California Chamber Of Commerce

Trump has threatened new, higher tariffs on two of California’s biggest trade partners, China and Mexico. The state’s workers and economy could feel the most impact.

A bill passed by the Legislature on its last day is a top priority for California labor unions, who say "captive audience" sessions intimidate workers. Business groups say the bill violates employers’ free speech rights.

While California has rules to protect farmworkers from excessive heat, inspections and citations are significantly down. A bill before the Legislature would make it easier to file workers’ compensation claims for heat illnesses.

Business and labor groups announce an agreement to limit a California law on class-action workplace lawsuits and avoid a battle at the ballot box in November.

Lawmakers and the governor use a fund reserved for labor enforcement to plug budget holes, and leave tens of millions unspent. Business and labor agree more of the money could be spent to hire more staff to speed investigations of wage theft claims.

More than $114 million was spent to lobby California state government in the first quarter of this year, about the same amount as last year when advocates set a record for spending on influence efforts.

The California Supreme Court will decide in the coming weeks whether to kick a measure off the November ballot that would make it more difficult to raise taxes. The case pits Democratic leaders and unions against business and taxpayer groups.

California labor groups have their list of priority bills and the California Chamber of Commerce has a list of "job killers" it wants to defeat. Sometimes the two lists collide.

California has one of the nation’s broadest laws to clear criminal records, and it’s about to expand even more. Supporters say expungements give a fresh start to people who have done their time.

In March, the state is finally set to approve rules to protect workers from excessive heat indoors. Officials busted a 2019 deadline — a delay that demonstrates California’s byzantine rulemaking process.