Gov. Newsom signs executive order to support Tulare Lake Basin flood response

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order to protect the Tulare Lake Basin communities from significant flooding resulting from the historic storms that California experienced this winter and spring. The order aims to streamline state preparation, response, and recovery actions, and supports local flood response efforts.

State agencies, including the California Department of Water Resources, CAL FIRE, and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, have been actively engaging with local officials managing flood response efforts, providing technical assistance, resources, and support to protect public health and safety.

The Governor's order streamlines regulations to expedite emergency flood preparation and response activities, such as floodwater diversion, debris removal, and levee repairs in the Tulare Lake Basin. In addition, it waives work hour limitations for retired annuitants working with state agencies and departments on the emergency response to ensure adequate staffing for response efforts.

Will Newsom gas rebate result in new tax?

Could a gas rebate end up costing taxpayers at the pump even more?

Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special legislative session on rebates to offset high gas prices funded by a windfall profits tax on oil companies.

The session will be Dec. 5, timed with the swearing-in of the new Legislature.

Newsom plans to call a special legislative session in December to push for a tax on oil industry profits, the latest escalation in a feud over soaring gasoline prices that Newsom calls greedy and manipulative.

Newsom said today that he would convene the special session on Dec. 5, the same day that a new class of lawmakers is sworn in.

"Gas prices in California have soared in recent weeks to an average of $6.39 per gallon, as of Friday, according to AAA, near the highest they've ever been.

Newsom, who originally unveiled his plans for a "windfall profits tax" on oil companies a week ago, had few additional details to share.

The plan could take the form of an excise tax, he said, with revenue being returned to taxpayers as rebates.

Despite his urgency, he said convening the special session in two months would give his team time to "get our ducks in a row" — developing a strategy that can get through the Legislature, where a two-thirds vote by both houses is required for any tax measure, and stand up to expected legal challenges by the oil industry.

"Republicans, who comprise a superminority of the Legislature, criticized the tax plan as insulting and said that it would drive up prices further because oil companies would pass on the cost.

Newsom once again rejected calls to suspend the state's 54-cent-per-gallon gas tax, because he said oil companies would simply pocket the savings.

State Headlines: Newsom legalizes prostitution-related loitering

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law over the weekend that bans arrests for "loitering with the intent of prostitution." 

Senate Bill 357, which was written by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), will get rid of all laws that make it illegal to hang out in a public place with the intention of prostitution or to direct, supervise, recruit, or help someone who is loitering with the intention of prostitution, or to collect or receive all or part of the money from a prostitution act. Also, people who have been found guilty of loitering with the intent to prostitute can now ask the court to dismiss and seal their case or give them a new sentence.

Last year, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers were very against the bill, but it barely passed both the Senate and the Assembly. Senator Wiener stopped sending the bill to the Governor's desk last year because so many people were worried about it. 

Senator Wiener moved the bill up last month in the hopes that the time was right, even though there were still worries that passing the bill would cause a big rise in human trafficking. The fact that the bill was ready to be signed so soon after the election led to rumors that it would be easier to pass since San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin was being recalled and would be leaving office soon.

“To be clear, this bill does not legalize prostitution,” said Newsom after signing SB 357 into law. “It simply revokes provisions of the law that have led to disproportionate harassment of women and transgender adults. Black and Latino women are particularly affected.”