• On Sept. 17, U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California), Mark R. Warner (D-Virginia), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland), and Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) introduced the Protect America’s Workforce Act. According to Padilla’s office, the bill would repeal two executive orders, while restoring collective bargaining rights and workplace protections for federal workers. “Donald Trump’s executive orders ripping away collective bargaining rights from over a million federal workers constitute one of the biggest union busts in American history,” Padilla said in a Sept. 17 statement. “Eliminating these basic labor protections is a thinly veiled retribution campaign under the guise of national security, but these orders make us all less safe by undermining the workforce Americans rely on for vaccine research, food inspections, natural disaster relief, and so much more. Our bill reverses these callous attacks to protect the fundamental workplace rights of federal employees in California and across the country so they can continue serving the American people.” The Protect America’s Workforce Act would affirm that any collective bargaining agreement in effect as of March 26, 2025, the day before the first executive order Padilla referred to, will be protected. “Trump’s attacks on unions, union jobs, and the right to collective bargaining is making our economy weaker and putting American jobs at risk,” Sen. Schumer said in a statement. “Federal workers deserve to have union protection to improve their working conditions and to defend those who speak up on behalf of the American people—it’s how our federal workforce finds and retains the best talent and how we live up to the values and standards our country has set for itself.”
• U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff (D-California) and Rick Scott (R-Florida) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2025 on Sept. 16. The bill would allow tax relief opportunities for victims of federally declared disasters through the end of 2026, including hurricanes and wildfires, according to Schiff’s office. The bill also extends victims’ ability to make tax deductible payments from wildfire settlements through the end of 2030. “Surviving a natural disaster can place an enormous financial burden on families. That’s why it’s critical we find ways to support victims of devastating disasters like the wildfires in California,” Schiff said in a statement. “I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort with Sen. Rick Scott to ensure that those hit the hardest when disaster strikes receive the support and the tax relief they need to recover.” Scott described the bill as an effort that “sends an important message to families that their federal government is here to support them after disaster strikes.”
• Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 564 on Sept. 22. The bill reverses a 25 percent tax increase on California’s legal cannabis industry and sets the state’s cannabis excise tax rate at 15 percent until 2028. “We’re rolling back this cannabis tax hike so the legal market can continue to grow, consumers can access safe products, and our local communities see the benefits,” Newsom said in a statement. The state also recently enacted measures to bolster long-term enforcement efforts against illegal operators by dedicating cannabis tax revenue to fund civil and criminal enforcement activities. According to Newsom’s office, the goal behind these measures is to reduce the burden on legal businesses while ensuring sustained actions against illegal operators. Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) grant eligibility also recently expanded to local jurisdictions to further enhance and support local enforcement efforts against illegal cannabis activity.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 2, 2025.