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Which of these 2025 bills will Gavin Newsom sign?
The fate of hundreds of bills recently approved by the Legislature now rests with Gov. Gavin Newsom. He has one month to sign or veto any measures passed in the final days before the session ended Sept. 13.
As his attention turns ever more toward national politics, how might Newsom’s approach change this year? What bill signings will he highlight to the public or bury in a late-night news dump? Could he veto more proposals as he tries to distance himself from contentious liberal policies and chart a more moderate image?
Last year, Newsom vetoed about 18% of nearly 1,000 bills passed in the final days (and nearly 16% of all 1,200 bills passed by the Legislature in 2024). That was already higher than his historical average.
Typically, the governor gives a few reasons for vetoing bills: He deems them bad policy or redundant or calculates that their potential cost threatens to worsen the state’s budget situation. But he also blocks bills because they’re controversial or opposed by powerful special interests.
While the Legislature can override vetoes, it takes a two-thirds vote in both the Assembly and Senate, which rarely happens. Governors can also allow bills to become law without their signature, but that doesn’t occur very often, either.
Here are some noteworthy bills CalMatters reporters are tracking. Bookmark this page for updates.
Immigration
Housing
Education
Law enforcement
Climate and environment
Technology
Reparations
Cannabis
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Here’s what “The Rent Brigade” found after combing through 1,343 Zillow posts that appear to have broken California’s ban on post-fire price gouging.
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Like many invasive plants in California, tumbleweeds heighten fire danger.
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The City Council this week approved taking money from other infrastructure projects to help pay for dewatering wells.
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For one listing, rent jumped nearly 86% since September. In an interview with LAist, the agent said she told her client, “People are desperate, and you can probably get good money.”
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Water-dropping Super Scooper aircraft set to return to service after colliding with a civilian droneThe drone was flying illegally over the Palisades Fire Thursday, taking a vital firefighting resource out of commission for repairs.
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The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has confirmed 27 deaths, a toll that rose after structure-to-structure searches by authorities.