A bill introduced last week by state Assemblyman Bill Monning (D-Carmel) could have serious impact on how food trucks do business, if the bill is made into law. AB 1678 calls for the prohibition of mobile vending within 1500 feet of an elementary or secondary school between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. more ›

A law inspired by Casey Anthony and introduced by a Los Angeles assemblywoman has passed the state assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support and is headed over to the state senate. more ›

The daily General Assembly (GA) meeting of the Occupy LA encampment got underway just after 7:30 Sunday night, but it wasn't the usual scene, as a larger than ever crowd gathered at City Hall to prepare for the planned closure of the park at 12:01 a.m. Monday. more ›

Federal legislation known as the "Dream Act" was introduced in 2003, but failed to pass last year. However, in California, our state's own "Dream Act" for college students is making its way through its legislative hurdles successfully. Yesterday the state Assembly approved AB 130 (nicknamed the "Dream Act") by a vote of 51-21; the bill is sponsored by Los Angeles Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D). more ›

Puppet shows for gridlocked drivers may or may not be illegal, but a state bill seeking the realities behind digital license plates that would show ads has already been approved by the California Senate and will be heard by an Assembly Committee today. more ›

The proposed statewide ban on plastic bags has until next Friday, June 4th to pass or the process starts all over again. Supporters are calling for a final push to secure AB 1998's survival, which will ban the use of plastic bags at grocery and retail stores. Many people feel that ban will directly result in marine protection in an area known as the Pacific Garbage Patch, which extends from Hawaii to San Francisco, containing exceptionally high numbers of plastic waste. more ›

East Los Angeles has made one step further in its goal of becoming an incorporated city after a critical bill was passed by a 7-2 vote yesterday by the California Senate Appropriations Committee. more ›

A bill banning smoking in all 279 California state parks failed in the Assembly today, falling just 5 votes short of passing, according to abc7. The issue is not entirely snuffed out, however, as the absence of several lawmakers expected to vote in approval were absent from the session today, and a new vote will be held, possibly as soon as Monday. The bill, by Sen. Jenny Oropeza (D) of Long Beach, passed the state Senate, and, if passed, would be landmark legislation regarding public smoking and state-run land. more ›

Another huge step was taken this morning in the effort to legalize marijuana beyond the current medical-use constraints. The California Assembly's Public Safety Committee voted 4 to 3 to approve A.B. 390, the Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act, which is the legislation that would tax and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. more ›

As the historic Prop 8 trial takes place in a federal courthouse in San Francisco, another historic hearing will be going on in Sacramento tomorrow morning. The California Assembly’s Public Safety Committee will conduct a hearing and vote on A.B. 390, the Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act, which is the legislation that would tax and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. more ›

When Speaker-Elect John Perez is officially confirmed as the Assembly's Speaker in coming month, he will be the first openly gay man to take the role. The freshman Assemblymember represents a portion of Los Angeles and is Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's cousin. Interestingly enough, the last time the speakership had contested in a floor vote was in 1998 when Villaraigosa was elected to become speaker (harbinger for Perez?), notes the LA Times. more ›

As UC Regents meet for a vote on increasing University of California tuition by 32%, Attorney General Jerrry Brown said today that a state panel has the authority to cut the pay of state Senators and Assemblymembers by 18 percent, which would cut pay from $116,208 to $95,291 in December 2010, according to the Sacramento Bee. At issue was if Senate salaries could be cut mid-term, which Brown said was within the law. But still undetermined is if benefits can be cut. more ›

After Orange County Assemblyman Mike Duvall resigned amid controversy over a video where he bragged about sex with a woman, allegedly a lobbyist, the state's Fair Political Practices Commission gave him 30 days to disclose any gifts he had received. more ›

Yesterday, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed two bills into law, both of which focus on restricting operation of a motor vehicle to previous DUI offenders, reports the Daily News. Assemblyman Mike Feur (D-Los Angeles) has authored AB 91, calling for the implementation of a pilot program in four counties that will put an ignition interlock device in "every vehicle owned or operated by a first-time DUI offender." more ›

The Assembly Ethics Committee yesterday had to drop the investigation into former Orange County Assemblyman Mike Duvall after they were advised the panel lacked authority over the issue. more ›

It's not surprising but Orange County Assemblyman Michael Duvall (R-Yorba Linda) this afternoon announced his resignation, according to KNX1070 on Twitter. "I am deeply saddened that my inappropriate comments have become a major distraction for my colleagues in the Assembly," he said in a statement. "I have come to the conclusion that it would not be fair to my family, my constituents or to my friends on both sides of the aisle. Therefore, I have decided to resign my office, effective immediately, so that the Assembly can get back to work." Last night, KCAL9 aired a report on a leaked video of him talking about a tryst with at least two women, one of whom that is suspected to be a lobbyist that deals with his committee assignment. more ›

