May-issue history (now shall-issue post-Bruen but heavily restricted), AWB, 10-round mag limit, no preemption, 10-day waiting period, red-flag law, suppressors banned, roster of approved handguns.

Recreational cannabis legal since 2016 (Prop 64) with automatic expungement of prior cannabis convictions (AB 1793). Multiple cities (Oakland, Santa Cruz, SF) have decriminalized entheogens. Strong harm reduction including syringe services and naloxone distribution. SB 519 (broader psychedelic decrim) vetoed but local reforms persist.

State minimum wage $16.90/hr. MIT living wage for 1 adult: $19.41/hr. Ratio 0.87 — minimum-wage workers earn 87% of what's needed to live there alone.

High tax burden (top 5) paired with mid-pack NAEP scores and aging infrastructure (C- range). Strong life expectancy (~79) and below-average uninsured (5.9%) partially offset. Mismatch between revenue intake and education outcomes drags the bang-for-buck calculus.

IJ grades CA B+ on forfeiture (SB 443, 2016 - conviction required for state cases under $40k, equitable-sharing partially blocked). AB 1196 (2020) restricted carotid restraints; CA has not abolished QI but SB 2 (2021) created decertification. CCPA/CPRA strongest comprehensive privacy laws in US. CalECPA (SB 178) requires warrants for digital data. SB 54 sanctuary law limits ICE cooperation. AB 1215 banned facial recognition on body cams (2019-2023). Whistleblower protections strong (Lab. Code 1102.5).

Universal vote-by-mail since 2020 (every active voter mailed ballot). 10+ days early voting plus mail period. Same-day and automatic voter registration. No photo ID requirement. Robust polling access with vote centers. Felons vote after release (Prop 17 restored parole voting). Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. No recent restrictive laws; pro-voter expansions ongoing.

Medicaid (Medi-Cal) expansion adopted 2014, plus expanded to undocumented immigrants of all ages. Abortion enshrined in state constitution (Prop 1, 2022). Strong shield laws for gender-affirming care; ban on banning. Low uninsured rate. Mental health parity strong. Maternal mortality lower than median. Telehealth access robust.

No qualified immunity reform but Bane Act provides parallel state civil-rights claim. No statewide BWC mandate but AB 748 mandates release of critical-incident footage within 45 days. SB 1421/SB 16 opened use-of-force, sexual assault and dishonesty disciplinary records. POST decertification (SB 2, 2021) with public database. AB 392 raised use-of-force standard to 'necessary.' SB 230 mandates de-escalation training. AG investigates officer-involved shootings of unarmed civilians (AB 1506). Chokeholds banned (AB 1196).

Abortion right enshrined in state constitution (Prop 1, 2022). Comprehensive LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination, marriage, and gender-affirming care protections. Shield law for providers and patients from out-of-state. Conversion therapy banned for minors. Strong separation of church and state. No religious exemption overrides for civil rights. Sanctuary state for reproductive and trans care.

Not a right-to-work state. Paid family leave (PFL since 2004) and SDI. Paid sick leave law expanded to 5 days. Cal/OSHA state plan with strong enforcement. Robust prevailing wage. Strong wage theft enforcement via Labor Commissioner. First-in-nation heat-illness standards (indoor and outdoor). Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, AB5 gig protections. Predictable scheduling for retail in some localities. Below-median fatal injury rate.