Image by Arseniy45. It’s early to think of what California’s fiscal budget may look like by the time lawmakers finalize it in June. But Gov. Gavin Newsom is already banking on the tech industry to save the state from financial distress.
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CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today we welcome Clint Kellum, the new (as of November 2025) Director of the California Department of Cannabis Control. The CDCC licenses and regulates cannabis businesses, including regulation of cannabis growers, manufacture of cannabis products, and sales, transportation and tracking of cannabis goods. Kellum took the helm just after Governor Newsom signed AB 564, a bill to reset the state’s cannabis excise tax rate at 15% until 2028, giving California’s struggling legal cannabis market hope after a rough few years.
Image by EvgeniyShkolenko. OPINION – Local election officials across the U.S. are facing a range of challenges as they look ahead to this year’s elections – and 2028 as well. Among the biggest: how to serve a rapidly diversifying electorate, and how to combat distrust fueled by an avalanche of misinformation.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom speaks at the bill signing ceremony for SB 106. Photo by Rich Ehisen, Capitol WeeklyIt has been another busy week around the Capitol. Her are some of the highlights, lowlights and one big eye roll…in brief!
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
Image from Paul Mitchell's TWINS - California 2026 Governor Simulator site.The most intense parlor game in Sacramento is that of projecting the composition of June’s Top Two gubernatorial primary. Not who among the dozen leading candidates will win, per se, but what will be the partisanship of the two that make it to the General Election, and if that could actually be two Republicans.
Image by SergZSV. Special interests paid lobbying firms more than $91 million to lobby state government in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a Capitol Weekly analysis of lobbying firm reports.
Image by MargJohnsonVA. OPINION – Billionaires are uniquely positioned in their ability to help stop a healthcare collapse here in California. These are individuals who have accumulated tremendous wealth thanks to the unique opportunities afforded them by our state. Now, in a time of extraordinary hardship, their state is calling on them to chip in and pay their fair share.
Lobbyists crowd around video screen to watch the floor votes on the last night of the Legislature's session. (Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP)What should your lobby day participants know about California government before they embark on their lobby day at the State Capitol in Sacramento? This article sets forth those key items for them to get acquainted with regarding the Legislature and the legislative process.