Sacramento lawmakers are giving Gov. Gavin Newsom another shot at several proposals he’s already turned down, betting that shifting political winds or new pressure campaigns might change his calculus this time around.
The governor faces a Sept. 30 deadline to sign or veto bills sent to his desk, and among them are a handful of measures with familiar storylines — ones Newsom rejected in previous years that lawmakers have revived, sometimes with tweaks, sometimes not.
One of those is a proposal allowing students without legal immigration status to work campus jobs at California’s public colleges and universities. Newsom vetoed a similar bill in 2024 after the University of California warned it could provoke retaliation from the Trump administration, potentially putting federal research dollars and financial aid funding at risk. Democratic lawmakers have sent him a new version anyway, hoping the political landscape has shifted enough to change his mind.
Water use at data centers is also back on the table. Two bills would force developers of these energy- and water-intensive facilities to disclose how much water their operations actually consume. One of the measures closely mirrors a bill Newsom vetoed last year under pressure from tech industry lobbyists, when he said he didn’t want to saddle the sector with “rigid reporting requirements.” Since then, opposition to data centers has grown louder across the state, with several California cities moving to ban new projects outright or impose moratoriums while they sort out the environmental and infrastructure costs.
Firefighters, meanwhile, are making a second attempt at securing better pay and retirement benefits from Cal Fire. Last year, Newsom vetoed a bill that would have established a new formula for raises. This year’s ask is even bigger: legislation that would let firefighters and police officers retire earlier with larger pensions. The state Senate passed that measure unanimously Sunday night, adding fresh pressure on the governor to finally deliver for public safety unions.
Special Treatment for San Diego, Bay Area Projects
Two other bills headed to Newsom’s desk would fast-track major redevelopment efforts in San Diego and the East Bay.
In San Diego, a last-minute legislative maneuver would clear the way for a contentious development that includes a sports arena backed by a billionaire investor, thousands of new housing units built atop a long-vacant arena parking lot, and nearly 15 acres of new public parkland. The project would also be shielded from environmental lawsuits — a provision that drew sharp criticism from some lawmakers who opposed the bill. Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio of San Diego argued that carving out special legal protection for a politically connected developer sends the wrong message to the public.
Up north, budget legislation moving through the Legislature would redirect $125 million toward purchasing Golden Gate Fields, the shuttered horse racing track along the East Bay shoreline, with plans to convert it into a public park. The money would come from Proposition 4, the $10 billion climate bond voters approved in 2024. Newsom backs the idea, but some lawmakers have questioned whether such a large expenditure on one project could crowd out other climate funding priorities.
Salton Sea Lithium Projects Stall
For years, state leaders — Newsom among them — have talked up the economic potential of extracting lithium from deposits beneath the Salton Sea, envisioning a homegrown supply chain for electric vehicle batteries and consumer electronics. But legal challenges are keeping much of that lithium in the ground.
The Salton Sea region is believed to hold enough lithium to produce roughly 375 million EV batteries, more than the total number of vehicles currently on U.S. roads. Yet one major extraction project, designed to generate enough lithium annually to supply tens of thousands of homes with power, has been tied up in lawsuits alleging the company behind it failed to adequately address environmental concerns.
An Imperial County supervisor noted that delays are somewhat expected given the technical complexity of lithium extraction. But local tribal representatives, community organizations and environmental groups are pushing officials to slow down and take a more careful look at the long-term impacts. Kwaaymii tribal elder Carmen Lucas summed up the sentiment: she isn’t against development, she said, but wants it done responsibly and with balance.
911 Calls at ICE Detention Centers
The Legislature has also passed a bill requiring government agencies to release information about 911 calls placed from immigration detention facilities. State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, a Long Beach Democrat, introduced the measure after reporting revealed rape investigations tied to the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego County.
Original source: CalMatters
