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

This week marks a critical juncture in the legislative calendar: the bill introduction deadline. As of Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the state legislature has seen the introduction of just over 1,000 bills. A significant portion of this initial wave consists of "spot bills" – placeholder legislation that signals intent but lacks substantive statutory language. These spot bills are strategically introduced to meet the deadline, with the expectation that they will be amended later in the session to carry substantive policy language. We anticipate a substantial increase in the total bill count, anticipating that at least 1,000 additional bills will be introduced before the deadline officially closes.

County-sponsored legislation is making steady progress through the initial stages of introduction, and there are a few remaining bills that are expected to be formally introduced and assigned bill numbers in the coming days. Next week, we will provide a comprehensive update of County-sponsored legislation and projected committee assignments.

State budget deliberations are already well-underway, driven by the governor's January budget proposal and the major changes driven by federal policy changes. A strong focus of budget discussion centers on analyzing the potential and anticipated impacts of H.R. 1, particularly as it relates to services, programs, and financial support for California's vulnerable populations. Policymakers are closely examining how the proposed changes in federal funding and program requirements under H.R. 1 may necessitate adjustments to the state's spending priorities and its safety net programs.

Early Budget Action

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 106 into law last week, providing $90 million in additional General Fund support for Planned Parenthood clinics in response to federal Medicaid reimbursement cuts enacted under H.R. 1. The federal provision blocks Planned Parenthood from receiving Medi-Cal reimbursement for one year, not just for abortion services, which are already restricted under longstanding federal law, but for the broader range of care the clinics provide, including cancer screenings, contraception, Sexually Transmitted Infection testing and treatment, pregnancy care, and primary care. Because more than 80% of the 1.3 million Californians served annually by Planned Parenthood are Medi-Cal enrollees, clinics estimate losses exceeding $300 million. Several sites have already closed or reduced services. The $90 million allocation comes on top of $140 million appropriated last year, reflecting the state’s effort to backfill federal dollars and stabilize access for Medi-Cal patients until reimbursement is scheduled to resume in July, absent further congressional action.

This week, both the Assembly Budget Committee and Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee approved identical pairs of budget-related bills: AB 107/SB 107, which serves as a budget bill jr. by amending language in a prior budget act, and AB 117/SB 117, focused on Bay Area transit.

A key procedural note for budget-related legislation is that while each house introduces an identical bill, only one bill moves forward to the governor's desk. This practice enables simultaneous consideration of budget provisions in both houses, thereby accelerating the overall process.

AB 107/SB 107 amends the 2025 Budget Act to make technical corrections, adjust appropriations, and authorize the expenditure of newly awarded federal funds. The bill provides $15.485 million in new federal fund authority, including funding for CalFire’s Urban Forestry Program, orphan oil and gas well remediation through the Department of Conservation, and security improvements at Exposition Park. It also makes targeted adjustments to prior appropriations, including $6 million for the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery, $20 million to promote tourism, $750,000 for LGBTQ+ archives, $20 million in Proposition 4 funds for Hollister Ranch public access, and $2 million for the City of Petaluma River Foundation. Additional provisions extend encumbrance periods, shift certain fund sources, clarify Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund allocations for zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, and correct drafting errors. The measure is largely technical and cost neutral aside from authorizing the new federal funds.

AB 117/SB 117 authorizes the California Transportation Agency to loan up to $590 million to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to address operating shortfalls for major Bay Area transit agencies, including BART, SFMTA, Caltrain (Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board), and AC Transit. The loan would be drawn from previously awarded but unallocated Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funds, with repayment backstopped by the agencies’ shares of State Transit Assistance funds. The legislation is framed as bridge financing in response to pandemic-related ridership and revenue declines and is aligned with prior budget actions and a potential future regional ballot measure.

Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Informational Hearing on H.R. 1

The February 11 Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee hearing laid out in stark terms what H.R. 1 could mean for California’s safety net, and by extension, for Orange County’s health care system, working families, and county government finances. The discussion centered on the projected impacts to Medi-Cal and CalFresh, but the implications for Orange County were clear throughout: increased uninsured residents, higher indigent care costs, administrative burdens for counties, and significant debate over long-term fiscal sustainability.

At the outset, the Legislative Analyst’s Office described H.R. 1 as one of the most sweeping disruptions to Medicaid and SNAP in program history, noting that millions of Californians could lose coverage or food assistance due to expanded work requirements, six-month eligibility redeterminations, and new eligibility restrictions. For Orange County, where Medi-Cal enrollment remains substantial, the projected disenrollments translate directly into fiscal and service pressures.

The Department of Finance confirmed that the governor’s budget already reflects reduced federal support and anticipates significant caseload declines tied to federal work requirements and more frequent redeterminations. While these reductions may ease state General Fund obligations on paper, they raise immediate questions for Orange County about who absorbs the downstream costs when residents lose coverage and shift to emergency departments or county-funded indigent care.

Senator Kelly Seyarto framed the issue squarely as one of long-term sustainability. He emphasized the rapid growth in Medi-Cal spending over the past decade:

“Our Medi-Cal program… has gone from $93 billion to a current estimate about $222 billion… that’s something that is not sustainable.”

For Orange County policymakers concerned about structural deficits and long-term obligations, Seyarto’s comments reflected a familiar argument: without reforms, Medi-Cal’s growth trajectory could crowd out other priorities. His remarks also highlighted a philosophical divide for the legislature, typically between Democrats and Republicans.

He defended work requirements as a reasonable expectation for able-bodied adults, noting that qualifying activities include work, school, or community service:

“Why is it such a difficult lift to get them out of a house… into the world where they can open up some opportunities to not be so dependent anymore?”

At the same time, other members raised concerns about the real-world effects on working families and county systems. Senators questioned how counties would manage rising uncompensated care and CalFresh administrative costs, given that H.R. 1 reduces the federal administrative match for CalFresh from 50% to 25%, shifting approximately $190 million annually to counties statewide. Orange County would bear a proportional share of that shift, adding pressure to its social services and health care infrastructure.

The hearing also underscored economic ripple effects. Testimony highlighted that CalFresh brings more than $12 billion annually into California communities and generates up to $1.80 in economic activity for every dollar spent. For Orange County’s grocery retailers, local markets, and working-class neighborhoods, reductions in food assistance would not only increase hardship but also reduce local spending.

In sum, the February 11 hearing made clear that Orange County stands at the intersection of the state-federal policy shift. If H.R. 1 leads to significant Medi-Cal disenrollment, Orange County hospitals and clinics could see higher uncompensated care. If CalFresh caseloads drop due to work requirements and documentation burdens, the County will face increased administrative and humanitarian pressures. At the same time, concerns about Medi-Cal’s long-term cost growth and structural imbalance remain central to the debate.

For Orange County leaders, the hearing signaled that the coming budget cycle will require navigating both fiscal sustainability and safety-net stability, an increasingly difficult balance in the wake of federal policy changes.

January Revenues

The Department of Finance (DOF) and State Controller released reports on January’s revenues as compared to the 2026-27 governor’s budget proposal.

Upcoming Hearings

Agendas are typically posted on the committee websites in the Assembly and Senate a few days prior to the hearings. To view hearings after they take place, you may access them in the Assembly or Senate media archives where they are generally available within a few hours of committee adjournment.

Monday, February 23, 2026, Upon Adjournment of Assembly and Senate Floor Sessions

Assembly Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies

State Capitol, Room 126

Oversight Hearing: California's Cap-and-Invest Program

Monday, February 23, 2026, 2:30 p.m.

Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health

State Capitol, Room 127

California's Response to HR 1:

Defending Health Care Affordability and Access – Part 1

Physician Workforce Development in the Wake of H.R.1:

Education, Training, and Retention

Item No. Description

6440 University of California

4140 Department of Health Care Access and Information

Overview of H.R.1s federal student loan policy changes and impact on medical education access

Proposition 56 and Song-Brown state investments: graduate medical education and the physician supply in California

Physician retention trends and workforce stability

Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m.

Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife

State Capitol, Room 444

Informational Hearing: Efficiency of Large Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Water Users

Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 10:00 a.m.

Assembly Emergency Management

State Capitol, Room 437

Oversight Hearing: Active and Mass Shooter Preparedness, Prevention, and Response

Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 9:30 a.m.

Assembly Housing and Community Development

State Capitol, Room 437

Oversight Hearing: Outcomes Review of AB 2011 (Wicks), Statues of 2022 - Affordable Housing and High Roads Jobs Act of 2022

Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Assembly Utilities and Energy

1021 O Street, Room 1100

Oversight Hearing: Energy Entities Progress Report: Outcomes Review of AB 2316 (Ward), Statutes of 2022 - Public Utilities Commission: customer renewable energy subscription programs and the community renewable energy program

Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 1:30 p.m.

Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services

State Capitol, Room 126

Item No. Description

5180 Department of Social Services

Anti-Poverty, Anti- Hunger, and Equity Programs

Expected Impacts of Federal H.R. 1 on People and Proposals to Reduce Harm in California

All Related January Governor's Budget Proposals

5180 Department of Social Services

6980 California Student Aid Commission

Proposal for CalFresh Enrollment for Eligible Students in Higher Education When Applying for Financial Aid

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9:30 a.m. or upon adjournment of Session

Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy

1021 O Street, Room 2200

Item Description

0540 Natural Resources Agency

Ocean Protection Council

3125 California Tahoe Conservancy

3360 Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission

3480 Department of Conservation

3600 Department of Fish and Wildlife

3720 California Coastal Commission

3760 State Coastal Conservancy

3790 Department of Parks and Recreation

3820 San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission

3825 San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles River and Mountains Conservancy

3835 Baldwin Hills Conservancy

3845 San Diego River Conservancy

3860 Department of Water Resources

3875 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9:30 a.m. or upon adjournment of Session

Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services

1021 O Street, Room 1200

Item Description

0530 California Health and Human Services Agency

4100 State Council on Developmental Disabilities

4120 Emergency Medical Services Authority

4700 Department of Community Services and Development

4265 Department of Public Health

Program and Budget Overview

Center for Infectious Diseases

Emergency Preparedness Office

Laboratory Field Services

5160 Department of Rehabilitation

5175 Department of Child Support Services

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9:30 a.m. or upon adjournment of Session

Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration and General Government

State Capitol, Room 113

Item Description

2240 Department of Housing and Community Development

2255 Interagency Council on Homelessness

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9:30 a.m. or upon adjournment of Session

Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation

State Capitol, Room 112

Item Description

0250 Judicial Branch

Grant Opportunities

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

Application deadline: 2/12/26 00:00

Title: Geo-Regional Experts for Multilingual Students Grant Program

State Agency / Department: CA Department of Education

Match Funding? No

Estimated Total Funding: $2,000,000

Funding Method: Advances & Reimbursement(s)

Expected Award Announcement: July 2026

Title: Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program, FY 2026-27

State Agency / Department: Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery

Match Funding? 100%

Estimated Total Funding: $4,000,000

Funding Method: Reimbursement

Application deadline: 3/17/26 15:00

Title: Regional Coordination Project (RCP) Grant for Program Year 2025-26 (PY 25-26)

State Agency / Department: Employment Development Department

Match Funding? No

Estimated Total Funding: $10,000,000

Funding Method: Reimbursement

Application deadline: 5/5/26 23:59

Title: Strategic Growth Council Factory Built Housing Pilot Program Round 3 Catalyst Grant

State Agency / Department: Strategic Growth Council

Match Funding? No

Estimated Total Funding: $10,000,000

Funding Method: Advancements and Reimbursements

Application deadline: 5/5/26 23:59

Title: Strategic Growth Council Factory Built Housing Pilot Program Round 3 Planning Grant

State Agency / Department: Strategic Growth Council

Match Funding? No

Estimated Total Funding: $10,000,000

Funding Method: Advancements and Reimbursements

Expected open date: Spring 2026

Title: CAL FIRE Forest Health

State Agency / Department: Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Match Funding? No

Estimated Total Funding: TBD

Funding Method: Advancements and Reimbursements

Governor’s Press Releases

Below is a list of the governor’s press releases beginning February 11.

