Lawmakers close in on deals: Climate change, California Forever, wildfire, antitrust and school assaults on agenda as legislative sessions nears end
Lawmakers have returned to Sacramento ready to hammer out — and potentially spike — several legislative deals before they adjourn for the year on Aug. 31 and hit the campaign trail.
Think of this year’s end-of-session as a bonus episode to last year’s saga over climate and energy policy. Much of the unresolved business has roots in the deal that renewed the state’s carbon market. But new topics have entered the plot too, and Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón will bring a different dynamic to negotiations among the “Big Three.”
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmpD FDF2=[ >F49 @7 E96 ?68@E:2E:?8 H:== E2<6 A=246 2E E96 =6256CD9:A =6G6= 369:?5 4=@D65 5@@CD] w6C6 2C6 7:G6 562=D H6’C6 H2E49:?8 E9:D >@?E9]k^Am
k9amr=:>2E6 7F?5 2 46?E6CA:646 E@ 3F586E E2=<Dk^9am
kAmw@H E@ DA6?5 E96 DE2E6’D >2:? 4=:>2E6 7F?5 H:== 36 2 AC:>2CJ DE:4<:?8 A@:?E E9:D >@?E9 27E6C v@G] v2G:? }6HD@> 2?5 =68:D=2E:G6 s6>@4C2ED 72:=65 E@ C6249 2? 28C66>6?E :? E:>6 7@C E96 yF?6 3F586E] k^Am
kAm}@H[ E96J 92G6 =6DD E92? 2 >@?E9 E@ D6EE=6 E96:C 5:776C6?46D] pDD6>3=J qF586E r@>>:EE66 r92:C y6DD6 v23C:6=[ 2? t?4:?@ s6>@4C2E[ E@=5 C6A@CE6CD :? yF?6 E92E E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D>52:=J;@FC?2=]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6^42=:7@C?:2\D6?2E6\56>@4C2ED\E9C62E6?\E@\3=@4<\8@G\82G:?\?6HD@>\AC:@C:E:6D\@G6C\:>A6C:=65\4=:>2E6\562=^2CE:4=606gcdee25\3_f6\cf2e\gcac\5g5fa67fg2gc]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4=:>2E6 3F586Ek^2m H@F=5 36 “2E E96 E@A @7 E96 =:DE” 7@C ?68@E:2E:@?D 5FC:?8 E96 DF>>6C C646DD] k^Am
kAm}6HD@> 2?5 =2H>2<6CD =2DE 72== C62FE9@C:K65 E96 DE2E6’D 42C3@? >2C<6E[ H9:49 492C86D 4@>A2?:6D E@ A@==FE6 2?5 56A@D:ED E96 5@==2CD :? E96 vC66?9@FD6 v2D #65F4E:@? uF?5 7@C 4=:>2E6 AC@8C2>D] %96 562= 2=D@ D6E E96 @C56C :? H9:49 AC@;64ED H@F=5 C646:G6 7F?5:?8] k^Am
kAmqFE E92E C6G6?F6 D@FC46[ H9:49 H2D 6DE:>2E65 E@ 86?6C2E6 Sc 3:==:@? 2 J62C[ 4@F=5 D9C:?< 3J 92=7 F?56C ?6H 4=:>2E6 CF=6D E96 }6HD@> 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 25@AE65 E9:D J62C[ 6?52?86C:?8 7F?5:?8 7@C G2C:@FD =68:D=2E:G6 AC:@C:E:6D 2?5 2?86C:?8 $6?2E6 s6>@4C2ED[ H9@ :? EFC? E9C62E6?65 E@ 3=@4< }6HD@>’D 7F?5:?8 AC@A@D2=D 2?5 AC6D6?E65 2=E6C?2E:G6 DA6?5:?8 A=2?D :? yF?6] k^Am
