Issue Briefs
Neutral, sourced briefs on the issues shaping policy. Each one breaks down what is at stake, the strongest case on each side, and links back to every source, so you can understand the issue and then act on it.
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California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Recent Reforms
The California Environmental Quality Act was signed into law in 1970 to protect the state's environmental quality, requiring agencies to disclose and evaluate the environmental impacts of proposed projects.
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California's 2026 CEQA Ballot Measure
A proposed 2026 California ballot measure, the Building an Affordable California Act, aims to streamline CEQA reviews for essential projects including housing, transportation, water, and clean energy.
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California's Housing Shortage and Affordability Crisis
California has faced an extended housing shortage since about 1970, now the single biggest contributor to the state's affordability crisis. The core debate is how to increase production while keeping homes affordable.
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California's Proposed $8.4 Billion Immunology Research Bond (November 2026)
California voters will decide in November 2026 whether to authorize up to $8.4 billion in bonds for research in immunology and immunotherapy, with much of it directed at cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.
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California's State Employee Return-to-Office Mandate
An executive order requires California state employees to return to the office at least four days per week, weighing downtown Sacramento's revitalization and productivity against worker flexibility and cost.
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Minimum Age Policies in the United States
The U.S. sets different minimum ages for different activities, from driving at 16 to alcohol and tobacco at 21, with ongoing debate over whether some limits should be raised or lowered.
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Minimum Wage's Effects on Employment and Inflation
The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009. The debate centers on whether raising it would cost jobs or raise prices, with economists' findings genuinely diverging.
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Ordenanzas de salario mínimo en ciudades de Estados Unidos
Antes de 2012 solo cinco ciudades o condados tenían leyes de salario mínimo; hoy son 69. El tema central es si las ciudades deberían tener autoridad para fijar salarios mínimos locales.
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Proposition 50: Authorizes Temporary Changes to Congressional District Maps
A neutral, sourced brief on what Proposition 50 does, the case for and against it, the fiscal impact, and links to every source.
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State Minimum Wage Increases
Twenty-one states have wage increases in 2026, with both Republican- and Democrat-controlled states raising their minimum wage, many on January 1 as inflation-adjusted or scheduled hikes.
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U.S. Voting Age Requirements
The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, bars states from setting a voting age above 18. The current debate is whether to lower the minimum from 18 to 16, as some other democracies have done.
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