Legislature tackles climate packages in final days
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert. I’m Amelia Wu, the Bee’s state workers intern.
Sept. 12th should be the final day of the legislative session for the year, but lawmakers are going into overtime for final votes on energy and climate bills.
California leaders on Thursday held a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator and author who was shot and killed while speaking at a Utah college.
Let’s get into what happened this week.
THE FINAL LAWMAKING SPRINT
Via Amelia Wu...
With the legislative session wrapping up, bills will land on the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has 30 days to sign or veto them.
The final push involves a series of climate- and energy-related policies that have been criticized for a lack of transparency and for being rushed. Lawmakers extended the session’s initial end date of Sept. 12 to accommodate this significant package of bills.
The carryover of some final votes to Saturday vote was made necessary by a rule that a bill must be in print and public for 72 hours before a vote.
Additional key bills that await the governor’s signature include artificial intelligence and law enforcement guardrails.
In regulating the fast-evolving artificial intelligence world, lawmakers spent the final weeks of the session working to establish California as a leader. SB 243 passed, requiring AI chatbot developers to implement new safety protocols, undergo audits and face legal action for negligence. Additionally, SB 524 aims to restrict the use of AI by law enforcement agencies.
The No Secret Police Act, or SB 527, passed the Assembly on Tuesday. The bill would prohibit federal and local law enforcement officers from wearing masks that obscure their identity during public-facing operations, with exemptions for medical and undercover purposes.
FIRST SPOUSES STAND TOGETHER
Via David Lightman...
Thirty governors’ spouses, including California’s Jennifer Siebel Newsom, issued a statement Thursday calling for peacefulness and unity, a day after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah.
“As First Spouses of states and territories across the country, we are in a unique position to both witness and experience the contempt that has permeated our culture. Today, we stand together — across political backgrounds — to condemn political violence of every kind,” said the statement, issued by the National Governors Association.
“The soul of America is corroded every time hateful rhetoric or violence takes root. Peacemakers are needed in every corner of our society, especially in our politics. Our children are watching. They desperately need us to show them a better way.”
The group said it is “committed to seeing every American as a person with inherent dignity and worth. Let us listen more, eliminate hate, and find connection and healing as we seek peace together. Our democracy depends on it and so does the future of a united America.”
REP. ADAM GRAY’S DEFENSE
Via David Lightman...
Rep. Adam Gray, D-Merced, was one of two California Democrats, and one of 17 Democrats nationwide, to vote for a Republican-authored bill setting defense policy for the coming year.
“My vote for the national defense funding bill reflects a commitment to strengthening our national security and honoring those who serve,” Gray said.
“The legislation raises pay for our troops, reinforces key alliances abroad, and ensures our military has the tools it needs. While not without flaws, it represents meaningful progress toward securing our nation and supporting our servicemembers.”
The bill, which passed the House 231 to 196, was also backed by Rep. George Whitesides, D-Palmdale, and the state’s nine Republicans. It was opposed by the other 41 Democrats in the California delegation.
The bill, which usually draws strong bipartisan support, features a 3.8% pay raise for military personnel. It also streamlines the Pentagon’s acquisition system and boosts artificial intelligence efforts.
The bill ran into trouble with Democrats over amendments dealing with what party members labeled culture-war subjects.
“They included countless partisan amendments that sought to score points in a right-wing culture war rather than focus on the real needs of our service members and their families,” said Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
Among them was a ban on military insurance for gender-affirming care.
Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, countered that the vote is “a vote to advance the FY26 NDAA is a vote to modernize our military, support our troops and restore American deterrence.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I respect and share the desire to protect Californians and our planet, but I urge you to look closely at the science before moving forward with legislation that could unintentionally do more harm than good. PTFEs, when manufactured and used responsibly, are proven to be safe and effective.”
— Chef Rachael Ray, in an open letter opposing a California bill banning PFAs chemicals from cookware
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