kAm{68:D=2E:G6 =6256CD 28C665 E@ FD6 S“d >:==:@? @7 E96 7F?5 7@C }6HD@>\324<65 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6 :?46?E:G6D 2?5 2?@E96C S`]ad 3:==:@? E@ 324<7:== E96 DE2E6 7:C6 56A2CE>6?E’D 3F586E] qFE DE:== 2E DE2<6 :D 7F?5:?8 7@C E96 4@?EC@G6CD:2= 9:89\DA665 C2:= AC@;64E[ H9:49 H2D D6E E@ C646:G6 S` 3:==:@? 2 J62C F?E:= a_cd] !C@;64ED DF49 2D D276 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C[ 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8 2?5 EC2?D:E 2C6 2=D@ 2E C:D< @7 =@D:?8 7F?5:?8] k^Am
kAm$6A2C2E6=J[ E@A =6256CD AFE @77 ?68@E:2E:@?D @G6C !C@A@D:E:@? c[ E96 G@E6C\2AAC@G65 S`_ 3:==:@? 3@?5 7@C 4=:>2E6 AC@;64ED] {2DE J62C[ DE2E6 =2H>2<6CD 7@F89E E@ D64FC6 2 A:646 @7 E96 7F?5 7@C A6E AC@;64ED[ D@>6 E2?86?E:2==J C6=2E65 E@ 6?G:C@?>6?E2= AC@E64E:@?[ :? E96:C @H? 5:DEC:4ED :? 2 D64C6E:G6 AC@46DD E92E 6G6? >2?J =2H>2<6CD 36>@2?65] k^Am
k9am%649\324<65 r2=:7@C?:2 u@C6G6C D66<D 2 562=k^9am
kAmr2=:7@C?:2 u@C6G6C[ E96 E649 3:==:@?2:C6D\324<65 8C@FA D66<:?8 E@ 56G6=@A DH2E9D @7 $@=2?@ r@F?EJ 72C>=2?5[ :D 9@A:?8 E@ 86E 2 42CG6\@FE @? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= CF=6D 7@C E96 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am
kAmu@C >@?E9D[ E96 8C@FA 2?5 :ED =23@C F?:@? 2==:6D E@=5 DE2E6 =2H>2<6CD E96 C6=:67 H2D ?646DD2CJ E@ 96=A r2=:7@C?:2 =2?5 2 562= H:E9 $2C@?:4D %649?@=@8:6D x?4][ 2 %6I2D\32D65 D9:A3F:=56C E96J D2:5 H2D 6J6:?8 r2=:7@C?:2 7@C :ED ?6IE D9:AJ2C5] %96 8C@FA H2?E65 E96 DE2E6 E@ DEC62>=:?6 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C6G:6HD 2?5 @G6CC:56 4@F?EJ C6DEC:4E:@?D 7@C E96 56G6=@A>6?E[ 3FE ?@ =68:D=2E:@? >2E6C:2=:K65 2D @AA@?6?ED 244FD65 E96 8C@FA @7 3JA2DD:?8 =@42= C6D:DE2?46 2?5 D:56DE6AA:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C68F=2E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 D9:A3F:=56C 2??@F?465 =2DE >@?E9 E92E :E H@F=5 3F:=5 :? %6I2D[ 2 564:D:@? r2=:7@C?:2 u@C6G6C 3=2>65 @? DE2E6 =2H>2<6CD] “(6 H6C6 A2DD65 @G6C 3642FD6 … @FC 2AAC@G2= AC@46DD 42??@E 244@>>@52E6 E96 C6BF:C65 DA665 H:E9@FE DA64:2= =68:D=2E:@?[ H9:49 H2D ?@E A2DD65 :? E:>6[” E96 8C@FA D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E]k^Am
