On May 14, California Governor Gavin Newsom released the May Revise to his initial January proposal for California’s 2026-2027 fiscal year.  The revised budgetary proposal totals $246 billion in total general fund spending, a reduction of $1.8 billion from his initial January proposal.  The bill prioritizes reducing the state’s long-term deficit through 2028 by cutting general fund spending, despite higher-than-anticipated tax revenues in anticipation of a volatile market, federal budget cuts, and rising costs from the Iran conflict. The initial proposed budget was shaped by federal funding cuts to Medicaid […]

On February 10, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 25 into effect, enacting the California Uniform Antitrust Premerger Notification Act.  Introduced by Senator Tom Umberg, the new law mandates that companies required to file federal premerger notifications under the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act also file the information with the California Attorney General.  California is following Washington and Colorado in enacting a version of the Uniform Antitrust Premerger Notification Act, model legislation proposed by the Uniform Law Commission.  Although the new law gives no new enforcement powers, it expands the […]

Background In August of last year, The Source shared information about the California Law Revision Committee’s (CLRC) antitrust study, spurred by the 2022 Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 95. At its outset, the study aimed to address the U.S. monopoly problem and the “threat of market concentration” in California.  The legislature tasked the CLRC with determining the following: Whether California antitrust law should align itself with Section 2 of the Sherman Act, outlawing monopolies by single corporations in California? Whether California antitrust law should be specifically modified with respect to technology […]

For 2026, California is in the second year of a two-year legislative session.  And while a significant number of bills have carried over from last year, we are seeing the introduction of new bills for 2026.  With economic uncertainty and reduced federal funds, the state is facing challenges.  However, lawmakers are still pursuing some ambitious goals for this year, with a focus on expanding and protecting coverage, Medi-Cal payments, provider professional practice, and drug regulations.  Below, we look at some of the new legislation introduced in California for 2026 that […]

On January 9, California Governor Newsom released his first proposed budget for California’s 2026-2027 fiscal year, outlining $348.9 billion in state spending, $30 billion more than the current 2025-2026 budget.  California is facing challenges as federal funding for key programs has diminished under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.  Additionally, the budget is based on projected state revenues, which are difficult to determine given differing economic forecasts. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill reduces federal funding for California’s Medicaid program by $30 billion a year and makes significant cuts to food […]

October 12 marked the deadline for the California Governor to sign or veto legislation passed during the 2025 California legislative session, so we now know the fate of this year’s healthcare legislation.  Much of the session’s efforts were focused on ensuring support of Californians in the face of massive federal cuts to social programs, Los Angeles wildfires, a potential budget deficit of over $12 billion, and the state’s highly publicized push to get Proposition 50 passed, which will redraw Congressional district maps.  Lawmakers introduced an ambitious slate of bills aimed […]

Update – On October 11, the Governor signed AB 1415, and it was subsequently chaptered by the Secretary of State, making it California law. In May, The Source shared information about Assembly Bill 1415 and Senate Bill 351, bills introduced in February 2025 as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to regulate private equity healthcare transactions and costs.  After four amendments, AB 1415 has been enrolled and sent to Governor Newsom’s desk.  The early draft of the bill sought to cast a wide net by thoroughly expanding definitions of terms […]

The final California state budget bill, SB 101, passed in June 2025, allocates more than $321 billion in state spending.  Lawmakers worked to close a $12 billion deficit through a mix of solutions, including delays, sunsets, and fund transfers.  While the budget was heavily debated, the Governor’s administration defended the approach as necessary to maintain critical services in the face of federal funding cuts under the Trump Administration.  Following the enactment of SB 101, attention quickly turned to the accompanying trailer bills, which also carry consequential policy changes through modifications […]

In 2022, the California legislature passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 95, mandating the California Law Revision Commission (CLRC) study specific topics relating to antitrust law and its enforcement.  The bill made legislative findings that included “[t]he idea that America has a monopoly problem is now beyond dispute”, “California should be uniquely sensitive to the threat of market concentration”, and “[n]o California statute deals expressly with monopolization or attempted monopolization by one giant company”.  The Resolution directed the CLRC to study three topics: (1) Whether the law should be revised to […]

In January, Governor Newsom released his proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year with hopes of a strong fiscal position and a surplus for California that has not been seen in recent years.  However, in the face of multiple federal and state spending decisions, the final budget bill signed on June 27, 2025, although balanced, as required in California, is comprised of several solutions to close a $12 billion deficit.  Governor Newsom cited the Trump Administration’s funding cuts as the main culprit for this deficit, also noting significant financial drawbacks […]