Manola Secaira
CapRadio-
This past year California lawmakers passed — and Governor Gavin Newsom signed — more than 100 bills, and many of those have become new laws in 2025. Plus there are bills from previous years that are also scheduled to take effect after Jan. 1.
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Although fine particle pollution has decreased statewide, researchers say historically disadvantaged communities still face disproportionate impacts.
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California’s Geologic Energy Management Division is in the midst of finalizing regulations to ban fracking across the state, which will officially go into effect on October 1.
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In November, California voters will decide whether to approve of a bond that would fund state climate initiatives.
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As large wildfires stick around for longer periods of the year in California, so does the smoke they emit. New research from UC Davis says that’s impacting lake ecosystems.
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The decision means middle and high-income households will pay a fixed electricity rate of $24 each month, and low-income households will pay either $6 or $12. Usage rates will drop a few cents as a result of the change.
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After a 2022 law that would have established a buffer between new oil and gas wells and community areas was put on hold, advocates have sought other ways of addressing the issue.
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As part of a plan to address energy inequities across the country, the federal government recently announced $72 million would be spent on connecting tribal communities with reliable, renewable energy. A little over $7 million of that funding is allocated to four tribes in California, including the Yurok Tribe.
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February’s monthly snow survey revealed California’s snowpack is at 80% of what’s average for this time of year. Experts say warmer storms, which brought lots of rain but less snowfall, are to blame.
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It’s a stark contrast to where the state was at last year, when a series of atmospheric rivers brought extraordinarily high levels of precipitation to California.
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Taxes on gas and vehicle fees fund about a third of California’s transportation spending. But as the state transitions away from gas-powered vehicles to electric, a new report says this will need to change.
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CapRadio reporters take a look at a few new California laws that may make a difference to you in the coming year, from new rules for building affordable housing to how you interact with police officers and new emission standards for certain small engines (think leaf blowers).