At around 10:40 a.m. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger held a press conference at Hansen Dam regarding the Station Fire, and other fires currently affecting the state. Just home to California following yesterday's funeral services for his wife's uncle, Sen. Edward Kennedy, Schwarzenegger spoke immediately of his wish to continue to work to ensure the safety of lives, property, and memories. more ›

Despite the fact that the state Assembly rejected a proposal allowing new offshore drilling in the budget vote a few weeks ago, the issues is back. Or, as Dan Jacobson of Environment California puts it, "the coast won and the oil companies lost... Or so it would seem." more ›

Finally, the budget has passed both houses--the Senate early this morning and the Assembly this afternoon--and Governor Arnold Scwharzenegger says he plans to sign it next week. However, the LA Times hints that Schwarzenegger may do some line item vetoing and a $1.1 billion deficit still remains to be solved. more ›

An assembly bill making its way through state committees gained the support of the city of Los Angeles today. AB 524 "would allow civil fines of up to $50,000 for the taking and selling of images or recordings of people engaged in personal or familial activity, with actual knowledge that the images or recordings were obtained illegally and if any compensation, consideration, or remuneration was provided," according to a city motion. Councilmember Paul Koretz, a former Assemblyman himself, said the bill "only makes sense." more ›

Happy New Fiscal Year! To no surprise of anyone, the state once again failed to pass the budget revision before today, the beginning of the 2009/2010 fiscal year. That means 28,742 payments, many of them tax refunds, totalling $53.3 million will be sent out tomorrow as IOUs, costing the state $3.4 billion over the next 30 years due to higher interest rates. more ›

In a late Sunday night Session, the state's Assembly passed a budget with $2 billion in tax and fee increases that included a $15 annual vehicle registration fee that would pay for state parks, among other taxes and fees like a $1.50 tax on cigarettes. The Democratic budget solution is headed to the state Senate for consideration this morning. more ›

As of yesterday, the State Senate had not moved on items except denying a budget package of three bills passed by the Assembly (before a bill can go to Schwarzenegger, it must pass both houses). That package would temporarily halt the use of IOUs in lieu of bill payments from the state. In regards to the threat of state parks, no action has been taken yet. The Democrats proposal goes like this: AB 180, the big budget revision bill (remember, the budget was already passed earlier this year), contains a one year cut of state parks (Schwarzenegger called for two years). Once that passes, effectively eliminating state parks, then another bill would be introduced to save state parks via a $15 annual fee on vehicle registrations. That's a risky move considering Schwarzenegger and Republicans vow to veto any taxes or fee increases. The Senate reconvened at 12:30 today and the Assembly will on Saturday. more ›

It was a rough Valentine's night for California's lawmakers, as they worked until the wee hours trying to resolve our budget. But in the early morning hours today it became apparent that the budget was not going to get the one last Republican vote it needed, and it has stalled. more ›

Two San Francisco lawmakers from the Assembly and Senate are planning to introduce resolutions supporting the repeal of Proposition 8. "Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, will introduce measures specify that Prop 8 is an improper revision of the California Constitution. Significant revisions to the Constitution mandate distinct procedures and require a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature before going to voters," says Equality California, the organization that is sponsoring the bills. Proposition 8, which sought to ban gay marriage in California, won in the November election, prompting protests and a state supreme court case that will likely be heard starting in March. It seems the battle over Prop 8 is being fought at every level possible. more ›

For those of you following AB 2321, a state assembly bill that would allow Metro to put a proposed half-cent sales tax increase on November's ballot (they say it could raise $30-40 billion dollars over 30 years), it passed out of the state senate this afternoon, according to Steve Hymon at the Bottleneck Blog. more ›

Her first job? The state's budget crisis. The state is "a giant in crisis," she said. "Bass announced that she had asked former governors Pete Wilson and Gray Davis to help set up a bipartisan commission to study overhauling the state's tax structure. The panel will be asked to come up with recommendations 'to identify more consistent sources of revenue,' Bass said" in the LA Times. On Wednesday, Gov. Schwarzenegger will release a plan to combat the budget shortfall that could be up to $20 billion. more ›

The quarter might become a triple-threat of the coin world soon if LA County and Heal the Bay have their way in Sacramento. Adding to the two biggest reasons why the 25 cent piece is the most coveted piece of cupronickel in your pocket--laundry and parking meters, of course--bill AB 2829 calls for "a mandatory fee on the distribution of single-use plastic shopping bags at all large grocery stores and pharmacies statewide." The bill differs from a previous one by another lawmaker, which called for reductions on a longer-range basis, and is not endorsed by Heal the Bay. more ›

For the last ten years, state representatives from Los Angeles have dominated the role of Speaker of the Assembly, including Mayor Villaraigosa, LA City Council Herb Wesson and Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle. Today, Karen Bass, the assemblywoman who represents neighborhoods from West LA to Culver City to Baldwin Hills, had enough votes to become Speaker of the Assembly up in Sacramento. more ›