Sameea Kamal
CalMattersSameea Kamal is a reporter at CalMatters covering the state Capitol and California politics. She joined CalMatters in June 2021 from the Los Angeles Times, where she was a News Desk editor. Sameea was one of three 2020 IRE Journalist of Color fellows, and previously worked for the Center for Public Integrity. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master’s degree in journalism from Columbia Journalism School.
-
State lawmakers have introduced at least a dozen proposals that would make it harder to confront local officials at public meetings, shield more information from the public and relax rules on financial reports. -
The governor has proposed spending climate bond money dedicated to wildfire mitigation in various ways. Some lawmakers think a focused strategy would be more effective. -
Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire proposed that state firefighters work full time in place of the seasonal workforce the agency currently staffs for nine months each year. -
California passed a set of bills to expedite LA wildfire recovery funds as part of an extended special session called by Gov. Gavin Newsom in response to Palisades and Eaton fires. -
The increase in lobbyists means there’s now at least one lobbyist for every legislative staff member. -
Few bills fail in the Legislature because lawmakers publicly vote “no.” Instead, most bills die when they are shelved, without lawmakers having to take tough votes. -
Reflecting concern about too many bills, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas lowered the number legislators are allowed to introduce. -
About 90% of bills that Newsom blocked this year passed with the support of more than two-thirds of legislators — enough to override a governor’s veto. But the Legislature hasn’t attempted to do so since 1979. -
Unable to jam through bills he says will lower California gas prices, Gov. Newsom calls the Legislature back into session. -
State lawmakers often don’t know how well a program is working before deciding whether to cut or increase spending. Instead, they hear from advocates, interest groups and sometimes the public. Key budget hearings ramp up this week. -
The state’s multibillion-dollar shortfall shapes which spending bills survived the ‘suspense file’ hearings by the Assembly and Senate appropriations committees. -
With continuing concerns about political violence, a bill would allow candidates and elected officials to use campaign donations for security expenses. Gov. Newsom vetoed a similar bill last year.