kAm“r2=:7@C?:2 2?5 $@=2?@ r@F?EJ >FDE ?@E >:DD E96 ?6IE @AA@CEF?:EJ[” :E 4@?E:?F65]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D>52:=J;@FC?2=]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^E649\3:==:@?2:C6\324<65\8C@FA\42=:7@C?:2\7@C6G6C\9:C6\56>@4C2E:4\562=>2<6CD\:?\C6?6H65\AFD9\E@\3F:=5\2^2CE:4=60`ag__a_e\6ce6\c_d5\3ea5\75hfacbh2d47]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmr2=:7@C?:2 u@C6G6Ck^2m 92D DA6?E Scdd[___ D:?46 =2DE J62C =@33J:?8 DE2E6 =2H>2<6CD 2?5 E96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46[ 244@C5:?8 E@ :ED =@33J:?8 C6A@CE C6=62D65 uC:52J] k^Am
kAm%96 AC@A@D65 56G6=@A>6?E 2AA62CD E@ 92G6 }6HD@>’D 3=6DD:?8] %96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46 42==65 2 >66E:?8 %9FCD52J E@ 5:D4FDD E96 AC@;64E H:E9 2 4@FA=6 @7 $@=2?@ r@F?EJ DFA6CG:D@CD[ r2=:7@C?:2 u@C6G6C C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 2?5 pDD6>3=J>6>36C {@C: (:=D@? 2?5 $6?] r9C:DE@A96C r232=5@?[ H9@ C6AC6D6?E E96 C68:@?]k^Am
kAms66 s66 |J6CD[ H9@ 9625D E96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46 @7 3FD:?6DD 2?5 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E E92E’D 366? AFD9:?8 7@C E96 56G6=@A>6?E[ H2D 2=D@ AC6D6?E] x? 2 >6>@ =2DE >@?E9[ 96C @77:46 42==65 E96 C68:@? 2 “H@C=5\4=2DD :?5FDEC:2= D:E6” 2?5 E@FE65 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 3F:=5:?8 2 D9:AJ2C5 2?5 2? 25G2?465 >2?F724EFC:?8 9F3 :? E96 2C62]k^Am
kAm“r2=:7@C?:2 :D 36EE6C A@D:E:@?65 E@ 2EEC24E 3:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD :? :?G6DE>6?E[ E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 ?6H 8@@5\A2J:?8 ;@3D 2?5 2 >@C6 C6D:=:6?E DFAA=J 492:? E92? :E 92D 366? :? 564256D[” E96 >6>@ D2:5] “p?5 ?@ AC@;64E C6AC6D6?ED E9:D @AA@CEF?:EJ >@C6 4=62C=J E92? E96 AC@A@D65 $@=2?@ $9:AJ2C5 2?5 $@=2?@ u@F?5CJ]”k^Am
k9am(:== }6HD@>’D H:=57:C6 A=2? 36?67:E FE:=:E:6Dnk^9am
kAm}6HD@> :D 2=D@ AC@A@D:?8 =68:D=2E:@? E@ 255C6DD 8C@H:?8 H:=57:C6 C:D<D :? r2=:7@C?:2 3FE :D ?@E 8:G:?8 DA64:7:4D]k^Am
kAmr@?DF>6C 25G@42E6D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D>52:=J;@FC?2=]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6^?6HD@>\D:8?D\3:==D\E@\2:5\=@D\2?86=6D\H:=57:C6\C64@G6CJ\2?5\C67@C>\5:D2DE6C\C6DA@?D6^2CE:4=604gabf27f\ce43\c2cf\3ccg\67_gd6gd2677]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmH:=57:C6 DFCG:G@CD 2?5 :?DFC6CDk^2m D2J 96’D ECJ:?8 E@ C65F46 FE:=:E:6D’ =:23:=:EJ 7@C 42FD:?8 H:=57:C6D[ D9:7E H:=57:C6 C64@G6CJ 4@DED E@ :?DFC2?46 A@=:4J9@=56CD 2?5 >2<6 :E 92C56C 7@C 7:C6 G:4E:>D E@ 86E 4@>A6?D2E:@? @C =682= C6AC6D6?E2E:@? — 4=2:>D }6HD@>’D @77:46 564=:?65 E@ 255C6DD] k^Am
