Latest news with #CaliforniaStateAssembly
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Californians Call on Donald Trump To Declare State of Emergency
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. California state lawmakers have formally requested that President Donald Trump declare a national state of emergency to address ongoing sewage pollution from Mexico that has impacted the Tijuana River Valley and surrounding border communities for decades. The call for federal intervention followed the unanimous approval of Assembly Joint Resolution 16 (AJR 16) on July 1 in the California State Assembly's Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. It comes after decades of "environmental harm and public health risks caused by transboundary pollution flowing from Mexico into California through the Tijuana and New rivers," California lawmakers said. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Newsweek: "President Trump is taking a whole of government approach to tackle the Tijuana River sewage crisis by employing the EPA, State Department, and USIBWC to quickly negotiate a comprehensive solution with Mexico." "This project was once slated to take two years but will only take a few months to resolve thanks to the efficiency of this administration." A sign at Imperial Beach in California warns of sewage pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. A sign at Imperial Beach in California warns of sewage pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. Elliot Spagat/AP Why It Matters The sewage crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border has resulted in more than 100 billion gallons of contaminated water crossing into California since 2018, harming communities, the environment and public health. Persistent closures of popular beaches have diminished tourism and sickened residents and military personnel. One shoreline had to be closed for 1,000 days because of high levels of toxins in the water, according to Politico. Other states have urged leaders to take charge on the issue. Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana sent a letter to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in April to demand that her government take immediate action to stop the flow of toxic sewage across the border. What To Know AJR 16 urges Trump to expedite resources and support for border communities impacted by runoff pollution from the Tijuana and New rivers. The bill was introduced by Assemblymembers David Alvarez and Jeff Gonzalez, who called for a "state of emergency" to address public health, environmental and economic threats. The legislation points to research conducted by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 2017 that attributed 34,000 annual illnesses to "water quality pollution along the City of Imperial Beach coastline" in the County of San Diego, and linked up to 76 percent of bacteria in the City of Imperial Beach's air to "transboundary flow pollution." It added that the City of Imperial Beach has declared a continued state of emergency since 2017 and has had to be closed frequently because of risk to public health as a result of the pollution. The shoreline was closed for 101 days in 2018, 243 days in 2019, 295 days in 2020 and 246 days in 2021, and the southernmost portion of the Imperial Beach shoreline has been closed since December 8, 2021, the legislation said. The legislation calls for: Full funding of the (Environmental Protection Agency's) infrastructure plan to stop sewage spills at the source. A national emergency declaration to unlock additional federal resources. Long-term operation and maintenance support for wastewater treatment facilities. Immediate action to end beach closures, which have lasted over 1,270 consecutive days in some areas. Federal investments to address pollution in the New River, which flows from Mexicali to the Salton Sea and affects the community of Calexico. What People Are Saying California Assemblymember David Alvarez: "Enough is enough. Border communities like Imperial Beach, San Ysidro and Calexico should not be treated as sacrifice zones. This is not just a water issue—study upon study have found that it is a public health emergency, which demands a national response. We are calling on President Donald J. Trump and Congress to act with urgency and scale that this disaster demands." California Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez: "The people of Imperial County have lived with the impacts of New River pollution for far too long. This is not just an environmental concern—it's a public health challenge that affects our communities every day I respectfully urge federal government to recognize the seriousness of this crisis and to declare a national emergency. With federal partnership, we can work together to ensure a cleaner, safer and healthier future for families on both sides of our border." EPA administrator Lee Zeldin previously wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "I was just briefed that Mexico is dumping large amounts of raw sewage into the Tijuana River, and it's now seeping into the U.S. This is unacceptable. Mexico MUST honor its commitments to control this pollution and sewage!" What Happens Next The full California Assembly is expected to vote on AJR 16 in the coming weeks. If adopted, the resolution would formally request that Trump declare a national emergency to enable immediate federal intervention and long-term mitigation efforts.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California gun control bill that could ban popular Glock pistol sales moves forward
