When oversight is used without clear evidence of misconduct, it risks becoming a political tool. A proposed audit of the Orange County Board of Education raises questions about where that line is drawn.
Read MoreCalifornia remains one of the largest economies in the world. But that headline obscures a more concerning reality: the state’s economy is no longer delivering broad-based growth, upward mobility, or stability for its residents.
Read MoreAs artificial intelligence continues to reshape the modern workplace, policymakers are right to consider guardrails that promote transparency and fairness. However, AB 1898 (Schultz), which seeks to regulate workplace artificial intelligence tools, ultimately misses the mark. While well-intentioned, the bill as currently drafted would impose sweeping and impractical requirements that risk undermining innovation, creating operational gridlock, and exposing employers to significant legal and security risks.
Read MoreCalifornia has long symbolized opportunity, innovation, and upward mobility. Yet today, troubling indicators show the state faces serious structural challenges that demand urgent attention.
California has one of the nation’s highest poverty rates when adjusted for cost of living. Public schools rank near the bottom in literacy. The state experiences persistently high unemployment during key economic cycles. And it has the largest unsheltered homeless population in the country—an ongoing humanitarian and public policy crisis affecting communities of all sizes.
These are not ideological talking points—they are measurable realities. Acknowledging them is not pessimism; it is a prerequisite for reform.
Read MoreCalifornia’s State Appropriations Limit (SAL)—commonly known as the Gann limit—is a constitutional cap on how much tax revenue the state government can spend each year. The rule was created by voters through California Proposition 4 (1979), largely championed by anti-tax activist Paul Gann.
Read MoreThe California Legislature introduced 1,918 bills in 2026 — a notable drop from the 2,534 bills introduced in 2024. That’s 616 fewer bills in the second year of the current two-year session compared to the second year of the previous session.
Read MoreRecent revenue updates have renewed optimism about California’s budget outlook. But short-term gains don’t change the state’s underlying fiscal challenges.
Read MoreSheehy Strategy Group President Tom Sheehy recently joined Assemblyman Josh Hoover on The Point of Order podcast to discuss Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed state budget and California’s broader fiscal outlook.
Read MoreMonique Limón was sworn in today as the 50th President pro Tempore of the California Senate during a formal ceremony at the Capitol. She is the first Latina to hold the upper house top leadership position.
Read MoreThe Governor and California Lawmakers will hit the ground running in January 2026. Many big challenges will demand their attention and action.
Read MoreLast week, nearly 50 legislative and executive branch staff members gathered at the Legislative Office Building in Sacramento for a briefing on strengthening the seismic resilience and functional recovery of homes and buildings across California.
Read MoreUnfortunately for Governor Newsom, when he leaves office, he’s likely to leave his successor with a double-digit, billion-dollar structural budget deficit. The only way to avoid that fate would be to convince a Legislature dominated by progressive Democrats to enact major reductions in state spending — both now and in the future.
Read MoreJoin leading experts from the University of California to discuss Seismic Resiliency in California and policy options for the Legislature to consider.
Read MoreIn the final days of the 2025 legislative session, California lawmakers approved a sweeping reauthorization of the state’s landmark cap-and-trade program, now rebranded “cap-and-invest.”
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Read MoreThe fiscal committee deadline hit Friday, August 29. More than 250 bills were on the Assembly suspense file and over 420 in the Senate. After adjournment, both houses held their suspense hearings.
Read MoreThe fiscal committee deadline is coming up this Friday, August 29. Both houses of the Legislature will hear their respective suspense files in the Appropriations Committees.
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Tom Sheehy recently testified before the Assembly Education Committee, warning that proposed election changes would impose costly state mandates and undermine local control.
Read MoreSacramento politicians like to change election rules when they can’t win on the natural. Local governments should retain the right to conduct local elections the way they want.
Read MoreTom Sheehy breaks down what makes lobbying in California so complex — and why experienced advocacy can be the key to advancing your public policy goals.
Read MoreAssembly leadership wastes political capital and puts their members in a tough spot on child sex trafficking legislation AB 379.
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