Newsom threatened to veto the Legislature's budget priorities over the last week unless they approved his infrastructure plan. The deal includes a retooling of the state's landmark California Environmental Quality Act by reducing the opportunity for lengthy legal challenges to major infrastructure projects. Several other Democratic lawmakers called out Newsom publicly during legislative hearings for trying to ram such crucial legislation through the budget process at the last minute. Lawmakers also successfully pushed for the final deal to require that the state seek to lessen impacts on disadvantaged communities. The current budget deal would waive fees for all families earning less than 75% of the state median income, and cap all fees at 1% of monthly income for families earning more.

Source: Los Angeles Times June 27, 2023 11:31 UTC