California lawmakers rush to pass bills ahead of midnight deadline SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers are facing a midnight deadline Monday to pass new laws as the state’s legislative session draws to a close, with some exceptions scheduled for votes Tuesday morning. A huge last-minute spending bill and a separate proposal related to wildfire liability will be voted on Tuesday morning. Among the proposed laws being pursued: AB 1896 would prohibit federal immigration officials from working as employees of the state of California. SB 493 would allow the governor to declare a state of emergency during international conflicts involving the federal government, allowing the state attorney general to crack down on price gouging. The bill specifically targets the oil industry. Two proposals, AB 2383 and SB 886, aim to regulate data centers by creating new rules for their electricity use. These bills would also require the California Public Utilities Commission to establish special rates for data centers to ensure costs are not passed on to general electricity customers. These are just a few of the hundreds of bills California lawmakers have been working on this year. See below for information on the bills that passed Monday. Social media companies are prohibited from using their addictive features on children under 16 years of age. AB 1709 would prohibit social media companies from using addictive features on children under 16 years old. California unanimously passed the first law in the country. Human Oversight of AI in the Workplace Passes SB 947 would require human oversight of artificial intelligence systems in the workplace. The bill prohibits California employers from relying solely on artificial intelligence systems to fire or discipline workers. Tax on ICE detention companies. AB 1633 would impose a 25% tax on companies that profit from ICE detentions. The money would go into a fund to support immigration-related services. Esparto Explosion Fireworks Safety Bill Passes SB 828, authored by Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, D-West Sacramento, was drafted after a deadly explosion at an illegal fireworks storage facility in Esparto on July 1, 2025. It requires applicants for fireworks licenses to disclose the location of their storage facilities to the State Fire Marshal, as well as notify fire marshals. local firefighters, officials and authorities. It also expands license denials to cover felony convictions and pending indictments, aligning state regulations with ATF regulations. It also requires local agencies to inspect all fireworks storage sites once a year; gives local agencies authority to suspend or revoke permits; closes a loophole that allows sellers to evade the law by shipping fireworks kits as separate components; and creates a new fine program with penalties reaching up to $5,000 for repeat offenses. Learn more here. Mail-in ballot interference law passes Lawmakers on Sunday sent Gov. Gavin Newsom a bill that would make it a crime for anyone to interfere with the delivery of a mail-in ballot. SB 259 makes it a felony for any supervisor or position of authority to direct anyone to interfere with the delivery of a mail-in ballot, either to the voter or to the local elections office. Supporters said the bill protects California’s vote-by-mail system. Opponents said it would criminalize U.S. Postal Service workers. Newsom has until the end of September to sign or veto the bills sent to his desk. See more coverage of California’s top stories here | Download our application | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel.
