Kathryn Palmer

Author of the Capitol Confidential newsletter from the San Francisco Chronicle.

CapCon California

House candidate aims to take vaccine fight to RFK’s door

Sep 9, 2026

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4 min read

House candidate aims to take vaccine fight to RFK’s door

Also, how a bill died last week not over a lack of votes, but a lack of time.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Newsom says he has ‘open mind’ on special session, after PG&E announces cuts

Sep 4, 2026

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6 min read

Newsom says he has ‘open mind’ on special session, after PG&E announces cuts

Also, Legislature moves to create first-in-nation smoke damage standards.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Assembly kills wildfire bill in surprise last-minute move

Sep 2, 2026

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6 min read

Assembly kills wildfire bill in surprise last-minute move

Also, ban on electroshock gloves heads to Newsom.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Lawmakers shoot down Newsom’s biggest wildfire liability targets

Aug 31, 2026

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5 min read

Lawmakers shoot down Newsom’s biggest wildfire liability targets

Also, contentious anti-trust bill passes after bruising battle.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Shock glove ban joins end-of-session crush

Aug 28, 2026

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5 min read

Shock glove ban joins end-of-session crush

Dozens rally for controversial bill that would give tribes more control over ancestral state lands.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Newsom, lawmakers at odds over key pieces of wildfire deal

Aug 26, 2026

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5 min read

Newsom, lawmakers at odds over key pieces of wildfire deal

Also, Newsom touts new elections bills in wake of Supreme Court’s mail voting decision.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Wildfire utility proposal sparks friction in Legislature

Aug 24, 2026

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5 min read

Wildfire utility proposal sparks friction in Legislature

Will a California Forever deal land before lawmakers this week?

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Bill on AI bosses hopes to avoid second veto

Aug 21, 2026

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6 min read

Bill on AI bosses hopes to avoid second veto

Also, a resolution on daylight savings time passes - could California nix it entirely?

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Aug 19, 2026

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3 min read

Outgoing lawmakers bid farewell

Here's what to know

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Bills countering Trump teed up for floor debates

Aug 17, 2026

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5 min read

Bills countering Trump teed up for floor debates

Also, the ICE and detention center accountability bills to watch.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Biggest winners and losers of suspense day

Aug 14, 2026

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4 min read

Biggest winners and losers of suspense day

Also, bill that would have capped ticket resales dies on suspense.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Legislators pull out big guns ahead of suspense decisions

Aug 12, 2026

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4 min read

Legislators pull out big guns ahead of suspense decisions

Celebs, rallies converge on Capitol as bills head to critical Thursday hearings.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Bill to ban 'surveillance pricing' gears up

Aug 10, 2026

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5 min read

Bill to ban 'surveillance pricing' gears up

Also, a state audit recommends the Legislature tackle community college finances.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Becerra emerges after laying low, touts voting bills

Aug 7, 2026

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4 min read

Becerra emerges after laying low, touts voting bills

Also, lawmakers push to rename S.F.’s Yerba Buena Tunnel.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Another mask ban struck down. Could California offer a fix?

Aug 5, 2026

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4 min read

Another mask ban struck down. Could California offer a fix?

Also, the Assembly GOP leadership reshuffle.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Bill could make forced marriages harder in California

Aug 3, 2026

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4 min read

Bill could make forced marriages harder in California

Also, Newsom releases tax returns. Here’s what state law does, and does not, require.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Push to accelerate wildfire projects draws ire from conservationists

Jul 31, 2026

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5 min read

Push to accelerate wildfire projects draws ire from conservationists

Also, how does Newsom feel about California Forever?

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

The bills that could make vote counting faster

Jul 29, 2026

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5 min read

The bills that could make vote counting faster

Also, lawmakers want stricter regulations on AI, influencers in campaigns.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Jul 24, 2026

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5 min read

The most fought-over bill next month?

Also, deadly ICE shootings renew attention on ‘No Kings’ bill.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

New bill tackles detention center transparency

Jul 22, 2026

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5 min read

New bill tackles detention center transparency

Also, the heat is still on the DMV over revoked driver tests.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Chuck daylight savings? California already weighed in.

Jul 17, 2026

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5 min read

Chuck daylight savings? California already weighed in.

Also, a California bill is a hot topic in the U.S. Senate.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Efforts to address sexual misconduct face headwinds

Jul 15, 2026

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6 min read

Efforts to address sexual misconduct face headwinds

Also, Newsom signs disputed DMV bill.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

As data center plans ramp up, so do bills to rein them in

Jul 10, 2026

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5 min read

As data center plans ramp up, so do bills to rein them in

Also, Planned Parenthood’s (uncharacteristic) anti-billionaire tax allies.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

Jul 8, 2026

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5 min read

Newsom’s housing crackdown

Also, this lawmaker wants a ‘no’ vote on her own measure.

Kathryn Palmer

CapCon California

What does $351 billion get you? Newsom’s final state budget

Jul 1, 2026

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4 min read

What does $351 billion get you? Newsom’s final state budget

Also, November’s ballot propositions get their numbers.

Kathryn Palmer