Some of the bills that passed include:
- Concealed carry: When the a New York state law in 2022, it resulted in the loosening of concealed carry permit requirements. To limit the , approved by the Senate Thursday would add more gun training requirements and add more public places to the list where Californians cannot carry their concealed weapons.
- Legislative union: that would passed off the floor Thursday. It has been amended to ensure that political affiliation will not influence the makeup of bargaining units. Though previous efforts failed, the bill鈥檚 author, Assemblymember , a Democrat from Inglewood, told CalMatters that this year, 鈥渢he political will is here.鈥�
- Fossil fuel divestment: Democratic Sen. of Long Beach wants to wind down for state employees and teachers. Opponents argue that the bill would reduce investment diversification and returns. And according to the appropriations committee, divesting in these companies would cost the state employee retirement fund $75 million to $125 million in one-time transaction fees and $31 million for teachers.
- Fentanyl crisis: After a on Wednesday about the fentanyl crisis, the Assembly on Thursday passed several fentanyl-related bills, including legislation that would create a , between state and local law enforcement to crack down on trafficking, and expand .
- End travel ban: In 2016, California to states it deemed anti-LGBTQ. Amid criticism that the ban , Senate President Pro Tem , a San Diego Democrat, and instead establish a marketing and advertising campaign promoting 鈥渟ocial equity, civil rights and antidiscrimination.鈥�
- Protect abortion providers: To strengthen protections for California abortion providers, from out-of-state civil action where abortion is illegal, and prohibits the California Department of Health Care Services from automatically suspending providers from the Medi-Cal program if they were dropped from Medicare and Medicaid for providing abortion services.
- Decriminalize psychedelics: Despite the California District Attorneys Association arguing that psychedelics have 鈥渘o federally accepted medical use and have a high probability of misuse,鈥� the Senate approved a bill to , which are known to be used by some veterans to treat PTSD, anxiety and depression.
And to stay alive, some bills changed:
- Healthcare minimum wage: Healthcare workers who are are supporting Sen. , a Democrat from Los Angeles, to boost their minimum hourly wage to $25, starting in January (the current minimum wage is $15.50). to increase pay to $21 an hour by June 2024 and to $25 by June 2025.
- Ebony Alert: To bring more attention and resources to missing Black youth, Sen. , a Democrat from Gardena, wants to establish an 鈥溾�� for missing children and young people between the ages of 12 and 25 years old. The bill has been amended with more specific circumstances when the alert can be issued, including if the missing person has a disability or is missing under suspicious circumstances.
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