California leaders negotiate major policy changes in secret as legislative session ends

California’s top Democrats entered the final stretch of the legislative session with an ambitious list of priorities: Pass some of the state’s most consequential climate and energy reforms, hash out a $750 million transit loan, and dampen the impact of federal funding slashes.

But with days left, details are murky on nearly all of it.

Welcome to one of the most secretive yet commonplace practices in Sacramento, where each year, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and their staff meet in private to reach last-minute agreements on major policy changes and funding allocations before the clock runs out.

Those deals — often unveiled at the 11th hour — will likely become law as is, because there is little to no room for changes by the tim