CAPITOL DAYBOOK NEWS

Becerra pledges partnership with legislative leaders as he prepares to take office

Governor-elect Xavier Becerra stood with Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limon and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas in the Capitol rotunda and pledged to work with the Legislature early, a contrast with Governor Gavin Newsom's late-session approach.

CalMatters · 11/11/26

Newsom move to commute all 548 death sentences faces Supreme Court test

Governor Gavin Newsom announced he will commute all 548 California death sentences to life without parole. For 382 people with more than one felony conviction, the state Constitution requires a recommendation from at least four Supreme Court justices.

• California has carried out 13 executions since capital punishment was restored in 1978, most recently in 2006
• Newsom placed a moratorium on executions in 2019
• Governor-elect Xavier Becerra has said he intends to maintain that moratorium

Reason

Judge permanently blocks Shasta County voter ID and hand count measure

A Shasta County Superior Court judge permanently barred Measure B, the voter approved charter amendment requiring photo identification, hand counting and a separate county voter roll, finding state election law preempts it. Supporters said they are weighing an appeal.

San Francisco Inquirer

Utility regulator calls California wildfire liability system unsustainable

The California Public Utilities Commission reported that placing tens of billions of dollars in wildfire costs on utilities and ratepayers is not sustainable and harms safe, reliable and affordable electricity service. The report recommends changing the liability system.

Sacramento Bee · 11/10/26

Newsom and Khanna split over rejected billionaire wealth tax as 2028 talk grows

California voters rejected the one time wealth tax, a result Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the measure to achieve. Representative Ro Khanna blamed Newsom for the defeat, while Newsom allies called the outcome an affirmation of his position.

CNN · 11/11/26

Justice Department drops lawsuit seeking to set aside California mail ballots

The Justice Department on November 6 voluntarily dismissed its suit seeking to set aside mail ballots from about 20,000 people it called likely noncitizens. The dismissal followed four court losses in eight days, including a Supreme Court denial on November 2.

Immigration Analytics · 11/7/26

Los Angeles homelessness report shows most funding unspent as Raman prepares to take office

A report to a Los Angeles City Council committee found the city had spent or committed $368.9 million of more than $1 billion in homelessness funding by March 31, leaving $636.1 million unspent or not yet committed. Mayor-elect Nithya Raman pledged to track every dollar.

New York Post · 11/10/26

Governor's office says top revenues came in $7.7 billion above forecast

Governor Gavin Newsom's office said California's top three revenue sources came in $7.7 billion higher than projected since April and projected no deficit for two years. The office described a $4.5 trillion economy and cited Proposition 2, which raises the rainy day fund cap.

• $366 billion in venture capital flowed to California companies as of August 2026, according to the governor's office
• 75 percent of United States startup funding this year went to California companies, according to the governor's office
• Proposition 2 raises the rainy day fund deposit cap from 10 percent to 20 percent of tax revenue

Governor's Office Golden Coast Journal · 11/10/26

Newsom executive order advances independent AI oversight and a frontier model kill switch

Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order accelerating independent verification of frontier AI systems and directing experts to recommend stronger safety laws within two months, including a verified emergency shutoff for frontier models. Recommendations are due in mid November.

Governor's Office · 9/18/26

Wildfire liability fight may return in a special session or the December session

Columnist Dan Walters writes that speculation continues that Governor Gavin Newsom could call a special session after the election on utility wildfire liability, after his broader plan failed in the final weeks of the session and lawmakers settled on Senate Bill 492.

CalMatters · 11/4/26

New laws reshape education governance and add school protections for 2027

A roundup of 2026 education laws notes that Assembly Bill 181 will reorganize the Department of Education under a governor appointed Education Commissioner beginning in 2027, while the elected superintendent becomes an independent statewide voice. Other laws address math screening, online safety and voting protections.

Ed100

Proposition 40 billionaire tax defeated, backers say they will try again in 2028

The Associated Press called Proposition 40 defeated on Monday, with 47.12 percent voting yes and 52.8 percent voting no at an estimated 83 percent counted. The measure would have imposed a one time 5 percent tax on residents worth more than $1 billion.

• Proponents projected the tax would raise $100 billion over five years, mainly for health care
• Governor Gavin Newsom and both candidates for governor opposed the measure
• The measure performed best in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Alameda counties, at 54 percent to 56 percent yes

EdSource · 11/10/26

Voters reject Proposition 45 plan to speed CEQA environmental reviews

Voters rejected Proposition 45, which would have capped full environmental impact reports at 365 business days for designated essential projects. Unofficial returns showed about 56 percent opposed and 44 percent in favor, and the Associated Press called the measure over the weekend.

