THE CAPITOL BRIEF
Press Conferences and Media Briefings
Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Thursday, October 29 a $1.8 million settlement with Lyft resolving allegations that the company violated the California Consumer Privacy Act and the Unfair Competition Law by failing to offer consumers a way to opt out of the sale of their personal information inside the Lyft mobile app. The settlement requires Lyft to provide an in-app opt-out option and notify California consumers of their right to not have their personal information sold.
Source: Office of the Attorney General
Also on October 29, Bonta announced felony charges against a former Lassen Superior Court Executive Officer for allegedly misappropriating more than $14,000 in public funds. The Attorney General said that between 2022 and 2025 the former executive officer allegedly used a court-issued credit card and submitted falsified reimbursement requests to cover personal expenses, and that investigators identified approximately $14,285 in allegedly unauthorized expenditures. The release notes that charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Source: Office of the Attorney General
Also on October 29, Bonta said he secured a decision by the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts finding the Trump Administration's implementation of new Medicaid work requirements for medically frail individuals unlawful. The court held the administration's definition of medical frailty contrary to law, vacated the language, issued a permanent injunction, and granted a six-month stay of enforcement.
Source: Office of the Attorney General
Also on October 29, Bonta filed a lawsuit challenging a federal determination that Senate Bill 1280 is preempted by federal law. SB 1280, authored by Senator John Laird, prohibits, with limited exceptions, the sale in California of certain non-reusable propane cylinders beginning January 1, 2028. The suit asks the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to vacate the determination.
Source: Office of the Attorney General
Also on October 29, Bonta joined a bipartisan coalition of 37 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting Utah's right to enforce its state sports gaming and gambling laws against prediction market operator Kalshi, in KalshiEX LLC v. Cox, pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The release says this is the ninth time California has joined a nationwide multistate amicus effort targeting Kalshi and similar companies.
Source: Office of the Attorney General
Also on October 29, Bonta joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in submitting an amicus brief in International Partners for Ethical Care, Inc. v Ferguson, relating to Washington State laws on runaway minors who seek refuge and care at licensed youth homeless shelters. The brief urges the United States Supreme Court to affirm dismissal of the lawsuit.
Source: Office of the Attorney General
No press conference or media briefing for Friday, October 30 was announced in the sources checked this morning.
Inside the Legislature
No Senate or Assembly floor sessions are scheduled for Friday, October 30. The Senate website lists Today's Events for October 30, 2026 as: The Senate has adjourned for Final Recess.
Source: California State Senate
The Governor's Office
Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday, October 29 announced that California authorities have seized or destroyed 139,293 pounds of illicit cannabis valued at more than $230 million so far in 2026, and have eradicated 236,846 cannabis plants through September 2026. The work is coordinated through the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force, established in 2022. Since the task force began, officers have seized or destroyed illicit cannabis valued at more than $1.47 billion, totaling 896,514 pounds, and eradicated 1,441,826 plants. In the third quarter alone, from July to September 2026, operations resulted in 55,308 pounds seized or destroyed, 108,226 plants eradicated, more than $91 million in estimated illicit cannabis removed, 14 arrests, nine firearms confiscated, and $29,215 in cash seized, across nine counties.
Source: Office of the Governor
Fundraising
No campaign fundraiser for Friday, October 30 was publicly posted or announced in the sources checked this morning. Most Capitol fundraisers circulate by email invitation only and do not appear in public listings, so this section is intentionally brief rather than filled with unverified events.
New Appointments
No new appointments were announced by the Governor on October 29 or 30 in the sources checked this morning. The Governor's All Stories page lists the most recent appointments announcement as October 28, which was covered in yesterday's Brief.
People and Moves
No personnel move in California government or campaigns was publicly announced on October 29 or 30 in the sources checked this morning, apart from the Attorney General actions listed above, so no moves are listed today rather than repeating older announcements.
Boards and Commissions
No board or commission meeting for Friday, October 30 was listed in the sources checked this morning. The California Public Utilities Commission upcoming events page lists its next voting meeting on November 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the California State Personnel Board Auditorium, 801 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Source: California Public Utilities Commission
Reports and Studies
The Legislative Analyst's Office lists its most recent publication as The 2026-27 California Spending Plan: Health, dated October 19, 2026, which summarizes the 2026-27 health spending package, including Medi-Cal, State Hospitals, Public Health and Covered California. No LAO publication dated October 20 to 30 was listed this morning.
Source: Legislative Analyst's Office
Talks and Addresses
No speech or address by a state official for Friday, October 30 was publicly announced in the sources checked this morning.
Rallies and Protests
No rally or protest at the Capitol on Friday, October 30 was announced by press release or news report in the sources checked this morning.
Odds and Ends
The Secretary of State's 2026 news releases list shows its most recent release dated October 28, 2026, honoring Dolores Huerta. No Secretary of State release dated October 29 or 30 was listed this morning.
Source: Secretary of State
Campaign Notes
California's November 3 general election is four days away. The Secretary of State's elections page notes that eligible citizens who missed the October 19 online registration deadline may still complete Same Day voter registration through Election Day, November 3, at their county elections office or any in-person voting location in their county. In-person early voting locations throughout California will be open on Saturday, October 31. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3, and November 3 is the last day to vote in person or return a ballot by 8:00 p.m. Polls on Election Day will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Source: Secretary of State