Caucus News

"The results Cal Fire released today show that the narratives about a ‘new normal’ are a ruse,” said state Senator Jerry Hill. “What the investigation found is clearly the old normal. In three cases, there was vegetation that investigators deemed too close to PG&E power lines: trees that should have been maintained but were not. And then the trees or a branch of a tree came in contact with the power lines, resulting in three of the four fires investigated. There is nothing new about that and nothing related to a new normal.

SACRAMENTO – Legislation by Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) that would shine light on the bail industry’s predatory lending practices and establish the framework that would allow licensed cannabis businesses to open bank accounts passed the Senate Appropriations Committee today.

The following bills authored by Hertzberg passed out of Senate Appropriations and will be eligible for a Senate floor vote next week:

SACRAMENTO – Eight bills from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, cleared the Senate Appropriations committee Friday and head to the full Senate next week for a vote.

“I’m proud to bring this legislation addressing a range of issues and concerns, both locally and statewide,” Senator Dodd said. “And I thank my fellow senators for advancing it after careful consideration.”

The following bills were taken off suspense Friday:

SB 830: The proposal adds media literacy education to school curriculums and ensures students have the tools to succeed in the digital age.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senate Appropriations Chair Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) released the following statement after the committee held its suspense file hearing today in the Capitol. A summary of actions taken today will be posted at the Senate Appropriations Committee website:

“California’s fiscal outlook is the strongest it has been in a generation. As always, this committee has made our deliberations in conjunction with the budget process.

SACRAMENTO – California Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) today announced that the Senate Rules Committee has appointed the following Senators to the 2018-19 Budget Conference Committee:

Senator Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), Co-Chair
Senator John M. W. Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa)
Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama)
Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside)
Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)

SACRAMENTO – California Senate Leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) announced today that Senate Democrats have advanced legislation that will extend and enhance California’s successful Film and Television Tax Credit Program. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 6-0 to move SB 951 as introduced by Senator Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles). Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge), now a joint author, joined forces to consolidate the efforts to extend the Film and Television Tax Credit program.  

Sacramento–  Today the Senate Appropriations Committee passed 12 of Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) bills, including bills to establish net neutrality in California, reform California’s housing allocation process, strengthen conservatorship laws to help people suffering on our streets, allow cities to choose to extend nightlife hours, and provide more support for homeless youth.

Sacramento –  Today Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) announced a new bill to exempt compassionate care programs from paying state cannabis taxes when they are providing free medical cannabis to financially disadvantaged people living with serious health conditions. Due to an oversight in how Prop 64 was drafted, these not-for-profit donation programs that have been serving medical cannabis patients for decades are now being forced to pay taxes meant for businesses, which are forcing these charity programs to shut down.

Sacramento, California- Senator Anthony J. Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge, is proud of the State Senate’s augmentations and changes to the Governor’s May revised budget plan for education. The State Senate’s 2018-2019 proposed budget includes the funding plan recommended by the Senate’s Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance chaired by Portantino.  The Senate has proposed spending of $78 billion from Proposition 98 on K-14 and additional General Fund dollars to increase the State’s investment in higher education.