February 17: Governor, First Partner statement on passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson

February 16: Governor Newsom launches UK climate partnership, welcomes nearly $1 billion Octopus Energy clean tech commitment

February 14: Munich Security Conference: Governor Newsom reinforces climate partnerships as Donald February 14: Trump abandons long-standing American allies

February 14: Governor Newsom, German Environment Minister pledge further climate and environment cooperation at Munich Security Conference

February 14: At Munich Security Conference, Governor Newsom advances climate action and

February 14: partnerships as Trump abandons America’s allies

February 13: California’s historic investments to curb retail theft result in 29,060 arrests $226 million in recovered goods in two years

February 13: Governor Gavin Newsom, Governor Katie Hobbs, and Governor Joe Lombardo release joint statement on Colorado River deadline

February 13: Fighting fraud, saving time, cutting costs: Governor Newsom’s efficiency strategies are improving state government

February 13: Top 12 reasons to ♥️ California on Valentine’s Day

February 12: Donald Trump declares the Republican Party the pro-pollution party

February 12: Governor Newsom announces major expansion of mortgage relief program, with a four-fold increase in payments to survivors

February 11: Governor Newsom announces appointments 2.11.26

• Paula Stigler Granados, of San Diego, has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board
• Tania Pacheco-Werner, of Sanger, has been reappointed to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
• Julie Lee, of Auburn, has been reappointed to the Delta Stewardship Council
• Ann Patterson, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the Delta Stewardship Council
• Monique Moyer, of San Mateo, has been reappointed to the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority

February 11: Governor Newsom announces permanent closure of AllenCo oil wells, ending years of community harm

February 11: Governor Newsom signs legislation delivering $90 million in emergency funding for Planned Parenthood after Trump defunds organization

February 10: Governor Newsom signs legislation 2.10.26

February 10: Governor Newsom signs consumer protection bill cracking down on veteran fraud and abuse, launches tax cut for vets

The House and Senate were both on recess this week, with many lawmakers attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany. The White House continued negotiations on the Homeland Security Shutdown.

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ACTIVITY

Department of Homeland Security Shuts Down, Little Progress on Negotiations

On February 13, the Homeland Security Continuing Resolution (CR) contained in HR 7148, the last appropriations minibus of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, expired and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) entered a partial government shutdown. The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memo ordering the shutdown, and DHS announced changes to their operations.

11 of the 12 appropriations bills, covering 96% of federal discretionary spending through the end of FY26 on September 30 have passed and are now law. Lawmakers are generally prepared for the shutdown to be lengthy.

The impacts of the shutdown are limited, though are likely to increase the longer the agency goes without regular funding. HR 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, provided over $140 billion in funding to DHS for immigration enforcement and enhancements to Coast Guard operations. Senate Democrats and the White House have continued negotiations on reforms to immigration enforcement agencies and operations following incidents in Minnesota, passing offers and legislative text back and forth throughout the week. Senate Democrats have also issued a list of demands, which the White House is thus far engaging with.

Complicating negotiations, a number of House Republicans are pushing for the Senate to pass the SAVE Act, a voter identification bill the President is supporting that would require a birth certificate or passport to register to vote, and a matching ID card at the polls. Taken together, and combined with the weeklong recess this week, there is insufficient pressure on Congress to resolve their differences.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH ACTIVITY

EPA Finalizes Rule Rescinding Their Authority to Regulate Vehicle Emissions

On February 12, the President and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the completion of a final rule repealing the 2009 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Endangerment Finding and all subsequent federal GHG emission standards not codified in legislation.

