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At least two days of statewide Flex Alerts asking Californians to voluntarily conserve energy amid an extreme heat wave that could last more than a week, pushing temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above normal and endangering vulnerable communities. Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaiming a state of emergency to take last-ditch measures to keep people’s lights and air conditioners on and stave off potential rolling blackouts. And wildfires that prompted mandatory evacuations in Southern California, shut down stretches of I-5 and caused heat-related injuries in at least eight firefighters.
That was the backdrop for the final hours of the legislative session on Wednesday and into early today, when state lawmakers — after contentious, lengthy debates that at one point involved a discussion about the morality of electrons — approved Newsom’s proposal to extend the lifespan of Diablo Canyon, California’s last nuclear power plant, and to give PG&E a $1.4 billion loan to continue operating it. Legislators also greenlighted all but one bill in the governor’s legislative package to significantly accelerate the state’s response to climate change.
Nevertheless, the late-night votes marked a sizable victory for the governor, who has recently pushed to enact his policy agenda through legislation like never before.
But the real test — translating that ambitious climate vision into reality — starts now.
And things haven’t necessarily gotten off to the most auspicious start: Newsom acknowledged the emergency order he signed Wednesday would actually increase emissions by temporarily allowing power plants to generate more energy, expanding the use of backup generators, permitting ships in California ports to burn more fuel and waiving certain air quality requirements. (The order also directs state air regulators to “mitigate emissions” resulting from the emergency measures.)
But the devil — or, dare I say, the Diablo — is in the details. (“It probably doesn’t help the fact that the freaking plant’s name is Diablo, to add insult to injury here,” said Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, a Coachella Democrat.)
Indeed, not all lawmakers were convinced the state actually has a game plan to achieve the ramped-up goals contained within the legislation passed Wednesday, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 and setting targets for removing carbon from the atmosphere with nature-based methods.
Yet, while Republicans saw the severity of California’s climate conditions as evidence that its current environmental strategy is flawed, Democrats saw it as evidence the state needs to do more faster.
The coronavirus bottom line: As of Monday, California had 10,268,137 confirmed cases (+0.3% from previous day) and 94,120 deaths (+0.1% from previous day), according to state data now updated just twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. CalMatters is also tracking coronavirus hospitalizations by county.
California has administered 79,522,958 vaccine doses, and 72% of eligible Californians are fully vaccinated.
From CalMatters political reporter Ben Christopher: The California Legislature has been a fountain of some of the strictest gun laws in the country. But Senate Bill 918 was evidently a bridge too far.
In the final hours of the session, lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have rewritten state regulations on who can get a license to carry a concealed handgun and where they can go while armed. The measure, authored by Attorney General Rob Bonta, was introduced by Democratic state Sen. Anthony Portantino of Glendale shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state laws giving local law enforcement wide discretion over who gets a license.
Although the Legislature is often receptive to laws placing new restrictions on firearms, this bill failed after stalling numerous times in the Assembly — in part because it was written to go into effect immediately, therefore requiring the support of two-thirds of members in both chambers. After the final attempt fell one vote short in the Assembly early today, Portantino vowed to reintroduce the measure in the next session.
Supporters said the bill complied with the letter of the Supreme Court’s ruling without abdicating the state’s role in preserving public safety. Opponents said it amounted to a legislative middle finger aimed at the nation’s highest court.
Though the ruling prohibited states from leaving the choice of who should get a license to the whims of a licensing officer, the opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas did allow for “objective” standards and the creation of gun-free “sensitive” places.
The bill took both those caveats and ran with them:
The bill was fiercely opposed by gun rights advocates and state sheriffs.
Let’s take a look at the fate of some other high-profile bills:
CalMatters is keeping tabs on noteworthy bills sent to Newsom’s desk with our handy tracker, but here’s a rundown of what some key proposals approved Wednesday would do:
In an effort that he said could help address racial disparities in health care access and outcomes, Attorney General Rob Bonta on Wednesday sent letters to 30 hospital CEOs across California, asking them to share detailed information about their commercial algorithms and decision-making tools as part of a Department of Justice investigation into whether the software has discriminatory impacts based on race and ethnicity. The health care industry uses these algorithms to help with everything from administrative work to diagnostics to referrals and specialty care, and although they can improve efficiency and patient outcomes they can also have negative unintended consequences, especially when used without the appropriate guardrails, according to Bonta’s office.
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: After 28 months, California has finally recovered the millions of private sector jobs it lost during the COVID-19 recession.
Strips to test drinks and pills for ‘date rape’ drugs and fentanyl are finally legal in California. // Mercury News
California may add wine, liquor bottles to recycling program. // Associated Press
Prosecutors prevent people with court debts from clearing criminal records. A state bill could change that. // San Francisco Standard
California lawmakers OK bill to hide public worker addresses. // Associated Press
Trust linked to Newsom’s in-laws made contribution to DeSantis PAC. // Fox News
Fresno groups urge Sen. Alex Padilla to oppose federal agriculture law. // Sacramento Bee
Fast-food operators mobilize against California wage bill. // Wall Street Journal
Snap will cut 20% of workforce, slash investments, add COO // Los Angeles Times
Equity is goal, not mandate, in California electric car rule. // Associated Press
Move to Texas: 1 in 10 new residents are from California. // Bloomberg
The latest S.F. housing failure: hundreds of units delayed for a study that never happened. // San Francisco Chronicle
L.A. plans end to COVID-19 protections against evictions, rent hikes. // Los Angeles Times
Should vacant hotels in Los Angeles house the homeless? Voters will decide. // CNN
Snap will cut 20% of workforce, slash investments, add COO. // Bloomberg
Silicon Valley discovers an age-old child care hack: the neighbors. // New York Times
Column: A judge undermines the FDA on treatments coming from California’s stem cell clinic. // Los Angeles Times
Judge tosses lawsuit launched by George Gascón and Chesa Boudin accusing law firm of baseless disability claims. // San Francisco Chronicle
Feds: East Bay prison chaplain used faith and fear to abuse inmates. // Associated Press
A judge’s affair with Tom Girardi and a $300,000 wire. // Los Angeles Times
How climate change is affecting the Pacific Crest Trail. // New York Times
Rats? California communities are swapping poison for owls. // Mercury News
Beloved humpback whale Fran is killed by a ship off Half Moon Bay; will her calf survive? // Mercury News
Penguin fitted with special orthopedic shoe can waddle in style at San Diego Zoo. // CNN
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