kAm}6HD@> DA@<6DA6CD@? p?E9@?J |2CE:?6K D2:5 5:D4FDD:@?D 23@FE A@E6?E:2= =68:D=2E:@? 7@==@H65 2 r2=:7@C?:2 t2CE9BF2<6 pFE9@C:EJ DEF5J :? pAC:= E92E 6I2>:?65 H2JD E@ 36EE6C AC6A2C6 r2=:7@C?:2 7@C ?2EFC2= 5:D2DE6CD] %96 DEF5J H2D C6BF:C65 3J 2 =2DE\>:?FE6 562= }6HD@> 2?5 DE2E6 =2H>2<6CD DECF4< =2DE J62C[ H9:49 C6BF:C65 FE:=:EJ 4@>A2?:6D E@ A2J :?E@ E96 DE2E6’D H:=57:C6 7F?5 H9:=6 2==@H:?8 E96> E@ D9:7E 46CE2:? 4@DED @?E@ 4FDE@>6CD]k^Am
kAm(:=57:C6 $FCG:G@CD u:CDE[ 2 FE:=:E:6D\7F?565 4@2=:E:@? 56DA:E6 :ED ?2>6[ :D =@33J:?8 DE2E6 =6256CD E@ 25@AE D6G6C2= AC@A@D2=D =:DE65 :? E96 DEF5J[ 2C8F:?8 E96J H@F=5 C65F46 H:=57:C6 C:D<D 2?5 >2<6 AC@A6CEJ :?DFC2?46 >@C6 277@C523=6]k^Am
kAm|@DE =68:D=2E:G6 =6256CD H6C6 E:89E\=:AA65 23@FE E96 A@E6?E:2= A24<286] $6?] q6? p==6?[ 2 {@D p?86=6D s6>@4C2E CF??:?8 7@C DE2E6 :?DFC2?46 4@>>:DD:@?6C[ D2:5 96 H@F=5 “42C67F==J C6G:6H” 2?J =68:D=2E:@? 2?5 FC865 282:?DE AC@A@D2=D E@ “D:>A=J D9:7E 2C@F?5 E96 4@DED 4@?DF>6CD A2J]” s6>@4C2E:4 $6?] $2D92 #6?é6 !éC6K[ H9@ C6AC6D6?ED t2E@? u:C6 DFCG:G@CD[ D2:5 D96 H@F=5 @AA@D6 =2DE\>:?FE6 562=D E@ 42A 4@>A6?D2E:@? 7@C 7:C6 G:4E:>D]k^Am
k9amqFD:?6DD 2?5 =23@C 4=2D9 @G6C 2?E:ECFDE AC@A@D2=k^9am
kAm{2H>2<6CD H:== 56E6C>:?6 E96 72E6 @7 2 4@?EC@G6CD:2= 3:== E92E H@F=5 8:G6 r2=:7@C?:2?D E96 23:=:EJ E@ DF6 =2C86 4@>A2?:6D :? DE2E6 4@FCE 7@C FD:?8 >@?@A@=:DE:4 AC24E:46D E@ DE:7=6 4@>A6E:E:@?] k^Am
kAm%96 3:==[ <?@H? 2D E96 r~|!t%t p4E[ 92D :?7FC:2E65 E96 3FD:?6DD 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 D6E E96 r2=:7@C?:2 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46 @? 2 H2CA2E9] %96 A@H6C7F= :?5FDECJ 8C@FA 92D 42==65 pDD6>3=J q:== `ffe “E96 =2C86DE 6IA2?D:@? @7 2?E:ECFDE =2H :? H@C=5 9:DE@CJ” 2?5 H2C?D :ED >6>36CD E92E E96 =68:D=2E:@? H@F=5 “=62G6 6G6CJ 3FD:?6DD @7 6G6CJ D:K6 :? r2=:7@C?:2 GF=?6C23=6 E@ >2DD:G6 =682= =:23:=:EJ]”k^Am
kAmpDD6>3=J $A62<6C #@36CE #:G2D H:== 36 ?68@E:2E:?8 562=D H:E9 $6?2E6 !C6D:56?E !C@ %6> |@?:BF6 {:>ó? 2?5 v@G] v2G:? }6HD@>] !9@E@ 3J uC65 vC62G6D 7@C r2=|2EE6CDk^Am
kAmqFD:?6DD 25G@42E6D 2=D@ 2C8F6 E92E E96 3:== 8:G6D AC652E@CJ =2H 7:C>D 2 ?6H H2J E@ D92<6 5@H? r2=:7@C?:2 3FD:?6DD6D 3J @A6?:?8 E96 7=@@582E6D 7@C H92E’D <?@H? 2D “AC:G2E6 C:89E @7 24E:@?” =2HDF:ED] u@C J62CD[ 3FD:?6DD @H?6CD 92G6 4@>A=2:?65 23@FE r2=:7@C?:2 =2HD E92E 2==@H 24E:G:DED 2?5 2 4@EE286 :?5FDECJ @7 =2HJ6CD E@ 3@>32C5 E96> H:E9 42D9 56>2?5D 2?5 =2HDF:ED @G6C 5:D23:=:EJ 2446DD[ AC@5F4E H2C?:?8 =236=D[ =23@C 4@>A=2:?ED 2?5 4@?DF>6C AC:G24J] k^Am
