Legislation

New Zealand’s Parliament was briefly suspended Thursday after Maori members staged a traditional ceremonial dance to protest legislation that would reinterpret a treaty between the British and indigenous Maori.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday bringing back tough criminal penalties targeting large-scale stealing schemes and smash-and-grab robberies. The new law requires prosecutors to start imposing harsher sentences again for those who damage or destroy property valued at more than $50,000 while committing a felony. A similar law expired in 2018, and the new law will be sunset...

California lawmakers have advanced more than a dozen bills aiming to address the retail theft crisis. The proposals would go after online reselling schemes, repeat shoplifters and auto theft. Other measures advanced Wednesday also would expand drug court programs and treatment and bolster an existing law to make it easier to arrest and prosecute criminals. Democratic state leaders have reiterated...

The bills would create an agency to help families research their family lineage, create a fund for reparations programs and compensate Black families for property the government unjustly seized from them.

The state currently has guidelines for conducting earthquake and fire drills, but little guidance for active-shooter drills.