Governor Gavin Newsom recently held a press conference at a Home Depot in San Jose where he signed new retail crime legislation into law on August 16, 2024. As the governor continues to navigate the legislative landscape, it has become apparent that he has been favoring Assembly bills over those proposed by state senators.
Questions have arisen regarding whether Newsom is leveraging the Senate’s support for his special session focused on gas prices to influence the approval of Senate legislation. However, Newsom’s office has denied this claim, with spokesperson Izzy Gardon stating, “We generally announce bills in the order in which the Governor reviews them. The timing of his actions is not tied to any broader legislative dynamics.”
Since the conclusion of the regular session on August 31, Newsom has signed 50 bills from the Assembly and vetoed six. In contrast, he has only signed a single Senate bill while vetoing another. Recently, he signed Assembly Bill 2867, designed to assist California residents in recovering art and personal property lost during the Holocaust.
The special session was called by Newsom just hours before the annual adjournment of lawmakers, aiming to push through an energy bill package that had previously stalled. While the Assembly quickly resumed session, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire hesitated, stating he would only convene the Senate if the Assembly’s bills were agreed upon first. The Assembly is anticipated to vote on the bills by October 1.
When asked for insights on the lack of Senate bill approvals, McGuire’s spokesperson, Kerrie Lindecker, indicated that the query should be directed to the Governor’s Office.
Senator Scott Wiener is among those with key bills awaiting the governor’s decision. He has been actively campaigning for their approval, joining various groups to advocate for regulations on pharmacy benefit managers, aiming to make prescription drugs more affordable. Additionally, Wiener is set to organize an event with the National Organization for Women and other youth groups to rally support for his artificial intelligence safety legislation, which has garnered national attention and faced significant opposition from major tech companies.
It is important to note that Newsom has a considerable number of bills remaining to review before the September 30 deadline, and some of the most notable ones are being tracked closely.