On February 18, the EPA published the final rule, effective April 20, 2026. According to the EPA, the rule represents the largest deregulatory action in US history, and because of these changes, engine and vehicle manufacturers no longer have any future obligations for the measurement, control, and reporting of GHG emissions for any highway engine and vehicle, including model years manufactured prior to the final rule.

The 2009 Endangerment Finding by the EPA, that carbon dioxide, methane, and other GHG emissions threaten public health and welfare, expanded the EPA’s authority to regulate GHG emissions beyond the statutorily identified pollutants in Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), or 42 USC § 7521. EPA Administrator Zeldin argued the text of the CAA was misinterpreted, and does not provide the EPA with the statutory authority to regulate the other pollutants, including carbon dioxide from tailpipe emissions.

In addition to being in line with the Administration’s policy positions on environmental regulation, the move is being seen as setting up a new court challenge that could allow the Supreme Court to overturn a 2007 ruling allowing the EPA to regulate GHG emissions. The situation creates the possibility for the court to also overturn the federal preemption of state emissions standards in the CAA, which California has a presumptive waiver from. In the final rule, the EPA argued the preemption now applies to California given Congress’ recent disapproval of the waivers. A coalition of environmental and health groups sued over the final rule on February 18. 

Orange County Delegation Press Releases

• Alex Padilla – February 17, 2026: Padilla, Schiff, 40+ Lawmakers Sound Alarm on How Trump’s Immigration Agenda is Hurting Workers and Families’ Child Care Access, Raising Costs - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – February 17, 2026: Padilla, Durbin, Senate Democrats Sound Alarm on Dramatic Increase in Deaths in Immigration Detention - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – February 17, 2026: Padilla, Schiff, Whitehouse, Colleagues Investigate EPA’s “Fait Accompli” Repeal of Bedrock Climate Safeguard - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – February 13, 2026: Padilla, Wyden Demand Accountability After IRS Admits Improper Disclosure of Taxpayer Data to ICE - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – February 12, 2026: Padilla Votes Against More Funding for Trump’s ICE and CBP - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – February 12, 2026: WATCH: Padilla Rallies Against SAVE Act, Moves to Block Federal Agents From Policing Polling Centers - Senator Alex Padilla
• Alex Padilla – February 12, 2026: Padilla Statement on Trump Nominating Only Republicans to Bipartisan FEC - Senator Alex Padilla
• Adam Schiff – February 18, 2026: NEWS: Schiff, Padilla, 40+ Lawmakers Sound Alarm on How Trump’s Immigration Agenda is Hurting Workers and Families’ Child Care Access, Raising Costs
• Adam Schiff – February 18, 2026: NEWS: Schiff, Padilla Join Democratic Colleagues in Demanding VA Rescind Draconian Abortion Care Ban for Veterans  
• Adam Schiff – February 13, 2026: NEWS: Sen. Schiff, Cortez Masto, 21 Senate Democrats Demand CFTC Chair Reverse on Greenlighting Prediction Markets
• Adam Schiff – February 12, 2026: NEWS: Senator Schiff, Colleagues Launch Probe into New Private Entity Offering Millionaire Trump Donors Access to White House, Semiquincentennial Events
• Mike Levin – February 13, 2026: Rep. Mike Levin Reintroduces Bill to Protect Waters from Plastic Pollution | U.S. Congressman Mike Levin
• Mike Levin – February 12, 2026: Rep. Mike Levin Denounces Sec. Noem’s Visit to Otay Mesa | U.S. Congressman Mike Levin
• Linda Sanchez – February 13, 2026: Ways and Means members call for investigation into leak of immigrant taxpayer information | Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
• Linda Sanchez – February 12, 2026: Sánchez, Turner introduce bill requiring congressional approval for tariffs on NATO allies | Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
• Lou Correa – February 12, 2026: CORREA VOTES AGAINST GOP VOTER SUPPRESSION LEGISLATION | U.S. Congressman Lou Correa of California

