Sunday, August 23, 2026Federal Weekly

Federal Weekly

Federal and state rules, explained for California businesses

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Mario Hafizi

Research Analyst

Mario Hafizi is a research analyst for Federal Weekly based in Sacramento, California.

Articles by Mario Hafizi

  1. Filings & Taxes · August 23, 2026

    Los Angeles Cannabis License Renewal Changes Take Effect August 26

    Three city ordinances create limited paths for cannabis businesses with tax debt, expired licenses, or abandoned applications to seek renewal or reentry. They do not erase the debt or authorize an unlicensed business to keep operating.

  2. Workplace Safety · August 17, 2026

    SB 553: The Workplace Violence Prevention Plan Nearly Every California Employer Must Keep

    Since July 2024, California has required most employers to maintain a written workplace violence prevention plan, train employees on it every year, and log incidents. Many small businesses still do not know the rule exists.

  3. Employment · August 17, 2026

    California's Captive Audience Ban Is Blocked, and Has Been Since September

    SB 399 made mandatory meetings about an employer's political or religious views unlawful. A federal judge enjoined it statewide in September 2025 on preemption and First Amendment grounds. The Ninth Circuit heard argument in July 2026 and has not ruled.

  4. Employment · August 17, 2026

    PAGA After the 2024 Reform: What Changed for Employers

    California's Private Attorneys General Act lets employees sue over Labor Code violations on the state's behalf. A 2024 reform deal capped penalties for employers who can show they took reasonable steps to comply. Here is how the new structure works.

  5. Filings & Taxes · August 17, 2026

    Beneficial Ownership Reporting Is Over for U.S. Companies

    Federal beneficial ownership reporting reversed direction repeatedly for two years. In August 2026 a final rule settled it: companies formed in the United States are permanently exempt, and FinCEN is deleting what U.S. persons already filed.

  6. Privacy · August 17, 2026

    Does the CCPA Apply to Your Business? The Thresholds, Explained

    California's privacy law does not cover every business. It covers businesses that cross one of three thresholds, and the obligations that follow are substantial. Here is how to tell which side of the line you are on.

  7. Wages & Hours · August 17, 2026

    California's Minimum Wage in 2026: One Floor, Many Ceilings

    The statewide minimum is $16.90 an hour this year, but fast food, healthcare, and dozens of city ordinances set higher rates. What an employer actually owes depends on industry and street address.

  8. Accessibility · August 17, 2026

    Why California Businesses Face the Nation's Highest ADA Lawsuit Risk

    The federal Americans with Disabilities Act sets the standard, but a state law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, adds automatic money damages. Together they put roughly a third of the nation's accessibility lawsuits in one state. Here is how the system works and what it covers.