled to return on September 29. A meeting between the President and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was briefly scheduled and then cancelled. The President argued the meeting could not be productive given the minority’s current position.

These tensions have only increased the probability of a government shutdown. The consequences of which are unclear given a lack of current guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the White House. In prior years, while some federal employees continue to work without pay and are deemed essential, large swaths of the federal workforce is furloughed and unable to continue working. In an effort to ratchet up the pressure on Congress, OMB released a memo instructing federal agencies to lay off workers who are subject to furlough in the event of a shutdown. Negotiations will continue ahead of the October 1 deadline.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH ACTIVITY

DOT Announces New Grants From De-Obligated California High Speed Rail Funding

After Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy cancelled $2.4 billion in previously awarded federal funding for the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), DOT announced on September 22 $5 billion in new grant funding from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) National Railroad Partnership Program.

The FRA reissued the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for projects not on the Northeast Corridor and added some funding to the FY25 NOFO, which was subject to different funding conditions after FRA modified grant agreements to comply with multiple Executive Orders removing diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements, and new scoring guidance emphasizing at-grade crossing safety projects and family-based services on passenger rail.

The reallocation of the prior funding for CHSRA into another program is controversial given ongoing litigation over the funding, which California seeks to restore and is arguing the FRA lacked the authority to unilaterally de-obligate. A CHSRA spokesperson committed to immediate legal action in order to stop the FRA from awarding the funds to different projects under a new NOFO.   

FEMA To Award Delayed FY25 Non-Disaster Grant Programs

On September 18, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced they will begin to award billions of dollars previously delayed under the Administration’s review of grant programs for compliance with Administration priorities. The funding for the grants came from the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) full year continuing resolution and generally must be awarded before the end of the Fiscal Year on September 30.

The programs include the National Dam Safety Program, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (Multistate and Individual State), the Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element, Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System Readiness, and the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium. Other programs will be awarded on a rolling basis through the fall.

Applicants will receive updates via the FEMA Grant Outcomes system (FEMA GO) and can attend webinars on updated Administration guidance on grant administration.

EPA Announces PFOA and PFOS Regulatory Changes

On September 17, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced continued efforts to address contamination from PFOA and PFOS, two chemicals in the PFAS family. While the EPA is maintaining their designation as hazardous substances under the Superfund law (CERCLA), Zeldin emphasized the need for Congressional action to clarify liability protections for entities that did not produce these chemicals but may still be held responsible for cleanup costs.

Per Administrator Zeldin, the EPA plans to develop a new rule under CERCLA Section 102(a) to create a framework for future hazardous substance designations. This rule will aim to ensure that economic impacts on manufacturers, passive receivers, and consumers receive greater consideration. The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to providing technical support to Congress and to pursue additional rulemaking.

Congress has demonstrated interest in permitting reform efforts across the federal government and multiple pieces of legislation have been introduced on a bipartisan basis. Which policies will advance remains unclear, though Congress seems eager to ease some barriers to development activities from housing to drinking water infrastructure.

