A physician (right) gives supplies and checks on medical records for his patient, an unhoused resident, in her encampment on Feb. 28, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
From CalMatters homelessness reporter Marisa Kendall:
California cities cannot punish outreach workers for helping people who sleep on the street — even if those people live in an illegal encampment — under the terms of a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this month.
Senate Bill 634, by Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, says cities cannot bar people or organizations from providing homeless residents with legal services, medical care or things needed for survival, such as food, water, blankets, pillows and materials to protect themselves from the elements.
The law comes after the Bay Area city of Fremont earlier this year briefly made “aiding, abetting or concealing” an illegal homeless encampment a misdemeanor. Its city council later walked back that language — after CalMatters first reported it — but it made a lasting impression on state legislators.
Pérez, in a statement: “The legislation provides commonsense protections for service providers, especially non-profits and faith-based ones, who are doing the work every day to assist unhoused Californians.”
But that wasn’t all the Pasadena Democrat originally wanted to do. The initial bill she introduced was much broader, and would have stopped cities from citing or arresting people for sleeping on public property. Pérez cut that controversial provision after facing pushback from cities and law enforcement agencies.
Despite that concession, San Bernardino County remained opposed to Pérez’s bill, saying it will “override local authority and restrict enforcement tools that cities and counties use to promote public safety.”
The county recently passed an ordinance that makes it illegal to live on certain public properties. Dozens of other California cities and counties have adopted, reinstated or strengthened similar rules since summer 2024, following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that gave cities more freedom to crack down on encampments. Homelessness-related arrests and citations have soared in some places.
🗓️ CalMatters Events in your community
San Jose: Join CalMatters and Alianza News today for a screening of Operation: Return to Sender, a short documentary uncovering what happened during a Border Patrol raid in Bakersfield. After the film, CalMatters’ Sergio Olmos and others will discuss what the team uncovered. Register.
Stockton: Hear from some of the candidates running for governor at the California Economic Summit’s Governor Candidate Forum on Oct. 23. CalMatters, California Forward and 21st Century Alliance are co-hosting the discussion. Register.
Other Stories You Should Know
Cheaper insulin, but hospitals work against consumers
Gov. Newsom announces a partnership with Civica Rx to provide insulin to Californians for $30 for 10 milliliters in Downey on March 18, 2023. Photo by Ringo Chiu, Sipa USA via Reuters
Let’s dive into some health care news:
Cheaper insulin: Beginning Jan. 1, roughly the 3.5 million Californians who have diabetes will have the option to purchase state-branded insulin for $11 per pen or $55 for a five-pack. The move is part of the state’s CalRx initiative to lower the price of prescription drugs for Californians. An equivalent amount of glargine, the generic version of Lantus, sells to pharmacies for more than $92, according to the governor’s office. Newsom unveiled the news Thursday, three years after he first said the state would lead efforts to make insulin more affordable. Last week Newsom also signed a law capping insulin copays to $35. Read more from CalMatters’ Kristen Hwang and Ana B. Ibarra.
Hospitals sue CA: California hospitals are suing state regulators to block rules intended to keep consumer health care costs from rising too fast. The California Hospital Association argues that the rules are illegal and that it will “severely disrupt” hospitals’ ability to provide quality care. The lawsuit comes as 38% of Californians report having medical debt, and California health care costs have increased 30% over five years. Read more from Ana.
Cal State borrows for bonuses
Students walk through campus at Cal State San Marcos on May 6, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters
On Thursday California State University took the first steps to request a $144 million loan from the state. Considered an uncommon financial tactic by some higher education budget experts, the money that will be used to offer one-year bonuses to faculty and staff, writes CalMatters’ Mikhail Zinshteyn.
Though salaries vary across employees, the additional $144 million is roughly a 3% increase in the total pay for Cal State’s workers. Cal State will need to repay the loan, with no interest, by next July.
Despite facing fiscal pressures and projections that show Cal State must add to its deficit to repay the debt, Cal State’s interim chief financial officer, Patrick Lenz, said the system decided to take the loan “after careful deliberation.”
Cal State’s largest union, the California Faculty Association, applauded the decision, but said more work needs to be done to bring back lecturers whose contracts were cancelled due to limited budgets.
And lastly: Gotta disclose that exciting new opportunity
Lobbyists and other visitors gather in the rotunda of the state Capitol in Sacramento on Sept. 12, 2025. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters
Newsom signed a law earlier this month requiring lawmakers to disclose new jobs on conflict of interest forms. The measure was introduced in response to a CalMatters story that detailed how lawmakers did not have to tell the public that they accepted a job with an organization that might try to seek favors with the Legislature. Read more from CalMatters’ Ryan Sabalow.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: The annual budgetary cycle for Newsom’s final budget before he terms out as governor will soon begin anew, and all signs point to another year of coping with — and likely papering over — a multibillion-dollar deficit.
CalMatters contributor Jim Newton: If passed, Proposition 50 would not hand new seats to Democratic candidates — it would only create more districts with Democratic majorities, and congressional candidates still have to win over voters.
Other things worth your time:
The lonely House Republican still coming to work during the shutdown // The New York Times
SF judge orders Trump administration to pause shutdown layoffs // The Washington Post
As Washington cuts back, CA’s rural hospitals worry about their future // The Sacramento Bee
Newsom calls for congressional investigation into GOP chat messages // Politico
Newsom signs veteran-backed bill to accelerate study of psychedelics for PTSD, mental health // Los Angeles Times
SF mayor said city doesn’t need National Guard. Hours later, Trump said SF should be ‘next’ // San Francisco Chronicle
New fraud claims in LA County’s $4B sex settlement leave victims outraged // Los Angeles Times
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Lynn La is the newsletter writer for CalMatters, focusing on California’s top political, policy and Capitol stories every weekday. She produces and curates WhatMatters, CalMatters’ flagship daily newsletter…
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