Sophie Austin / Associated Press, Report for America

Workers at rural, independent health care facilities will start making a minimum of $18 an hour, while others at hospitals with at least 10,000 full-time employees will begin getting paid at least $23 an hour this week.

Proponents say the law will save Californians billions of dollars at the pump. But opponents say it could unintentionally raise overall gas prices and threaten the safety of workers by giving the state more oversight over refinery maintenance schedules.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have made some immigrants without legal status eligible for loans under a state program offering assistance to first-time homebuyers. The bill drew staunch opposition from Republicans.

The ruling comes after President Joe Biden's administration restored the state's ability to set vehicle emission rules that are stricter than standards from the federal government. Former President Donald Trump's administration previously revoked that authority.

California could soon adopt new laws reducing emissions from buildings, easing the burden on taxpayers to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells, and requiring the most sweeping emissions reporting mandates for large companies in the nation.