It’s been a decisive week in Sacramento, between Gov. Newsom selecting a new U.S. Senator in Laphonza Butler and also exercising his power to sign bills.

It’s been a mixed bag so far on the “Job Killer” front with the six bills to reach his desk designated as business unfriendly by the California Chamber of Commerce. While a bill that would’ve paid unemployment benefits to striking workers was vetoed, an expansion of sick leave benefits for employees was signed.

As the fate of remaining Job Killers plays out, it’s worth nothing some of the business-friendly bills that Newsom has signed, also designated by the CalChamber:

AB 30 (Ward; D-San Diego) supports improved reservoir operations by integrating forecast-informed reservoir operations into water supply operations to better store water during storms and to reduce flood risk.

The bill expands the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) atmospheric rivers program to include forecast-informed reservoir operations and integrate those operations into DWR water supply operations and flood and hazard risk mitigation efforts, according to the CalChamber.

Statewide annual precipitation in California is highly variable as up to 50% of total annual rainfall and 90% of flood impacts are caused by atmospheric river storms. Climate models indicate there will be an increase in the variability and magnitude of such storms, according to the CalChamber.

With state water officials forecasting a busy El Nino year for precipitation, bills recognizing the variability of flooding conditions mean greater flexibility for water managers.

The following CalChamber-supported bills also were signed recently:

SB 293 (Grove; R-Bakersfield) Student Achievement Data. Requires information from the annual California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) to be posted online annually by a specified date. The results of the CAASPP are important for teachers, academics, researchers and other groups to try to understand the state’s academic pipeline. Ensuring the data is available in a timely manner will help all stakeholders to analyze and improve California’s educational system.

AB 857 (Ortega; D-San Leandro) Vocational Training information for Inmates. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, upon the release of an individual from prison, to provide a form to sign up for the vocational rehabilitation and independent living services provided by the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). The bill also expands the scope of vocational rehabilitation services offered by DOR to include services provided to former inmates with disabilities. AB 857 will help bolster California’s workforce while improving opportunities for former inmates as they attempt to re-enter the workforce.

The signed bills will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.