Ashley Zavala

Joint statement from Assembly @caspeakerrivas.bsky.social and @asmrepublicans.bsky.social Leader James Gallagher

California Senate Democrats vote for Monique Limón to be their next leader She will become the first woman of color at the helm.

Monique Limón will be the next leader of the California State Senate.

www.kcra.com/article/cali...

California Democrats considering healthcare-related tax hike on Walmart, Amazon and other major corporations California Democratic lawmakers are in talks to push a proposed new tax on major corporations such as Amazon and Walmart to help with the state's health care expenses.

California Democratic lawmakers are considering a healthcare-related tax hike on major corporations like Walmart and Amazon.

Business groups say they expect this to be just the beginning of a series of attempts to raise taxes in CA over the next year.
www.kcra.com/article/cali...

California Democrats block another attempt to make consequences harsher for buyers of teens The fight over whether the consumers of the child sex trafficking industry should face tougher consequences when they buy 16- and 17-year-olds for sex continued at the California State Capitol Thursda...

Democrats in California blocked another attempt to make it an automatic felony to purchase or solicit 16 and 17-year-olds for sex.

Right now, state law requires the older teens to prove they are victims of trafficking before a felony kicks in, unlike the younger kids.
www.kcra.com/article/cali...

Bracing for budget uncertainty, Gov. Newsom says no cuts to California's firefighting force "We're going to hold the line," the governor told KCRA 3 in an interview on Thursday. "The most fundamental responsibility for those of us trusted in this office is public safety."

As California braces for budget issues, Gov. Newsom says no cuts will be made to state’s firefighting force.

“We’re going to hold the line,” he told me in our one on one interview today.

“What more evidence do you need?” he said, pointing to LA fires.
www.kcra.com/article/gov-...

Why is a new office building for California lawmakers costing as much as an NFL stadium? KCRA 3 has learned the new building will also have beefed-up security that includes private hallways for lawmakers that will allow them to avoid the public and the media in some instances.

NEW: The California Capitol Annex project will include some private hallways for lawmakers, giving them a way to avoid the public & media.

The project overall is costing about as much as an NFL stadium, and CALeg leaders still aren't saying why.
www.kcra.com/article/cali...

Meta’s Antitrust Trial Begins as FTC Argues Company Built Social Media Monopoly The tech giant went to court on Monday in an antitrust trial focused on its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The case could reshape its business.

The FTC on Monday accused Meta of creating a monopoly that bought start-ups that stood in its way, kicking off a landmark antitrust trial that could dismantle a social media empire that has transformed how the world connects.

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Well, that was short-lived.

The Sacramento River Cats removed every reference of their recently announced alternate identity as the "Sacramento Gold Diggers." Our full coverage here >>https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-river-cats-ditch-gold-diggers-alternate-identity/64460506 

Insurance commissioner splurges on meals, drinks as CA burns An @sfstandard investigation found that Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has been using a shadowy campaign committee to spend thousands on fancy meals & cocktails. And we have the receipts 🧾🥩🍸 The ...

NEW: My investigation for @sfstandard.com found Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara appears to have a “slush fund” to buy booze/food at some of California’s fanciest bars & restaurants.

And we got receipts—including a $700 dinner w/ Farmers Insurance CEO.

sfstandard.com/2025/04/10/c...

California lawmakers who sign NDAs to keep public info secret could be charged with a misdemeanor-in some cases a felony-under new bill that moved forward today.

DAs and city attorneys would now be responsible for the enforcement in updated proposal.
www.kcra.com/article/cali...

Classic car enthusiast Jay Leno visits California Capitol to advocate for 'Leno's Law' Senate Bill 712, known as “Leno’s Law,” would exempt collector cars whose model is 35 years or older from California’s smog check law.

“I watched the movie industry get decimated,” Jay Leno told me.

“I don’t want the Hot Rod business or the mechanical business to leave (California) the way the film business did.”

www.kcra.com/article/jay-...

How often do California's leaders take questions from reporters? KCRA 3 looked into how often journalists are able to directly ask California's three main decision makers questions on behalf of state residents.

How often do California’s top leaders take questions from reporters?

Now halfway through the legislative year, Gov. Newsom has by far made himself more available for direct questions than his coequal leaders in CALeg.
www.kcra.com/article/cali...

How will Governor Newsom's podcast impact how he governs California? Gov. Newsom spent the day in Modesto, not to promote the podcast, but his efforts as governor on jobs and education.

How much of what Gov. Newsom says on his podcast will actually translate into how he governs California?

I asked him today.

www.kcra.com/article/poli...

California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas has not spoken to the Capitol press corps since January 9.

He refused to answer questions from us after hearing on trans athlete-related bill.

Trump admin warns California will lose federal funds if trans athletes keep playing in girls' sports Gov. Gavin Newsom's office on Friday confirmed it received a letter from U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, warning the governor that California could lose federal funds if the state continues al...

Gov. Newsom's office confirms he received letter from Trump admin, warning California could lose federal funds if it keeps allowing trans athletes in girls' and women's sports.

"We're reviewing the letter," his spokesman said when asked for comment.
www.kcra.com/article/trum...

Trump admin warns California will lose federal funds if trans athletes keep playing in girls' sports Gov. Gavin Newsom's office on Friday confirmed it received a letter from U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, warning the governor that California could lose federal funds if the state continues al...

