Incarcerated Firefighter Career Pathway Bill Clears Critical Senate Appropriations Hurdle

Today, Sen. Jesse Arreguín introduced a resolution on the Senate Floor recognizing the importance of California’s investment in Zero Textbook Cost degrees, as new data shows the program is already saving community college students tens of millions of dollars.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 79 into law, positioning California as a national leader in supporting students’ basic needs just as the federal government moves to scale back essential programs. The bill creates roles and infrastructure to ensure students in need can access public benefit programs, such as CalFresh and Medi-Cal—programs that many students qualify for but often struggle to access.

In a significant win for incarcerated firefighters, California Assembly Bill 1380 has passed the Assembly Floor with broad bipartisan support and will now move to the Senate.

As we honor the dedication and love of father figures this June, it’s critical to spotlight a demographic in urgent need of support: student parents.

AB 2458 would improve college affordability, access, and success for student parents in California.

MCPP urges budget leaders to take action to address the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) unfair practice of deducting release allowance funds for returning citizens.

This Partnership Will Provide New Internet Options for Up to 275,000 Households and Small Businesses in East and South Los Angeles.

Member organizations of the California Alliance for Digital Equity (CADE) gathered in Sacramento last week to advocate for the passage of AB 2239.

We have full confidence in Dr. Bertagnolli and respectfully ask the Senate HELP Committee and members of the Senate to swiftly confirm her as the next director of the NIH.

Thousands more dogs and cats will gain access to affordable spay/neuter services under the 2026-27 Los Angeles City budget, which includes a $1.7 million total increase for life-saving spay/neuter services. This critical investment will support an estimated 10,000–13,000 additional surgeries annually and help reduce shelter overcrowding.

 Michelson Center for Public Policy applauds the Assembly Judiciary Committee’s passage of SB 1296, the Pet Policy Transparency Act, a commonsense transparency bill that requires landlords to clearly disclose rental pet policies before charging an application fee.

Mayor Karen Bass’s proposed 2026–27 City budget increases Los Angeles Animal Services’ (LAAS) budget by just $465,640 (+1.6%) and the City’s spay/neuter fund by less than $1 million. These are marginal adjustments that leave a chronically underfunded system without the resources needed to function effectively. 

Los Angeles incurs millions of dollars each year in avoidable costs related to its animal welfare system. A targeted, near-term investment in spay/neuter and Animal Services staffing through LA’s budget can begin to stabilize the system and address the underlying drivers of these expenses.

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) has released a feasibility study exploring how pet-inclusive housing policies can help address housing and equity challenges across the county.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 519 into law, banning exploitative online pet dealers in California. Authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman, the law closes a major enforcement gap that allowed brokers to sidestep the state’s 2019 ban on pet-store sales of dogs from inhumane commercial breeders. 

The Los Angeles City Council voted 13-0 to exclude shelter animal spay & neuter providers and the Citywide Cat Program from increased coverage newly offered through the City’s Spay and Neuter Voucher Program—an unexpected reversal of their recent vote to expand access to the free voucher.

Los Angeles City Council raises spay/neuter voucher amounts, but underfunding threatens impact. MCPP urges full funding to tackle pet overpopulation and shelter overcrowding.

Colorado makes history with the passage of H.B.25-1207, a groundbreaking pet-inclusive housing law ending breed discrimination and expanding access to pet-friendly, affordable housing. Backed by Michelson Center for Public Policy, the bill supports housing stability for vulnerable renters and their pets.