HousingWire · 11/9/26

Propositions 4, 5 and 42 remain closely divided as counting continues

In the count reported Saturday, Proposition 4 on public campaign financing trailed with 50.6 percent opposed, Proposition 5 on recall elections led with 51.8 percent in favor, and Proposition 42 on wealth tax limits led with more than 52.2 percent in favor.

• Proposition 1 housing bond passed with 59 percent in favor in early returns
• Proposition 37 homebuyer loan measure passed with more than 61 percent in favor in early returns
• Proposition 39 voter identification measure failed with more than 60 percent opposed in early returns
• Results are unofficial until the Secretary of State certifies on December 11

CalMatters · 11/10/26

Wiener wins race to succeed Pelosi in San Francisco House seat

State Senator Scott Wiener won California's 11th Congressional District after Supervisor Connie Chan conceded, according to the Associated Press. In the November 8 update Wiener had 157,394 votes, 53.6 percent, to Chan's 136,435 votes, 46.4 percent.

San Francisco Inquirer · 11/9/26

Matsui defeats Vang in Sacramento area House race

Representative Doris Matsui defeated Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang in the general election for California's 7th Congressional District on November 3. Matsui was first elected to the House in 2005, while Vang centered her campaign on generational change.

Ballotpedia News · 11/11/26

Voters approve housing bonds in Propositions 1 and 37 by different approaches

Voters approved Proposition 1, authorizing $11.25 billion mainly for affordable rental housing, and Proposition 37, a revenue bond program of up to $25 billion to lend to homebuyers for down payments, according to the Associated Press.

CalMatters · 11/4/26

Los Angeles County receives $18.8 million to convert a motel into 62 supportive homes

California awarded Los Angeles County nearly $18.8 million through Homekey+ to convert a former motel into Casa Bella, with 61 permanent supportive homes for people with behavioral health challenges plus a manager unit. Seven homes are reserved for veterans.

Realtor.com · 11/11/26

Insurance commissioner orders one year renewal protection after Dove Fire

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara ordered insurers to preserve coverage for about 50,000 policyholders in Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Calaveras counties for one year after the governor's Dove Fire emergency declaration. The moratorium covers homes in the fire perimeter and adjoining ZIP codes.

PIA Western Alliance · 11/9/26

Lower Medi-Cal asset limit raises coverage concerns for seniors and people with disabilities

A June budget decision will lower the Medi-Cal asset limit for low income seniors and people with disabilities to $21,000 starting in July 2027. CalMatters reported experts estimate federal and state cuts could remove more than 2.2 million Californians from coverage over four years.

CalMatters · 11/6/26

Nearly half of local school bond measures are on track to fail

Eighty six school districts placed $12.4 billion in repair and modernization bonds on the ballot, and 50 had passed or were leading as of late Tuesday. Bonds require 55 percent to pass, and officials in districts where measures are failing cited household costs.

• San Diego Unified voters approved a $3.4 billion bond, the largest in California this cycle
• Beaumont Unified sought $86 million and reported 138 roof leaks last year
• Districts that fail to pass a local bond cannot provide matching funds for Proposition 2 state facilities money

CalMatters · 11/11/26

State Water Board adopts Bay-Delta plan update pairing flows with habitat restoration

The State Water Resources Control Board on October 29 adopted an updated Bay-Delta plan for the Sacramento River and Delta watershed, which supplies nearly 30 million people. Water users may comply through a regulatory flow path or the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes voluntary program.

• The plan provides for restoration of more than 27,000 acres of aquatic habitat
• About $2.9 billion in state, federal and local investment would support river and habitat projects
• The plan recognizes Tribal Tradition and Culture as a protected beneficial use for the first time
• The voluntary program is scheduled to begin no later than October 1, 2027, after Office of Administrative Law approval

Western Water · 11/2/26

City Council welcomes Mayor-elect Raman at City Hall

Los Angeles City Council members welcomed Mayor-elect Nithya Raman on November 10 with flowers and a certificate and pledged to work with her. Raman held 54.73 percent to Mayor Karen Bass's 45.27 percent in the latest county results and takes office December 14.

Los Angeles Sentinel · 11/10/26

Raman trails Bass in her own council district as she prepares to take office

Mayor-elect Nithya Raman led citywide with 608,897 votes, 54.8 percent, in Tuesday's unofficial results, but trailed Mayor Karen Bass 52.4 percent to 47.6 percent in her own Council District 4 in a precinct analysis. Los Angeles County had about 37,500 ballots awaiting processing on Wednesday.

New York Post