Legislative Bulletin

Two bills introduced this week would permit two northern California transit districts to post public notices online bypassing the existing requirement that the notices be published in a newspaper of general circulation. AB 2711 by Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton) would allow the San Joaquin Regional Transit District to post bid notices that exceed $150,000 on…

As legislators grapple with today’s deadline to introduce bills for the 2020 session, CNPA has identified several that are of particular interest to newspapers: AB 2569 by Assemblyman Tim Grayson (D-Concord) would exempt from disclosure under the CPRA the name and address of the victim of any crime who is less than 18 years of…

The California Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a case that could allow state and local agencies to charge requesters exorbitant amounts to obtain records under the state’s public records law. At issue in the case, National Lawyers Guild vs. City of Hayward, is whether government agencies can recover costs associated with…

Legislation that would allow a majority of members of a local agency to communicate with constituents as well as each other via Facebook or Twitter was passed out of the Assembly on a 57-13 vote. AB 992 by Assemblyman Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) would allow the use of internet-based social media platforms, as defined,…

Legislation has been introduced by Assemblyman Ed Chau (D-Alhambra) to reorganize the California Public Records Act in an effort to make it more “user friendly” without making any substantive changes. The bill, AB 2138, would recodify and reorganize the act, striking it from California Government Code Sections 6250-6276.48 and replacing it with Government Code Sections…

Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) has introduced SB 890 to require a social media internet website to remove a photograph or video recording uploaded or posted to the website by the perpetrator of a crime that is depicted in the photo or video. A social media internet website, which is not defined, would be required to…

While it is still early in the legislative process there are several bills that have been introduced of interest to newspapers and more to come by the bill introduction deadline next Friday. AB 2028 by Assemblywoman Cecelia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) This bill would require that the meeting notice distributed by a state agency include all writings…

AB 1599 by Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo), a bill to improve access to police misconduct information, made it out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday in a unanimous vote. This bill seeks to close an important loophole that allows officers to keep records associated with investigations of sexual misconduct private by…

Legislation that would allow a majority of members of a local agency to communicate with constituents as well as each other via Facebook or Twitter was passed out of the Assembly Local Government Committee this week on a 5-3 vote. AB 992 by Assemblyman Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) would allow the use of internet-based…

CNPA joined 57 other media organizations on a letter drafted by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and sent to the U.S. Senate opposing the press restrictions announced by the Senate for the upcoming impeachment trial (including limiting the use of electronic devices, prohibiting reporters from following senators as they move around the…