Search query: california
Texas Legislature Passes Statewide Ban on Hemp-Derived THC; Bill Heads to Governor Abbott
A sweeping bill to ban hemp-derived THC products in Texas is now headed to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk after final legislative approval. On May 26, the Texas Senate voted 25–6 to concur with House amendments to Senate Bill 3 (SB3), clearing the last procedural hurdle for the legislation.
27 May, 2025
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4 min read
California Lawmakers Push Back on Federal AI Regulation Ban Buried in 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'
Given the state’s role as home to many leading AI companies, a bipartisan coalition of California legislators is urging Congress to strike a little-noticed provision from the sweeping federal tax package that would block states and local governments from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) for the next decade.
27 May, 2025
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6 min read
Harvard Political Review Headlines Case for Open Primaries
The Harvard Political Review (HPR) is a student-run publication at Harvard University that is widely regarded for high-level, nonpartisan analysis of political developments in the U.S. and abroad. Founded in 1969 by members of the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, HPR has been a launchpad for major voices in public service and academia.
26 May, 2025
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3 min read
More Than a Uniform: Remembering Annie Covarrubias and the Crisis Facing Correctional Officers
Last week, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials announced the sudden passing of Annie Covarrubias, a correctional officer at the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) in Soledad. She was 35 years old. In the words of her colleagues, Annie was a “dependable, professional, and kind” officer, known for her dedication to both her peers and the incarcerated individuals she worked with every day.
20 May, 2025
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2 min read
California Seizes $123.5M in Illegal Cannabis in Largest-Ever Enforcement Operation
In its largest coordinated crackdown to date, California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force seized more than $123 million worth of illegal cannabis during a sweeping, multi-agency operation across the Central Valley.
20 May, 2025
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2 min read
Majority Rules: The Film Capturing America’s Most Radical Election Reform
Alaskans made history in 2020 when they passed the first-in-the-nation election system that not only eliminated party primaries but adopted a voting system for the general election that gave them the option to rank candidates in order of preference.
19 May, 2025
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3 min read
AB 955 Revisited: How to Expand Cross-Border Care Without Sacrificing Patient Protections
IVN recently examined AB 955, by Assemblymember David Alvarez. The bill seeks to expand a healthcare service program I created in 1998 as the author of SB1658.
14 May, 2025
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4 min read
Gov. Newsom Targets Prescription Drug Middlemen in New Reform Proposal
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is reviving efforts to regulate the powerful and often opaque intermediaries at the center of the prescription drug supply chain. In a proposal unveiled as part of his revised May budget, Newsom calls for stringent oversight of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), companies he says are driving up patient costs.
14 May, 2025
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2 min read
A History of California Criminal Justice and Prison Reform Initiatives (1994-2025)
Over the past 30 years, California voters have repeatedly turned to the ballot box to shape criminal justice policy, responding to concerns about public safety, justice, punishment, and rehabilitation.
13 May, 2025
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8 min read
Running for President as an Independent: How it Really Works
Have you ever wondered why, in the greatest democracy in the world, almost no one runs for President of the United States as an independent? The answer is that running as an independent is extremely difficult, if not impossible. That is why very few people have attempted it, and none have won in modern history.
12 May, 2025
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13 min read