Caucus News

SACRAMENTO – Senator Jim Beall, D-San Jose, chairman of the Senate Transportation and Housing, issues this statement regarding the Legislature’s historic approval of a housing package to meet California’s pressing shortage of affordable homes and apartments:

Six #EquityAndJustice bills win approval

SACRAMENTO – Just weeks after 25,000 people attended a concert here by artist-musician Common to push for common sense justice reforms, the California Legislature approved the final two bills in the #EquityAndJustice package.

Senate Bills 394 and 395, jointly authored by Sens. Ricardo Lara and Senator Holly J. Mitchell, now go to Gov. Brown, and supporters praised the package for its goal to promote prevention, rehabilitation and maintaining family cohesion.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Responding to high unemployment among transgender workers, Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) introduced the Transgender Work Opportunity Act (Senate Bill 396). Senate Bill 396 combats discrimination and encourages greater inclusion of transgender Californians in the work force.

The Transgender Work Opportunity Act will make California the first in the nation to require training about gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.

Sending six #EquityAndJustice bills to Governor Brown

SACRAMENTO – Just weeks after the artist and musician Common held a free concert outside the State Capitol for 25,000 people and met with legislators to push for common sense justice reform, the California Legislature approved two long-overdue juvenile justice bills.

On Friday, the last day of the first year of the 2017-2018 legislative session, the California Senate gave final approval to SB 2, legislation authored by Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) that creates a permanent source of funding for affordable housing.

Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) issued the following statement on the Senate’s passage today of two budget bills collectively known as the California Clean Air Initiative:

“Today, California took steps that fulfill the promise of our innovative cap-and-trade program, bolster our fight against climate change, improve quality of life in our communities and help create a better future for generations to come. These measures will have significant, positive impacts throughout the state, and particularly in San Diego County.

Senate Bill 568 will move primary to first Tuesday in March

SACRAMENTO, California – Today the California Assembly voted to approve the Prime Time Primary (Senate Bill 568), which will advance California’s presidential primary from one of the last in the nation to one of the first.

Sacramento, CA – Today, the California State Senate passed SB 400 by Senator Anthony J. Portantino, D – La Cañada Flintridge, which requires Caltrans to freeze the rent for SR 710 corridor tenants who participate in the “Affordable Rent Program.”  Decades ago, Caltrans purchased these homes to pave the way for the 710 freeway.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Today the California Assembly overwhelmingly approved the California Religious Freedom Act (Senate Bill 31) with only one dissenting vote. The roll call was left open so final vote tally may change.

Senate Bill 31 will prevent California agencies from sharing data that could be used to compile a federal registry based on religion, national origin or ethnicity.

Senator Richard D. Roth’s (D-Riverside) measure to address the State’s housing crisis has been approved by the California State Senate and sent to Governor Jerry Brown. Senate Bill 540, which is part of a bipartisan package of bills aimed at lowering housing costs and spurring housing construction, was approved on a bipartisan vote of 29-7.