The Good, the Bad, and the Do-Nothing Bills Signed by Gov. Newsom
Dear John,
Gov. Gavin Newsom has been busy signing bills and courting headlines. Amid the flood of legislation that crossed his desk in recent weeks, one rare win for accountability slipped through with SB 595. But much of what the governor signed this session ranges from performative to downright harmful.
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SB 595 Targets Cities That Fail to File Financial Reports on Time
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At last — a bill that actually improves accountability in California.
Taxpayers face steep penalties for missing tax deadlines, but cities that fail to report their finances on time have long escaped consequence. The result? City leaders making budget decisions based on outdated or incomplete data — and residents left in the dark about how taxpayer money is being managed. Some cities are years behind on their annual audits.
“One wonders how they can prepare budgets without balance sheets,” said John Moorlach, director of CPC’s Center for Public Accountability, who examines the much-needed reform in his latest Epoch Times column.
Senate Bill 595, authored by Sen. Steven Choi (R-Irvine) and sponsored by the California Policy Center, aims to change that. Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 3, the law shortens the window for local governments to file annual audits with the State Controller’s Office. Agencies must now submit reports within 10 months of the end of their fiscal year or face fines.
The bill went through the California State Legislature without one vote in opposition — a rare feat for a bill carried by a Republican. Moorlach called SB 595 a “good first step” toward transparency, one that may finally pressure delinquent cities to get current.
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Don't Miss CPC on the So, Does It Matter? Podcast with Jon Fleischman
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If you want to catch up on some of the most controversial new laws signed by Gov. Newsom this session, tune in to the always entertaining So, Does It Matter? podcast with Jon Fleischman. CPC’s Lance Christensen joined Fleischman for this week’s episode, “Gavin Newsom Horror Show — Reviewing Terrible Bills He Just Signed!”
Among the worst offenders: AB 495, authored by Celeste Rodriguez (D-San Fernando), which allows nearly any adult to claim guardianship of a minor via affidavit. Initially promoted as a way for illegal immigrant parents to designate guardians if deported, the bill opens the door for abuse — including scenarios where unrelated adults could authorize medical treatments, even gender-transition treatment, without parental consent.
Another less-than-ideal bill signed into law by Newsom is SB 79, by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), which lets transportation agencies override local zoning to build multi-unit housing near transit stops. Christensen and Fleischman discuss how the bill strips local control, worsens evacuation risks in fire-prone areas, and ignores infrastructure limits.
Listen to the full podcast for an in-depth look at both bills — and plenty of other eyebrow-raising laws Newsom signed this session.
Earlier this month, CPC president Will Swaim joined the podcast for a candid conversation on what Fleischman says “may be the most powerful — and destructive — political force in California: the California Teachers Association.” The duo unpack CTA’s effective campaign to water down AB 715 — a bill that began as a serious response to antisemitism in schools — and much more on "Critiquing the Dastardly and Divisive CA Teachers Association."
Don’t miss these insightful and entertaining conversations with CPC’s own — your front-row seat to what really drives decision-making in Sacramento.
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So, Does It Matter?: Gavin Newsom Horror Show - Reviewing Terrible Bills He Just Signed!
CPC's Lance Christensen joins host Jon Fleischman to discuss some of the worst bills that Governor Newsom has signed — from the new law on transferring child guardianship via “affidavits" and the dense-housing push around transit to a wave of bills on charter schools, reparations, AI, and guns. Listen now.
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So, Does It Matter?: Critiquing the Dastardly and Divisive CA Teachers Association
CPC's president Will Swaim and So, Does It Matter host Jon Fleischman discuss how the California Teachers Association functions as a political machine — one that drains taxpayer dollars, shields incompetence, blocks reform, and shapes classroom ideology. Listen now.
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Radio Free California #412: Porter Potty
On this week's podcast, CPC president Will Swaim and CPC board member David Bahnsen consider gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter’s trouble with humans and the prospect of co-parenting your kids with Governor Gavin Newsom. Listen now.
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Primer: Redistricting in California
With Proposition 50 on the November ballot, many Californians are wondering what the ballot measure would do and how redistricting works. This CPC primer outlines California’s current redistricting system, traces how it developed through previous propositions, and explains the choice voters face in the upcoming special election. Read now.
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The $8.25 Billion San Francisco Train that Couldn’t (or at least Shouldn’t)
Will northern California transit planners recognize the obvious and cancel their plan to extend California High-Speed Rail into the heart of downtown San Francisco via a new a tunnel from the Caltrain Station at 4th and King Streets to the Salesforce Transit Center? CPC Visiting Fellow Marc Joffe explains why it's time to rethink costly transit projects like The Portal. Read the article.
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