California Policy and Politics Tuesday

It just got easier to sue an ICE officer under raft of immigration bills signed by Newsom -- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 21 bills into law on Tuesday that are a direct response to the Trump administration’s mass deportation crackdown, including legislation that will add a 25% tax on private detention centers, ban law enforcement’s use of shock gloves and masks and make it easier for Californians to sue immigration agents. Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/29/26

 

Why a diesel export ban could send California gas prices soaring -- Refining a barrel of crude oil produces roughly 45% gasoline and 30% diesel (the rest becomes jet fuel, asphalt, and other products). In a state like California — which exports most of the diesel it produces — oil companies could be forced to store diesel in tanks and eventually cut back on refining. The resulting hit to gasoline supply would mean higher pump prices in a state where the average price of regular gas is $6.36 per gallon. Alex Nieves Politico -- 9/29/26

Lower mileage standards, higher pump costs: What Trump’s auto move means for California -- Experts say the rollback could mean more gas-guzzling vehicles, higher fuel costs and increased pollution, complicating California’s efforts to address climate change at a time when drivers face some of the nation’s highest gas prices. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

 

San Francisco AI giant Anthropic reveals massive IPO ambitions -- Anthropic is betting that artificial intelligence will transform the world on a scale comparable with industrialization, electricity and the internet — and its newly public IPO filing shows just how much money the San Francisco company believes it will take to get there. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/29/26

Paramount, states reject calls for deeper review of merger deal -- Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery and 12 state attorneys general asked a federal judge to approve their antitrust settlement, rejecting Sen. Cory Booker’s call for a deeper “public-interest review.” The companies and states defended the deal’s penalties and five-year term, which Booker and outside groups have called too weak. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

 

Billionaire tax is dividing California healthcare system it’s designed to support -- A proposal to tax California’s billionaires has fractured Democratic politics, repelled some of the state’s richest residents and exploded into a costly battle that’s overshadowing even the gubernatorial election. Alicia Clanton Bloomberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

The Palisades is furious with Karen Bass. Nithya Raman still has a hard sell -- This isn’t the mayoral race voters in fire-scarred Pacific Palisades wanted. Liam Dillon Politico -- 9/29/26

Mayoral candidates’ views on Gaza likely to come up at Jewish Federation forum -- Israel’s war in Gaza could arise as an issue at Tuesday’s mayoral forum co-hosted by the Jewish Federation, where Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman will be asked about topics of interest to L.A.’s Jewish community. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

10 California bills that could shape daily life in the Bay Area -- Insurance renewals, school safety and workplace AI join transit funding, housing and data-center costs in this guide to measures signed by Newsom or awaiting his decision. Bryce Martin in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/29/26

Will Republicans help this underdog liberal unseat a longtime Democratic congressman? -- Democrat Eric Jones focused his primary campaign on young progressive liberals. But to unseat longtime incumbent Rep. Mike Thompson, a traditional “Blue Dog” Democrat, Jones has recently pivoted to court centrists and even Republicans. Maya C. Miller Calmatters -- 9/29/26

Subpoena records offer clues about Trump administration probe of L.A. County voters -- The partially redacted subpoenas, released to The Times in response to a public records request, seek information about individual voters. Federal authorities in L.A. recently arrested a 30-year-old Honduran national on charges of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and fraudulently registering to vote. Kevin Rector and Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

 

California’s plan to save coastal homes from El Niño could end up killing beaches -- With California’s coast getting pounded by strong waves amid a strengthening El Niño, residents and government leaders are turning to big rocks and seawalls to protect homes and keep a railroad from falling into the sea. But there is growing concern this defensive strategy will end up harming California’s famed sandy beaches. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

Newsom vetoes Delta levees bill as El Niño winter looms -- Even with an El Niño winter looming and memories of flooding still fresh, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill aimed at shoring up the Delta’s aging levees and protecting the region and vital water infrastructure from flooding and sinking land. Rachel Becker Calmatters -- 9/29/26

 