( — A bill that could ban the sale of the most popular handgun in the U.S. is potentially on its way to becoming law after it passed through the California State Assembly on Tuesday. Assembly Bill 1127, also referred to by many people as the Glock Ban Bill, was authored by Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) and would prohibit licensed firearms dealers from selling guns that can be 'easily converted by hand or with common household tools' into a machine gun. Although the Glock isn't specifically mentioned in the written legislation, it falls into that category of firearms. New gun laws won't be enforced by Sutter County Sheriff's Office 'I am pleased to be presenting AB 1127, which will protect communities from mass shootings and gun violence by encouraging gun manufacturers to prevent the conversion of their firearms to dangerous automatic weapons,' Gabriel said during an Assembly Standing Committee hearing. He continued, 'Automatic weapons are exceptionally lethal and capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute. They are illegal in California. Unfortunately, some semi-automatic firearms feature a dangerous design flaw that allows them to be converted to fully automatic weapons through an attachment of a cheap and easy-to-use device, known as a switch.' Northern California police warn of $1,000 fine per illegal firework amid Fourth of July holiday The Glock is infamous for its easy-alteration capabilities by using a 'Glock switch'. In 2022, a converted Glock was reportedly used in a mass shooting that occurred just blocks from the California State Capitol Building. It left six people dead and several others injured. 'Sadly, certain companies in the gun industry have known about this issue for decades and have done nothing meaningful to address it,' Gabriel said. 'This common-sense legislation will ensure that the gun industry is held accountable and that we're doing everything we possibly can to protect our communities from mass shootings.' AB 1127 is supported by organizations like Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, and Voices for Progress. However, other groups such as the National Association for Gun Rights and Gun Owners of California Inc. are in opposition. 'AB 1127 is a blatant attack on your right to own one of the most common self-defense firearms in America,' Gun Owners of California said on social media before the bill passed through the Assembly. 'This bill targets semiautomatic pistols used by millions of law-abiding gun owners—and it's being pushed under the false pretense of 'safety'.' NAGR vowed to fight back against the proposed legislation. 'California (is) pushing rapidly towards a total ban of Glock pistols,' NAGR said on social media. 'The most popular firearm in the country. If you think there is a line they will not cross, think again.' AB 1127 passed on a vote of 58-17, with Democrat support and Republican opposition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
California state mulls seizing assets left unclaimed for 3 years
California state mulls seizing assets left unclaimed for 3 years originally appeared on TheStreet. The California State Assembly has passed Assembly Bill (AB) 1052 with a 69-0 vote that mandates the state to seize Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies left unclaimed for 3 years. Now, the Senate will vote on the bill. Introduced by Democrat member Avelino Valencia, the bill includes digital assets, including virtual currencies, cryptocurrencies, or other digital-only assets in the already existing list of traditional assets such as bank accounts and safe deposits within the legal framework. To put it simply, the bill, once passed, allows the state of California to seize cryptocurrencies left unclaimed on exchanges for 3 years, which can then be claimed by their owners. Notably, the bill earlier mentioned crypto self-custody provisions which have been deleted. AB 1052 is the latest crypto-related bill to see progress in the California State Assembly. Only recently, the assembly unanimously passed AB 1180 on June 2. AB 1180 is another crypto-related bill that allows state agencies to accept crypto payments. If the Senate also passes the bill and it becomes the law, it will require the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) to formulate rules to allow crypto payments under the Digital Financial Assets Law (DFAL). AB 1180 could come into force as early as July 1, 2026, and run as a pilot until January 1, 2031. It could then be fully implemented. California finds company among states such as Wyoming, Florida, Texas, and New Hampshire that are proactively pursuing crypto regulation. California state mulls seizing assets left unclaimed for 3 years first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 4, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
California Assembly Passes Film Tax Bill to Expand Production Incentives
