California Legislation

The California Apartment Association released a report on what it will take to solve the state's chronic housing shortage. Cities that are loath to permit new residential developments, both affordable and market rate, will not be pleased.

January 1, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

The November 8 sales tax measure fell 0.37 percent short, but there's new hope from Sacramento with the reintroduction of a gas tax measure. Democrats now hold the bare supermajority in both the Assembly and Senate needed to pass tax increases.

December 28, 2016 - The Tribune

The new streamlining bill for affordable housing will not have the governor's name, but that of freshman Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener, who made a name for himself as a tenacious housing advocate while San Francisco County Supervisor.

December 20, 2016 - KQED: California Report

Voters in six Bay Area cities in four Bay Area counties will determine the outcome of eight ballot measures on rent and eviction control. Two of the cities will have city council-sponsored measures competing against voter initiatives.

September 16, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

California's new rigorous renewable portfolio standard of 50 percent by 2030 will support a renewable energy source that serves the dual purpose of reducing forest fire hazards.

September 5, 2016 - Planetizen

SB 32, the bill that continues the Golden State's rigorous carbon-cutting agenda, had failed last year and looked like it would do the same this year. It cleared the Democrat-controlled state Assembly on Tuesday, receiving one, lone Republican vote.

August 25, 2016 - Office of California State Senator Fran Pavley

Legislation to reauthorize the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 is in peril due to 'a powerful bloc of business-friendly Democrats' who are uneasy about its impact on businesses, particularly Big Oil, due to higher energy costs.

August 8, 2016 - CALmatters

As a result of a critical lawsuit that California high-speed rail opponents lost last March, a bill to release $1.1 billion in 2008 bond funds has been advanced to fund high-speed rail 'bookend' projects, particularly Caltrain electrification.

June 26, 2016 - Associated Press

"Something is wrong," proclaimed Los Angeles Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D), "when one in eight California drivers claims a disability." Gatto has introduced two bills: one to address disabled parking, the other could promote variable pricing of parking.

April 4, 2016 - Streetsblog California

Similar to a local proposal by San Francisco cyclists to reduce priority for for ticketing cyclists for rolling through stop signs, a state senator hopes to do with state legislation for motorists making "California Stops" at red lights.

January 17, 2016 - San Mateo Daily Journal

A key bill had language allowing public utilities to enter into the electric vehicle charging industry—overlooked by the oil industry and a game-changer for EVs as it tackles one of their most formidable challenges.

October 29, 2015 - Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Just as motorists have had to learn to share the road with cyclists, California cyclists may have to do the same in sharing bikes lanes with electric skateboard riders, according to a bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Oct. 11.

October 17, 2015 - SF Gate

Regardless of how San Francisco's proposed Bike Yield Law fares, all California cyclists who are ticketed for not stopping at stop signs may have the option to pay a reduced fine if they opt to attend bike school thanks to a new law signed Sept. 21.

September 28, 2015 - Streetsblog LA

On the heels of losing an oil reduction mandate due to lobbying by Big Oil, another key climate bill failed to pass—setting greenhouse gas reduction targets beyond 2020. An oil pipeline safety bill resulting from Santa Barbara spill passed.

September 14, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

If Lee has his way, San Francisco will join other cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. by employing speed cameras to issue citations to offending motorists in school zones. But first he needs to find a legislator to draft a bill.

June 2, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

California's landmark climate legislation, AB 32, ends in five years; i.e., the target year for emissions reduction is 2020, after which there will be no comparable legislation targeting a future year. SB 32 sets emission reduction goals for 2050.

March 12, 2015 - Capitol Weekly

If two assembly members from San Francisco and Marin counties have their way, pedestrians and bikers on the Golden Gate Bridge will not be tolled as if they were in a motor vehicle.

December 1, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

If you forget to bring a bag, pay a dime for either a paper or reusable plastic bag. Single-use plastic bags will disappear from grocery stores and pharmacies on July 1, convenience and liquor stores a year later. A composting bill was also signed.

October 3, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Leonardo DiCaprio may have received top billing, but Jerry Brown spoke as well on the actions of the Golden State to combat climate change under his watch. Two days earlier, he signed six bills to increase sales of electric vehicles.

September 26, 2014 - Sacramento Bee

Thanks to California Gov. Jerry Brown signing San Francisco Assemblyman Phil Ting's "bikeways" bill on Sept. 20, expect to see many more protected bike lanes constructed by cities throughout the state. Another signed bill will increase bike funding.

September 24, 2014 - LA Streetsblog