Newsom signs fire insurance reforms but vetoes two bills addressing complaints by wildfire victims -- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed reforms that increase penalties for unfair claims practices during emergencies, require restitution for policyholders and mandate updates when insurers change adjusters. A separate new law requires insurers to explain policy nonrenewals, generally give homeowners 90 days’ notice and allow time to address problems. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ Levi Sumagaysay Calmatters -- 9/29/26

They fought wildfires while serving time. A new law gives them a shot at Cal Fire jobs -- A new law will give incarcerated firefighters a leg up when applying to entry-level jobs with Cal Fire. ‘Hard-earned experience counts,” one advocate said. Adam Echelman Calmatters -- 9/29/26

 

Newsom signs two laws to address weaknesses in California’s public defense -- Two new laws will force California counties to improve their public defender systems by limiting their use of low-pay contracts with private attorneys, mandating funding for defense investigations and requiring reporting on attorney caseloads and other critical data. Anat Rubin Calmatters -- 9/29/26

New laws make incremental tweaks to California’s mental health court, while bigger changes nixed -- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills Sunday designed to help his mental health court reach more vulnerable Californians. But two other bills that would have made much bigger, and more controversial, changes to the program died without ever making it to his desk. Marisa Kendall Calmatters -- 9/29/26

New law tightens rules on explosive chemicals after Garden Grove scare -- Sen. Tom Umberg’s law adds rules to cover methyl methacrylate, an explosive chemical; existing sites including GKN are exempt. CalMatters reported that the state’s accidental release program has long left explosive chemicals out. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde Calmatters -- 9/29/26

Newsom signs bills targeting hydrogen sulfide, worker safety in Tijuana River Valley -- The two bills target the adverse health effects of the sewage crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. The laws take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Walker Armstrong in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 9/29/26

Newsom signs ‘ghost ticket’ ban but says its carve-outs need more work -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday signed Assembly Bill 1349, bipartisan legislation that targets the live-event ticket resale market. “Ghost tickets,” also known as speculative tickets, are concert and sports tickets that resellers list before they actually have them. Cerys Davies in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

Walters: Would closing California’s corporate tax loopholes actually generate new revenue? -- California unions whose members depend on the state budget for their salaries celebrated last week when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation aimed at plugging corporate tax loopholes. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 9/29/26

 

State attorney general to oversee Kaiser’s medical arbitration system under new law -- The California attorney general will help oversee healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente’s medical arbitration system to ensure it operates fairly under legislation Gov. Gavin Newsom signed late Sunday. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

New York Times games engineering director allegedly shot in Dublin by in-laws -- A man and woman in their late 70s allegedly killed their son-in-law in a broad daylight shooting this weekend at a park in Dublin, shocking the quiet East Bay suburb, officials said. Anna Bauman, Elena Kadvany, Brooke Park, Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Summer Lin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

Brokers gobble up tee times at public golf courses, resell them. Newsom signs bill to ban that practice -- Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that prohibits third-party brokers from advertising, selling or transferring tee-time reservations at publicly owned golf courses without the written consent of the course operator. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

Which California bills has Newsom signed? Search our 2026 tracker -- From housing and transportation to schools and utility bills, California legislation can reshape daily life. Use our searchable tracker to see which bills Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed in 2026 and which are still awaiting his decision as the Sept. 30 deadline approaches. Bryce Martin in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/29/26

Workplace

Kaiser lays off 147 employees across California, including in Oakland and Pleasanton -- The workers are in business and administrative functions and do not affect patient care, Kaiser said. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/29/26

ICE

New California law bans officers from using gloves that deliver electric shocks -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Tuesday banning local, state and federal law enforcement officers from using gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks to people. Sophie Austin Associated Press -- 9/29/26

A Bay Area nurse tried to relocate her family to Canada. ICE stopped them -- A public health nurse with no criminal record treated Bay Area residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trump administration made her and other detained immigrants disappear. Raheem Hosseini in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/29/26

‘I’d rather die here than in Africa’: Migrants describe violent deportation flight -- Migrants deported from the U.S. describe being shot at with pepper balls and forcibly restrained during a flight to the Central African Republic. More than 25,000 people have been expelled under a Trump administration program sending asylum seekers and others to ‘third countries’ where they have no ties. Kate Linthicum in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

