The Ninth Circuit vacated the injunction blocking California's landmark children's online safety law, allowing its core provisions to take effect — more than three years after the legislature passed the most comprehensive child privacy statute in the nation. Key requirements for age estimation, data minimization, and impact assessments are now enforceable. The court found NetChoice unlikely to succeed on First Amendment grounds. Provisions on "dark patterns" and data-use restrictions remain blocked pending further review.
Reuters — Ninth Circuit lifts much of injunction against California children's online safety lawAttorney General Bonta co-filed a federal lawsuit challenging HUD guidance issued in September 2025 that threatens to defund state and local fair housing agencies if they enforce protections beyond what federal law requires. California has added protections for gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, source of income, and veteran status — all at risk under the new guidance.
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation suspended implementation of the Fair Investment Practices by Venture Capital Companies Act, stepping back from the April 1, 2026 deadline that would have required California-operating venture capital firms to report diversity data on their fund managers, investment decision-makers, and portfolio company founders. The agency cited the need for formal rulemaking and stakeholder input — signaling that the law's first compliance cycle will not begin as scheduled.
San Diego County sued the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and private contractor CoreCivic on March 10, seeking a court order allowing its public health officers to conduct a full inspection of the Otay Mesa Detention Center. California enacted a 2024 law expressly granting county public health officers the authority to inspect private immigration detention facilities — and San Diego is the first county attempting to enforce it.
County officials with valid security clearances were denied entry on February 20 — permitted only to view medical bays and kitchen areas, barred from accessing detainees, medical records, or facility health policies. Officials reported overcrowding, freezing temperatures, contaminated food, and inadequate medical care. The facility's average daily population has increased approximately 200% in recent months.
CalMatters — San Diego County sues ICE over Otay Mesa detention center accessAfter the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires triggered more than 42,000 insurance claims — including over 13,000 for smoke damage to standing homes — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Assemblymember Mike Gipson introduced AB 1795, the nation's first statewide framework for handling wildfire smoke damage claims. A nine-month state task force found survivors "falling through the gaps" due to inconsistent inspection and remediation standards across insurers.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta secured a four-year settlement with the El Monte Union High School District over sexual misconduct allegations — requiring the district to implement comprehensive institutional reforms that go beyond individual disciplinary action. The settlement treats the district as a governed institution responsible for systemic safeguards, applying the same level of compliance architecture typically seen in regulated industries.