Orange County Delegation Press Releases

• Mike Levin – September 19, 2025: Rep. Mike Levin’s Statement on Charlie Kirk Resolution | U.S. Congressman Mike Levin
• Mike Levin – September 19, 2025: Rep. Mike Levin Opposes House Republicans’ Partisan Government Funding Bill That Increases Health Care Costs | U.S. Congressman Mike Levin
• Mike Levin – September 17, 2025: Rep. Mike Levin Leads California Democratic Congressional Delegation in Urging EPA to Maintain Policy to Combat Climate Pollution | U.S. Congressman Mike Levin
• Young Kim – September 23, 2025: Rep. Young Kim Introduces Bipartisan Resolution to Promote Children’s Emotional Wellness - Congresswoman Young Kim
• Young Kim – September 19, 2025: Rep. Young Kim Votes to Avoid Costly Government Shutdown - Congresswoman Young Kim
• Young Kim – September 19, 2025: Rep. Kim Secures Bipartisan Wins to Revitalize U.S. Diplomacy, Economic Statecraft, and National Security - Congresswoman Young Kim
• Young Kim – September 18, 2025: Reps. Kim, Castor Lead Bipartisan SHINE for Autumn Act to Prevent Stillbirth and Support Healthy Pregnancies - Congresswoman Young Kim
• Dave Min – September 23, 2025: WATCH: Rep. Dave Min on Alex Acosta: “Completely Non-Credible” | Representative Dave Min
• Dave Min – September 22, 2025: Rep. Dave Min Demands Investigation Into Tom Homan’s $50,000 Cash Payment | Representative Dave Min
• Dave Min – September 19, 2025: STATEMENT: Rep. Dave Min Denounces Political Violence | Representative Dave Min
• Dave Min – September 18, 2025: Rep. Dave Min Speaks Out Against Economic Toll of Trump’s Tariffs | Representative Dave Min
• Dave Min – September 18, 2025: Rep. Dave Min Advances Bipartisan Legislation Through Full Committee Markup, Crossing Key Legislative Hurdle To Pass Bill | Representative Dave Min
• Derek Tran – September 22, 2025: Representative Derek Tran Introduces Resolution Honoring the Vietnamese Heritage Flag | Representative Derek Tran
• Derek Tran – September 19, 2025: Representative Tran Rejects Partisan Proposal to Dismantle Affordable Health Care Programs | Representative Derek Tran
• Derek Tran – September 19, 2025: Representative Tran’s Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Veterans’ Benefits Unanimously Passes House | Representative Derek Tran
• Derek Tran – September 17, 2025: Representative Derek Tran Organizes Meeting of Minority Serving Institutions Amid Trump Administration Cuts | Representative Derek Tran
• Linda Sanchez – September 19, 2025: Bipartisan, bicameral bill would improve Medicare Advantage billing | Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
• Linda Sanchez – September 19, 2025: Bipartisan bill introduced to protect disabled veterans access to affordable housing | Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
• Alex Padilla – September 23, 2025: Padilla, Colleagues Demand Withdrawal of Endangerment Finding Rollback That Will Accelerate the Climate Crisis - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – September 22, 2025: Padilla Joins Bill to Expand Head Start Early Learning Program for Working-Class Families - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – September 19, 2025: Padilla, Paul, Ross, Miller-Meeks Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Protect Documented Dreamers - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – September 18, 2025: WATCH: Padilla, Lofgren Introduce Legislation to Establish Independent Redistricting Commissions, End Mid-Decade Redistricting Nationwide - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – September 18, 2025: WATCH: Padilla, Colleagues Announce Bill to Stand Up to Trump’s Attacks on Free Speech, Safeguard Against Politically Motivated Harassment and Prosecutions - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – September 17, 2025: With Federal Workers Under Attack, Padilla, Warner, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Repeal Union-Busting Executive Orders - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – September 17, 2025: WATCH: Padilla Denounces Trump Administration’s Mistreatment of Unaccompanied Children - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – September 17, 2025: Padilla, Durbin Call for Oversight Hearings After Whistleblower Report Alleges Trump Admin Lied About Safety of Unaccompanied Guatemalan Children to Deport Them - Senator Alex Padilla
• Adam Schiff – September 23, 2025: NEWS: Schiff, Durbin, Senate Judiciary Democrats Launch Inquiry into Closure of Tom Homan Corruption Investigation
• Adam Schiff – September 22, 2025: WATCH: Sen. Schiff Calls Out Trump’s Brazen Weaponization of Justice Department, Hypocrisy on Tom Homan Corruption Investigation on MSNBC
• Adam Schiff – September 20, 2025: STATEMENT: Sen. Schiff on Report that Trump Administration Corruptly Closed Tom Homan Investigation After He Accepted Bribe
• Adam Schiff – September 19, 2025: NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Kaine to Force Vote Blocking Unauthorized Boat Strikes in Caribbean
• Adam Schiff – September 18, 2025: WATCH: Sen. Schiff Delivers Major Speech on Upholding Democracy
• Adam Schiff – September 18, 2025: NEWS: Ahead of Vaccine Advisory Panel Vote, Sen. Schiff Urges Nation’s Largest Private Health Insurers to Publicly Commit to Prioritizing Science, Continuing Vaccine Coverage 
• Adam Schiff – September 18, 2025: NEWS: Ahead of Vaccine Advisory Panel Vote, Sen. Schiff Urges Nation’s Largest Private Health Insurers to Publicly Commit to Prioritizing Science, Continuing Vaccine Coverage 
• Adam Schiff – September 17, 2025: NEWS: Sen. Schiff, Reps. Neguse, McGovern, and Lee Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United 
• Adam Schiff – September 17, 2025: NEWS: Sen. Schiff Reintroduces His Landmark Proposal to Protect Democracy, Close Legal Loopholes Enabling Widespread Abuses of Presidential Power