His mom was detained by ICE. Two months later, he died by suicide -- Samuel Gonzalez Terrones, 21, died by suicide two months after ICE detained his mother. Samuel had been diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia. His family says he grew increasingly despondent as his mother remained in custody. A federal judge later ruled Minerva Terrones Dominguez’s detention unlawful and ordered her release, but without Samuel she no longer qualifies for the immigration relief her lawyers had pursued. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

Gas

Soaring California gas prices have almost hit the all-time record -- The price of gas in California soared to within 7 cents of the all-time high on Monday even as prices leveled off in much of the U.S. The average price per gallon of gas in California is $6.37, according to AAA, nearly $2 more than the $4.48 across the U.S. California’s all-time record is $6.44. Saul Pink in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/29/26

Guns

California toddler is shot by adult cleaning a gun -- A 2-year-old boy was accidentally shot by a person in his Central Valley home over the weekend, authorities said. The toddler was hit in the leg by a bullet as an adult was cleaning their gun in the Tulare County residence, the county Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Terry Castleman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

Education

California’s San Joaquin Valley needs more doctors. New medical schools are years away -- The San Joaquin Valley has fewer doctors than other parts of California and a long history of poor access to medical care. New medical schools could help increase the pipeline of new physicians, though it will take years. Adam Echelman Calmatters -- 9/29/26

Schools get easier access to arts funds, but LAUSD faces suit over alleged misspending -- More state money to pay for arts teachers will reach local schools if legislation signed Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom works out as intended, but the new law will not resolve a lawsuit accusing the Los Angeles school district of misspending as much as $77 million in its share of the funding. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/29/26

Teachers unions make pitch to renew California tax worth billions for education -- A proposition on the November ballot would preserve a state income tax on high-income earners. The California Teachers Association has led the Yes on 3 campaign and has ponied up $33 million for ads and door hangers. Its strategy relies on teachers knocking on tens of thousands of doors on weekends. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 9/29/26

AI

An S.F. nonprofit welcomed the AI boom. Then came a 156% rent hike -- The nonprofit’s landlord is proposing a jump to $19,000 a month for the 4,000-square-foot space. They currently pay $7,426. Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/29/26

OpenAI Scraps Release of New AI Model Over Safety Concerns -- OpenAI says it is scrapping the release of its next-generation AI model over safety concerns that researchers raised during internal testing, in one of the clearest signs so far that agent misbehavior could stymie the industry’s rapid progression. Maxwell Zeff in the Wall Street Journal$ Sheera Frenkel in the New York Times$ -- 9/29/26

‘A New Kind of Cyber Incident’: OpenAI Apologizes for Australia Medicare Hack --The company detailed how A.I. agents gained access to four government websites and acknowledged mishandling its response. Victoria Kim in the New York Times$ -- 9/29/26

POTUS 47

Taxpayers have funded nearly $1.5 milliom in pro-Trump ads. Criticism is mounting, including from the GOP -- The White House has spent days fiercely defending three taxpayer-funded advertisements that glorify President Donald Trump and are nearing at least $1.5 million in public spending, calling them public service announcements like those used in past administrations. Ali Swenson Associated Press -- 9/29/26

Trump says new fuel economy rules will cut car prices. Analysts are doubtful -- In rolling back fuel efficiency standards, the administration said the average new vehicle price in 2031 should be reduced by $1,300. Todd C. Frankel in the Washington Post$ -- 9/29/26

Urging a wary public not to fear AI, Trump launches government chatbot -- President Donald Trump launched America.gov, a government chatbot for researching public services, as part of a day-long event featuring members of his Cabinet and tech executives. AI company leaders are also set to meet with him and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana). Ian Duncan and Cat Zakrzewski in the Washington Post$ -- 9/29/26

U.S. Consumer Confidence Fell in September Amid Elevated Oil Prices, Inflation Worries, Conference Board Says -- The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index fell to 81.9 in September from 88.6 in August, marking its lowest reading since 2014. Jessica Coacci in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 9/29/26