It’s cooling down in most of the country, so don’t blame us for dreaming of California! Here’s some notable news from the Golden State!
California
- AB48
- Why we’re watching: Gov. Newsom signed AB48 this week, which restricts police usage of rubber bullets and chemical agents, both of which caused controversy during the protests of 2020. Now, law enforcement can only resort to those archaic tactics after they’ve exhausted other de-escalation techniques and must report the use of any projectile weapon causing bodily harm to civilians.
- All-White-Male Boardrooms Ban
- Why we’re watching: California outlawed the all-white-male corporate boardroom all the way back in 2018. However, this summer was the state’s mandated due date for companies to diversify their leadership. The plan seems to have worked, given that women now occupy 50% more board seats in the state than when the law was passed.
- Marijuana Conviction Dismissals
- Why we’re watching: Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced this week that his office would dismiss 60,000 marijuana-related convictions, one of the largest such efforts in history. Reversing the disproportionate impacts of the war on drugs against people of color has always been a priority of Gascón’s, so we aren’t surprised to see this reparative criminal justice focus.
- SB2
- Why we’re watching: To prevent police officers that have behaved improperly from jumping station-to-station, Gov. Newsom signed a bill making it easier to strip cops of their badges. The new law creates a step-by-step framework for authorities to analyze officer misconduct before a community advisory board makes a final ruling.
- SB65
- Why we’re watching: In California, Black women are six times more likely to die within a year of pregnancy than their white counterparts. To help inform future decisions on the issue, SB65 seeks to collect better data, mandate expert recommendations, and expand access to midwives. The bill is currently on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk and we hope he signs it.
What do you think of the bills in this week’s legislative roundup? Did we miss anything? Drop us a line on any of our social channels or hit us up through our contact us form. Let us know what’s happening in YOUR neighborhood!