kAm%96 =68:D=2E:@?[ 2FE9@C65 3J pDD6>3=J |2;@C:EJ {6256C r64:=:2 p8F:2C\rFCCJ[ 2 s2G:D s6>@4C2E[ 92D DFAA@CE 7C@> =23@C\7C:6?5=J AC@8C6DD:G6 =2H>2<6CD[ 3FE 2=D@ D@>6 H9@ 92G6 >@C6 >@56C2E6 C64@C5D DF49 2D pDD6>3=J>6>36C y2D>66E q2:?D 2?5 $6?2E@C |6=:DD2 wFCE25@[ 3@E9 r6?EC2= ‘2==6J s6>@4C2E:4 =2H>2<6CD]k^Am
kAm$6G6C2= @7 E96 DE2E6’D >@DE A@H6C7F= F?:@?D 92G6 =:?65 FA 2D 4@\DA@?D@CD[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 r2=:7@C?:2 u656C2E:@? @7 {23@C &?:@?D[ $tx& r2=:7@C?:2 2?5 E96 &?:E65 u@@5 2?5 r@>>6C4:2= (@C<6CD]k^Am
kAm%96 3:== :D D4965F=65 E@ 36 962C5 :? E96 $6?2E6 2AAC@AC:2E:@?D 4@>>:EE66 @? pF8] `_] k^Am
k9amr@F?E:6D D66< C6AC:6G6 7C@> 4@DE=J 2DD2F=E 4=2:>Dk^9am
kAm{@D p?86=6D r@F?EJ :D =625:?8 2 369:?5\E96\D46?6D 677@CE E@ =:>:E =2HDF:ED 7C@> r2=:7@C?:2?D H9@ 2==686 E96J H6C6 23FD65 2D 49:=5C6? 3J AF3=:4 6>A=@J66D H9:=6 :? 4@F?EJ @C D49@@= 5:DEC:4E 4FDE@5J] k^Am
kAm%96 677@CE 4@>6D :? C6DA@?D6 E@ 2 56=F86 @7 =2HDF:ED E92E 7@==@H65 2 a_`h =2H E92E 5C2>2E:42==J 6IA2?565 E96 E:>6 A6@A=6 92G6 E@ DF6 7@C E96 2==6865 23FD6] $FCG:G@CD ?@H 92G6 F?E:= E96J EFC? c_ E@ 7:=6 4=2:>D[ C2E96C E92? E96 AC6G:@FD 4FE@77 @7 286 ae @C H:E9:? 7:G6 J62CD @7 364@>:?8 2H2C6 @7 EC2F>2 42FD65 3J E96 2==6865 23FD6] %96 C6DF=E:?8 =:E:82E:@? 2?5 D6EE=6>6?ED 92G6 4@DE 4@F?E:6D 2?5 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 3:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD] k^Am
kAm{2DE pAC:=[ E96 {@D p?86=6D r@F?EJ q@2C5 @7 $FA6CG:D@CD 2AAC@G65 2 Sc 3:==:@? D6EE=6>6?E H:E9 e[g__ A6@A=6 H9@ 4=2:>65 E96J DF776C65 23FD6 H9:=6 :? 4@F?EJ ;FG6?:=6 56E6?E:@? 724:=:E:6D] $@>6 @7 E9@D6 42D6D 52E65 324< >@C6 E92? ed J62CD]k^Am
kAm{2H>2<6CD 2EE6>AE65 E@ 3C@<6C 2 4@>AC@>:D6[ $6?2E6 q:== dff[ 2E E96 6?5 @7 =2DE D6DD:@? E92E H@F=5 D2E:D7J DFCG:G@CD 2?5 C@== 324< E96 D4@A6 @7 E96 =2H E@ AC@G:56 D@>6 7:?2?4:2= C6AC:6G6 E@ 42D9\DEC2AA65 4@F?E:6D 2?5 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED] qFE E92E 677@CE[ =65 3J $6?] y@9? {2:C5[ 2 s6>@4C2E 7C@> $2?E2 rCFK[ 4@F=5?’E 82:? EC24E:@?[ 2?5 {2:C5 6G6?EF2==J D96=G65 E96 :DDF6]k^Am
kAm}@H[ AF3=:4 6>A=@J66 F?:@?D 2C6 AFD9:?8 7@C 2 C6AC:6G6 282:?[ =2C86=J E@ 2G@:5 A@E6?E:2= A2J 4@?46DD:@?D 7C@> E96:C 7:?2?4:2==J 3FC56?65 AF3=:4 6>A=@J6CD] }68@E:2E:@?D H:== =:<6=J E2<6 A=246 2E E96 s6>@4C2E:4 =6256CD9:A =6G6= 36EH66? {:>ó? 2?5 pDD6>3=J $A62<6C #@36CE #:G2D]k^Am