California Legislature Wraps Session, Rejecting Several Newsom Priorities
The California Legislature ended its 2026 session having rejected multiple priorities pushed by Governor Gavin Newsom in the final weeks, including utility liability and wildfire recovery reforms. Reports differ in emphasis: some focus on the broader pattern of lawmakers resisting Newsom's late-session demands, while others highlight specific defeated measures such as a shipyard fast-track deal and subrogation reform, or note bills passed despite his past vetoes.
California's Legislature concluded its 2026 legislative session in early September, with Governor Gavin Newsom pushing several last-minute priorities that largely failed to advance. Multiple reports describe this as a pattern of Newsom 'jamming the Legislature' with late-session demands, a strategy that did not succeed this year on several fronts. Lawmakers rejected a utility liability reform package favored by Newsom, including subrogation reform, which multiple sources described as a surprising defeat for the governor. The Assembly also killed a compromise wildfire recovery reform measure that Newsom had previously agreed to, following pushback from lawmakers and survivors of Los Angeles-area wildfires; Newsom responded that the rejected measure 'did not meet the gravity of this moment' and said 'California cannot settle for half measures.' Separately, the Legislature did approve a measure limiting sexual assault liability for public agencies, addressing lawsuits facing counties and school districts, with Los Angeles County reported to have paid over $6 billion in related payouts. Lawmakers also passed bills — including one opening college jobs to immigrant students without legal status — that Newsom had previously vetoed, such as a 2024 veto citing concerns about federal funding retaliation. The status of a Newsom-backed effort to fast-track a shipyard project in the East San Francisco Bay, tied to a tech billionaire-backed group, remains unresolved after facing resistance from county leaders and lukewarm support from state lawmakers. It is not confirmed whether Newsom will call a special session to revisit wildfire recovery reform or other failed priorities. The newly passed bills that revive previously vetoed measures now await Newsom's decision on whether to sign or veto them again.
SOURCE COMPARISON
How the coverage differs
California Lawmakers Conclude Legislative Session, Utility Liability Reform Fails
Governor Gavin Newsom pushed for utility liability reforms in the final weeks of the legislative session, but the final agreement didn't include many of his priorities, including subrogation reform, in a surprising defeat. The legislature did approve a measure to limit sexual assault liability for public agencies as counties and school districts face lawsuits, with Los Angeles County alone having paid over $6 billion in payouts.
Read original report ↗Lawmakers Test Newsom Veto by Passing Measures He Already Rejected
The California Legislature passed bills on immigrant students, data centers, and public employee pay that Governor Newsom previously vetoed. Lawmakers are sending Newsom a new plan to open college jobs to immigrant students without legal status, an issue he vetoed in 2024 citing concerns about federal funding retaliation.
Read original report ↗Why a signature Newsom power move flopped in the last days of the Legislative session
After weeks of pushback from lawmakers and survivors of the Los Angeles-area wildfires, the California Assembly killed a compromise Newsom had previously agreed to on wildfire recovery reform, throwing into question whether the governor would call a special session. Newsom acknowledged the setback, stating the measure 'did not meet the gravity of this moment' and that 'California cannot settle for half measures.'
Read original report ↗Why a Signature Newsom Power Move Flopped in the Last Days of the Legislative Session
The lame-duck governor's practice of pushing last-minute demands on California's Legislature, known as 'jamming the Legislature,' didn't work out this year. Newsom failed to push through a deal to fast-track a shipyard in the East San Francisco Bay for a tech billionaire-backed group, amid heavy resistance from county leaders and lukewarm support from state lawmakers.
Read original report ↗