SACRAMENTO – Today, on the eve of the 1-year anniversary of the Eaton Fire, newly-appointed Senate Insurance Committee Chair, Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) and California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara introduced Senate Bill 876, which would comprehensively reform the insurance claims process by cutting red tape, improving payouts, and ending delays and runarounds by insurance companies.

Measure introduced by Reyes would protect the legal process for all in California by preventing indiscriminate arrests by ICE agents at scheduled court appearances.

The Clean Homes and Energy Affordability Package (CHEAP) allows Californians to access cost-saving clean energy technologies, helping to tackle skyrocketing energy costs in the state with the second highest electricity rates.

SACRAMENTO – President Trump illegally froze $10 billion in federal childcare and social services funding to five Democrat-led states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. 
Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) issued the following statement in response:

SACRAMENTO, CA — California State Senator Dave Cortese today announced the introduction of a Senate Bill 870 (SB 870) that would prohibit the sale of tabletop fire pits that don’t adhere to top fire-safety regulations following a growing number of severe fires that have resulted in serious burn injuries, and in some cases, deaths:

SACRAMENTO, CA — California State Senator Dave Cortese issued the following statement congratulating Senator Monique Limón (District 21) on her swearing in as the new California State Senate President pro Tempore:

Senate Bill 729, authored by Senator Caroline Menjivar, which requires state regulated large employer health insurance to cover the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including IVF, goes into effect for contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

El Proyecto de Ley del Senado SB 729 , presentado por la Senadora Caroline Menjivar, que exige que los seguros médicos para grandes empleadores regulados por el estado cubran el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la infertilidad, incluida la fertilización in vitro (FIV), entra en vigor para los contratos emitidos o renovados a partir del 1° de enero de 2026.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, issued the following statement, following Friday’s ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on California’s law banning open carry of firearms in county’s with more than 200,000 residents:

“This lawless coup is an invitation for China to invade Taiwan, for Russia to escalate its conquest in Ukraine, and for Netanyahu to expand the destruction of Gaza and annex the West Bank. Trump cares nothing for the human or economic cost of conquering another country — he cares only about enriching his billionaire donors.”