What happened to some controversial issues, bills

California’s state lawmakers are rushing to pass a rash of bills by midnight tonight. With hundreds of bills moving through the legislature, it’s hard to keep track of what passed, what failed, and what’s been forgotten. KPCC’s Julie Small reports on a handful of “hot button” measures.

Republicans tried to extend the deadline for gas stations to install nozzles that capture more pollutants. Senator Dave Cox said too many gas stations couldn’t afford them, or the fines they’d have to pay for not having them. Local air districts issued a million dollars in fines, and dozens of stations shut down. In the end, Democrats passed a bill to loan gas stations money for the new nozzles. The governor signed the bill in August.

Remember the spring recall of some California pistachios tainted with salmonella? Democratic State Senator Dean Florez sponsored a bill to strengthen food handling safety processes. The legislature passed it, but the governor hasn’t signed it yet.

In August, the governor gutted state funding for domestic violence shelters with some line-item vetoes. State Senator Leland Yee is trying to pass a bill to restore the funding to the shelters. A spokesman for Yee says the San Francisco Democrat is optimistic the governor will sign it.