Gov. Newsom's office confirms he received letter from Trump admin, warning California could lose federal funds if it keeps allowing trans athletes in girls' and women's sports.

"We're reviewing the letter," his spokesman said when asked for comment.
www.kcra.com/article/trum...

They've done it for stadiums and climate projects. Will California lawmakers exempt housing from CEQA? California lawmakers on Thursday introduced a sweeping set of proposals to quickly build more homes and experts say one of them could be a game-changer in the state's housing crisis.

They’ve done it for stadiums
They’ve done it for climate projects
They’ve done it for their new office building that’s under construction

All in the name of speed.

Will California lawmakers and Gov. Newsom exempt new housing in urban areas from CEQA?
www.kcra.com/article/will...

Trump Challenges California on Transgender Parental Notification The Trump administration will investigate whether a new California law banning parental notification requirements in schools violates federal policy.

The Trump administration will investigate whether a new California law protecting transgender students from unwanted disclosures to their parents violates federal policy.

Since Assembly Democratic lawmakers are ditching X and coming here, I want to share a list of guidance that Capitol Correspondents Association of California provides to journalists who cover the Capitol.

That way we can all be on the same page.

California Assembly speaker and 57 other Democratic state lawmakers ditch X California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas on Thursday announced he and dozens of other Democratic assemblymembers plan to leave X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

New: California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas announced he'll no longer use X. His office claimed dozens of other Democrats will join him but is not saying who.

Meanwhile, Assembly Republicans launched a BlueSky account.
www.kcra.com/article/cali...

PG&E's political donations have tripled. Lawmakers want to make sure customers aren't paying for it PG&E and other investor-owned utility companies in California wield a lot of political power and money and state lawmakers are pushing to either limit their ability to use it or make sure ratepayers a...

As electricity rates in California have outpaced inflation, the amount of money PG&E spends on political donations and causes has also climbed.

We found it has tripled its contributions to campaigns in the last three elections from $1.7M on 2020 to $5.2M last election.
www.kcra.com/article/pge-...

California high-speed rail project needs $7 billion by next summer Wednesday's hearing happened hours after Gov. Gavin Newsom released the latest episode of his podcast featuring political commentator and author Ezra Klein, in which the governor defended the high-spe...

NEW: California’s High-Speed Rail project needs $7 Billion by next summer.

“We have no plan, we have a good likelihood it's going to get worse, and we have a short time to solve the problem,” said Democratic Asm. Steven Bennett.
www.kcra.com/article/cali...

Gov. Newsom would not say if he would support bills to prohibit transgender women from participating in women’s sports in CA.

He said he hasn’t seen any legislative proposals when pressed by @akoseff.bsky.social

There are at least two (written by Republicans)

Short on funds, Gov. Newsom says California won't end healthcare for undocumented residents Newsom acknowledged Tuesday that the healthcare for undocumented people is "partially" contributing to the state's rising Medicaid costs.

Short on funds, Gov. Newsom says California won't end healthcare for undocumented residents.

“Not on my docket,” he told reporters today.

www.kcra.com/article/news...

California Insurance Commissioner was in Bermuda when he skipped oversight hearing Lara attended the Bermuda Risk Summit, an event in the Caribbean that is held by members of the insurance and reinsurance industry.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara was in Bermuda when he skipped a Senate oversight hearing this week.

His office was not forthcoming about the trip, which was a conference with the insurance industry.

www.kcra.com/article/cali...

California Assemblyman renews push to ban lawmakers from signing NDAs Assemblyman Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin, filed the latest version of the legislation following KCRA 3's reporting around California's construction of a new $1.2 billion office building for state lawmaker...

NEW: For the 3rd time, a California bill is filed to ban state lawmakers from signing non-disclosure agreements.

The latest version comes after we found CALeg used them for its new $1.2 billion office building, forcing 2,000 ppl to keep details secret
www.kcra.com/article/cali...

NEW— Gov. Gavin Newsom sends letter to Donald Trump, inviting him to tour wildfire devastation, meet with victims and thank first responders together.

“With respect and an open hand,” the governor signs.

Get the facts: Trump's California claims during LA area fires President-elect Donald Trump took to his platform, Truth Social, on Wednesday to sound off about the wildfires raging in Southern California.

Get the Facts: A look into President-elect Trump’s claims about California, Gov. Newsom and water as the Los Angeles area burns.

www.kcra.com/article/trum...

California Gov. Newsom plans to deliver State of the State address before Trump's inauguration Gov. Gavin Newsom is planning to give his State of the State speech before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20, making it the soonest he has ever delivered the address as governor of ...

Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to deliver his State of the State speech before President-elect Trump takes office this month.

He said he’ll combine his state budget presentation (due Jan 10) and the address intentionally ahead of Trump’s inauguration.

www.kcra.com/article/gavi...

Daylighting, sideshows, transgender policies: The new California laws going into effect in 2025 A wide array of new California laws are set to go into effect in 2025, with many of them starting Jan. 1. These are some of the laws to know.

Happy New Year!

Hundreds of new California laws take effect in 2025. We have a huge list of what takes effect immediately, and what’s coming later on in the year.

www.kcra.com/article/cali...