Caucus News

Sacramento, California – Today, SB 532 authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D–La Cañada Flintridge) passed the California State Legislature. Senator Portantino introduced SB 532 at the request of the City of Glendale. After the dissolution of Redevelopment Agencies (RDAs), Glendale was left with $27 million dollars in bond proceeds but is precluded from using these funds for housing.  SB 532 will give Glendale the ability to use these locally derived bond funds exclusively for affordable housing.    

The California Legislature has approved Senate Bill 42, also known as the Getting Home Safe Act, by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. SB 42 is designed to end the dangerous practice of county jails releasing people in the middle of the night.  

SB 42 was inspired by the tragic case of Jessica St. Louis, who died July 28, 2018 after she was released from Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail at 1:30 a.m.

SACRAMENTO – The Legislature late Wednesday approved a trio of wildfire-safety bills from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that seek to prevent and prepare for the kinds of climate change-driven infernos that have burned across California.

“I thank my fellow lawmakers for making it a priority to address this growing threat to my home district and the entire state,” Sen. Dodd said. “We must be proactive to get a handle on these destructive blazes before they claim more lives and property. These are important steps that will go a long way toward protecting the public.”

SACRAMENTO – September 11, 2019 – The California State Legislature today approved Senate Bill No. 305, authored by Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) and known as “Ryan’s Law,” which would provide compassionate access to medical cannabis in healthcare facilities for Californians who are terminally ill. Specifically, the bill prohibits certain types of healthcare facilities from interfering with a patient who is terminally ill and attempting to use medical cannabis within the facility, with certain restrictions. Ryan’s Law now heads to the Governor’s desk for consideration.

The California Legislature has approved SB 44, “Ditching Dirty Diesel,” by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. SB 44 is designed to incentivize the move away from pollution-belching, petroleum-diesel trucks and speed the transition to zero emission fuels and technologies for medium and heavy duty vehicles.

The California Legislature today approved Senate Bill 310, also known as “The Right to a Jury of Your Peers,” by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. SB 310 allows people with a prior felony conviction to serve on juries in California for the first time.

“SB 310 will ensure that Californians can be tried by a true jury of their peers,” Sen. Skinner said. “Currently, 30% of African-American men living in California are denied the basic civil right to serve on a jury. SB 310 will right that wrong.”

SACRAMENTO, CA – Dr. Richard Pan, State Senator representing the Sacramento area and author of Senate Bill 276 made the following statement in regards to the referendum filed today against Senate Bill 276:

“It is the right of any Californian to file a referendum against a law, however opponents failed in their referendum against SB 277, failed in recalling me in 2016, and failed in four lawsuits, which resulted in strong rulings by the Second and Third District courts of appeal upholding the constitutionality of SB 277. 

The California Legislature today approved SB 206, the Fair Pay to Play Act, by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. SB 206 will give California student athletes the right to their name, image, and likeness, allowing them to earn money from sponsorships, endorsements, and other activities related to their hard work and talent — a right that all other students and California residents have.

SACRAMENTO – The state Assembly today passed a major arbitration reform bill to give workers and consumers several remedies when companies that have forced them into mandatory arbitration agreements obstruct those deliberations by refusing to pay the required arbitration fees.  SB 707, jointly authored by Senators Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), now heads to the Senate for a concurrence vote.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado’s (D-Sanger) legislation, SB 559, was extended into a two-year bill during its review in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The bill, which has received bipartisan support, helps secure California’s water supply by setting up a policy framework to invest in the Friant-Kern Canal, one of San Joaquin Valley’s most critical water deliver facilities.