Legislation Introduced by the Orange County Delegation

Thursday 09/25/25

John Wayne Airport maintains ranking as North America’s favorite large airport -- John Wayne Airport ranked first among large airports in passenger satisfaction for the second consecutive year, J.D. Power’s 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study. Claire Wang in the Orange County Register -- 09/25/25

Millions of Californians are getting a refund on their electric bill. What you need to know -- Millions of Californians will see automatic refunds of more than $50 on their October electric bills from the state’s Climate Credit program. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times -- 09/25/25

Wednesday 09/24/25

Homelessness is dropping in California counties. But funding cuts could derail that progress -- California counties are reporting decreases in homelessness, suggesting the state is finally making progress in solving one of its most difficult and persistent problems. But even as Gov. Gavin Newsom and local officials are celebrating, the money that made those wins possible is at risk of evaporating. Marisa Kendall Calmatters -- 09/24/25

Ricardo Lara proposes insurance rule that critics call ‘revenge’ -- California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is proposing more new insurance rules that critics are calling “vindictive,” and which they say will only make it easier for insurers to raise rates. Levi Sumagaysay Calmatters -- 09/24/25

Tuesday 09/23/25

After insurance pullback, advocates demand a ‘bill of rights’ for California policyholders -- A leading consumer group is proposing a policyholder rights initiative that would require insurers to offer coverage to California homeowners who fireproof their homes — or lose the right to sell home or auto insurance in the state for five years. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times -- 09/23/25

Valley residents push back on bill allowing large buildings near transit, urging Newsom to veto it -- A growing number of San Fernando Valley residents and neighborhood groups are rallying against SB 79, a state bill that would allow denser housing near public transit stops — a move they said could upend decades of neighborhood planning and overwhelm local infrastructure. Teresa Liu in the LA Daily News -- 09/23/25

Monday 09/22/25

Could wildfire smoke become America’s leading climate health threat by 2050? -- In one of the most comprehensive pictures yet of the growing health risks associated with wildfire smoke, new research suggests ash and soot from burning wildlands has caused more than 41,000 excess deaths annually from 2011 to 2020. Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times -- 09/22/25

Factory-built housing could help solve San Diego’s housing crisis -- More than 2,000 factory-built apartment units are already installed or in the planning stages across the city, including projects in Mission Hills, Grantville and the College Area. David Garrick in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 09/22/25

Weekend 09/21-09/20/25

Gavin Newsom signs sweeping energy affordability package -- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a sweeping package of bills on Friday to boost oil drilling, rescue wildfire-threatened utilities and extend the state’s landmark climate program as he attempts to rein in energy costs while meeting the state’s ambitious climate targets. Camille von Kaenel, Alex Nieves and Noah Baustin Politico Nicole Nixon in the Sacramento Bee -- 09/20/25

California’s economy ‘adrift’ as job growth weakens, unemployment rate remains highest in country -- California’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.5% — the highest among U.S. states — in August as job growth continued to slow with 3,800 positions added. Additionally, July’s figures were revised downward to show a loss of 300 jobs that month. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 09/20/25