1+ week, 17+ hour ago   (1284+ words) Since President Donald Trump has gutted much of the federal government’s consumer protection work, state attorneys general are increasingly left to fight high prices and investigate businesses themselves. After Trump took office last year, the bureau became an early target…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago   (219+ words) The measure comes amid growing scrutiny of how California regulates utilities and protects consumers WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2026 – California lawmakers plan to keep a closer eye on the state’s leading utility regulator. A California bill aimed at increasing transparency and oversight of…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago   (686+ words) A California lawmaker scaled down her bill to let the “little guy” sue big business, and the compromise helped her anti-monopoly proposal reach Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. Assembly Bill 1776, nicknamed the Compete Act, was the subject of hot debate throughout…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago   (686+ words) A California lawmaker scaled down her bill to let the “little guy” sue big business, and the compromise helped her anti-monopoly proposal reach Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. Assembly Bill 1776, nicknamed the Compete Act, was the subject of hot debate throughout…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago   (517+ words) California lawmakers have sent Gov. Gavin Newsom a bill that would hand state prosecutors broader authority to challenge big businesses accused of squeezing out competitors, capping months of tense negotiations between consumer advocates and some of the state’s most influential…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago   (426+ words) California lawmakers have approved a bill restricting the influence private equity firms and other outside investors can exert over law firms. The move comes as private equity interest in US law firms grows, with investors exploring MSO structures as a…...

2+ week, 5+ hour ago   (220+ words) academia and political circles. X, owned by Elon Musk, announced on the 29th (local time) that it had detected approximately 200,000 fake accounts suspected of public opinion manipulation activities within the United States. X analyzed that among these, 200 accounts engaged in covert…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago   (644+ words) The Senate amendments narrow the California Law Revision Commission’s (CLRC’s) initial proposal, which was largely adopted by the Assembly, ultimately bringing the proposed state antitrust legislation closer to familiar federal Sherman Act Section 2 concepts. In 2022, the California Legislature directed the…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago   (580+ words) [Noozhawk’s note: We republish news articles and commentaries from CalMatters on state and local policy issues that affect Santa Barbara County readers.] The specific issues may vary from year to year, although some continue for decades, but the underlying clash…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago   (416+ words) California’s Capitol is once again the scene of a familiar fight, as lawmakers race toward their August 31 deadline with business groups on one side and a coalition of unions, trial attorneys, consumer advocates and environmental organizations on the other. It’s…...