Legislation Introduced by the Orange County Delegation

Friday 02/20/2026

Supreme Court blocks Trump’s tariffs in rare rebuke. Here’s what it means for California -- Like most taxes, tariffs are ultimately paid by consumers and the businesses that sell affected products. In California, Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said in a court filing, Trump’s tariffs would cost the state $25 billion and deprive 64,000 workers of their jobs. Bob Egelko, Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/20/26

Newsom approves $590 million loan for struggling transit agencies -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday authorized a $590 million loan to bolster struggling transit agencies in the Bay Area, some of which could collapse without an economic life boat. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/20/26

Thursday 02/19/2026

Citing fire risk, L.A. city may get more power to remove hillside homeless encampments -- Los Angeles city officials may be empowered to remove homeless encampments from hillside areas at severe risk of fire, even without the property owner’s permission, under a proposal that the City Council moved forward on Tuesday. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/19/2

L.A. fire victims say state regulators ignored complaints about State Farm -- More than a dozen homeowners and their representatives told The Times that the state insurance department did little to resolve a wide range of complaints in State Farm’s handling of their claims. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/19/26

Wednesday 02/18/2026

Why California could be the big winner as EPA abandons climate policy -- The federal government is walking away from its tailpipe emissions rules, sparking a legal debate over whether states can now write their own standards. Alex Nieves Politico -- 2/18/26

LAUSD board approves up to 657 layoffs. Budget at ‘breaking point,’ Supt. Carvalho says -- The Los Angeles school board — confronted with deficit spending and an internal forecast of insolvency in three years — narrowly voted to send out 3,200 notices of possible layoff, launching a process that is expected to result in as many as 650 layoffs, moves strongly opposed by labor groups as unnecessary and harmful to students. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times Teresa Liu in the LA Daily News -- 2/18/26

Tuesday 02/17/2026

Altadena asked Edison to bury power lines. Some fire victims say that could cost them $40,000 -- Some Altadena residents learned they must pay $20,000 or more to connect to Edison’s buried lines. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/17/26

Santa Clara County eliminates 365 jobs amid Trump-induced budget challenges -- While the county routinely opens its budget mid-year to make revisions, it’s been years since the county made changes of this magnitude, with most of the eliminated positions coming from health care. Grace Hase in the San Jose Mercury -- 2/17/26

Monday 02/16/2026

Your grocery bags just changed again. Here’s what California is trying to fix -- As of Jan. 1, California’s updated bag ban dictates there will be no more plastic bags available at grocery store checkouts — only paper. It aims to fix a loophole in a decade-old law that ultimately turned “reusable” bags into even more plastic waste in California’s landfills. Jessica Roy in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/16/26

Kaiser strike hits fourth week as 31,000 workers demand higher pay and better staffing -- Thousands of Kaiser health care workers, including 22,000 nurses in Southern California, are on strike to demand better pay and staffing. The walk out has resulted in canceled or delayed appointments and surgeries, patients say. Kristen Hwang Calmatters -- 2/16/26

Weekend 02/14-02/15/2026

As a Colorado River deadline passes, reservoirs keep declining -- The leaders of seven states announced Friday, one day before a Trump administration deadline, that there is still no deal to share the diminishing waters of the Colorado River. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/14/26

Notoriously hazardous South L.A. oil wells finally plugged after decades of community pressure -- A two-acre Los Angeles oil drill site near the St. Vincent Elementary School in University Park, had been releasing noxious fumes for years. Finally, the wells have been shut down. Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/14/26

Factory-built housing hasn’t taken off in California yet, but this year might be different -- For decades engineers, architects, futurists, industrialists, investors and politicians have been pining for a better, faster and cheaper way to build homes. Ben Christopher Calmatters in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/15/26