The bills will now head to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, where he will either sign them into law or veto them by mid-October.
The California Legislature extended its annual session into an extra day, approving a raft of measures on Artificial Intelligence regulation, aid for children of illegal immigrants, and environmental policies.
The push came amid a projected $12 billion budget deficit and declining federal funds, leaving Gov. Gavin Newsom to decide by mid-October on hundreds of bills.
The lawmakers adjourned Sept. 13 after finalizing deals, especially on stalled climate initiatives. They extended the state’s cap-and-trade emissions program, boosted wildfire funding, and allowed increased oil production with the goal of stabilizing fuel prices.
From about 1,200 introduced bills, hundreds advanced, targeting issues on housing, labor rights, and technology.
Key bills included those centered on “racial justice” in housing. Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, a Los Angeles Democrat, advanced AB 57 to allocate 10 percent of first-time homebuyer aid to descendants of slaves. Her AB 62 would compensate for “racially motivated” property seizures.
In tech, San Francisco Sen. Scott Wiener advanced SB 53, requiring developers of powerful artificial intelligence (AI) to assess and mitigate risks like mass casualties or major disruptions. Wiener cited Newsom’s AI advisory board as a positive indicator, despite a prior veto on broader rules.
Wiener also proposed health reforms. SB 40 caps monthly insulin costs at $35 for diabetics, refining a previously rejected version. SB 41 regulates drug-pricing middlemen to curb inflation-driving tactics.
Assemblymember Mia Bonta’s AB 1261 would provide state-funded lawyers for unaccompanied minors in illegal immigrant deportation cases.
“It is unacceptable that there are children who are facing our immigration courts alone. With limited knowledge of court proceedings, let alone sometimes the English language, these youth are set up for failure under our current system,” Bonta, a Democrat representing Oakland, said in a Sept. 10 statement.