The California State Assembly has overwhelmingly passed a bill that would overhaul the state's production tax incentive program, a key step in legislators' efforts to provide support to struggling Hollywood workers. The vote on Assembly Bill 1138 was 73 in favor and one against, and comes a day after a similar bill, SB 630, passed 34-1 out of the state senate. The bills now head to the opposite houses as its co-authors say they are looking to expedite the committee vote process so that they can be passed by the legislature, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, and implemented by the California Film Commission all ideally before the legislative session ends for the year in September. 'We are in an emergency, given the unemployment levels and the loss of business in California due to the film industry, so we are working with the legislative leadership to find ways to have the bill go into effect this summer,' said Hollywood Asm. Rick Chavez Zbur, who is one of the co-authors on the bills. The two bills had language removed that calls for the program's cap to be increased from $330 million to $750 million, though that increase is still included in Gov. Gavin Newsom's revised proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. Zbur says that there is high confidence among supporters of the program expansion that the cap raise will be approved in the final budget. 'The structural support that we are receiving from all of the entertainment unions, all of the studios, independent producers, the sound stage managers and owners is uniform, and I've never seen anything like it,' he said. The two bills, known together as the California Film & TV Jobs Act, would expand the types of productions eligible for the tax credit, including animated productions and TV shows with a half-hour runtime. The bill also allows productions that shoot in Los Angeles County and other select nearby shooting locations in Southern California to be eligible for an increased tax writeoff of 35% of all eligible spending. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of film and TV production jobs in California in 2024 fell by approximately 40,000 from the all-time high recorded in 2022, when ongoing demand for streaming shows and a need to catch up on projects delayed by the 2020 pandemic helped fuel a surge in productions. But a variety of factors led to production jobs dropping not just in California but in other major American production hubs like Georgia and New York in 2024. Among them was an industry-wide cutback in production spending as media companies looked to make their streaming services profitable, as well as increased competition from other countries with their own production tax incentives. The combination of that drop in jobs and the loss of work caused by the 2023 strikes that shut down productions for 191 days has led to thousands of entertainment workers in California facing serious financial struggle and has called the future of a cornerstone of the state's economy into question. The post California Assembly Passes Film Tax Bill to Expand Production Incentives appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
California State Assembly Approves Bill Pausing Tax Hike on Legal Cannabis Retailers
California State Assembly Approves Bill Pausing Tax Hike on Legal Cannabis Retailers originally appeared on L.A. Mag. The California State Assembly unanimously voted on Monday to halt a slated 25% tax increase on the cannabis industry from going into effect on July a 74-0 vote, the Assembly approved AB564 by Asm. Matt Haney (D-San Francisco). The bill would prevent the retail excise tax from increasing to 19% from its current 15%."If we continue to pile on more taxes and fees onto our struggling small cannabis businesses, California's cannabis culture is under serious threat of extinction," Haney said in a to SFGATE, taxable cannabis sales in California amounted to $1.088 billion in 2025's first quarter, the lowest in five years. The figure also represents an 11% drop compared to the same quarter in 2024, marking the largest decline in legal cannabis sales in state are responsible for paying the tax regardless of consumer sales. Haney attributes the steady growth of cannabis sales in other states, such as Colorado and Michigan, to lower taxes and fewer barriers for businesses and consumers. "If we want to support our cannabis industry that drives millions of visitors to California every year, adding more costs makes absolutely no sense," said Haney."Nearly a decade after Californians overwhelmingly approved cannabis legalization, the industry is struggling under the crushing weight of a 15% excise tax,' said Caren Woodson, president of the California Cannabis Industry Association. 'Any increase, particularly a 25% increase, would not only be bad public policy, but devastating to operators already on the brink.'In 2016, voters passed Proposition 64 to legalize the possession, cultivation and sale of cannabis for recreational use with an initial retail excise tax of 15%.A 2022 law eliminated California's cultivation tax, making the excise tax adjustable to generate equivalent revenue. The new bill would eliminate the law's requirement to adjust the excise tax will go to the State Senate for consideration. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
