Caucus News

SACRAMENTO, CA — Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) today attended Governor Gavin Newsom’s virtual State of the State. Min offered the following statement upon the conclusion of the address:

SACRAMENTO – Today, SB 234 — the SUPPORT Act, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) — passed the Senate Committee on Human Services by a vote of 4-0. SB 234 creates a $100 million forgivable loan program to fund new housing, or acquire existing housing, for transition age youth between ages 16 and 26. The housing will serve young people who are homeless, in or exiting foster care, or exiting the criminal justice system.

SACRAMENTO – A pair of bills advanced today from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would improve wildfire safety and community resiliency as the state faces the coming, drought-fueled wildfire season.

“Wildfire prevention and response are top priorities in California,” said Sen. Dodd. “My legislation directs more resources to local government while tapping innovation to address this urgent threat. I thank my Senate colleagues for throwing their unanimous support behind these much-needed measures.”

SACRAMENTO – With strong bipartisan support, the Senate Public Safety Committee today approved legislation authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that will require the addition of a new online portal to California’s existing rape kit tracking system to allow survivors of sexual assault to anonymously and electronically track and receive updates regarding the status, location and information regarding their rape kit.

Sacramento, CA – While celebrating advocacy for protection of natural resources during Ocean Day at the State Capitol, legislators announced a package of bills to address the mounting waste crisis affecting California’s coastline, landfills, and ratepayers.

SONOMA – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, will host a virtual town hall March 16 with the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic and a panel discussion featuring Kim McCoy Wade, California's director of the Department of Aging, about services and resources for seniors.

The town hall will be streamed live over multiple channels and broadcast on KSVY Sonoma. Panelists will take live and submitted questions.

Who: Sen. Dodd; Kim McCoy Wade, director of the California Department of Aging; Frank Nelson, regional manager of HICAP; and Debbie Toth, president/CEO of Choice in Aging.

SACRAMENTO – Legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to protect employees of contractors by ensuring compliance with California’s workers’ compensation laws cleared a key committee today.

“For the most part, contractors do carry workers’ compensation insurance but too often, they do not,” Sen. Bill Dodd said. “My bill will eliminate barriers to coverage so we can protect those employees who might be injured on the job.”

MARTINEZ – Beth Hernandez, a Contra Costa Health Services project manager who oversaw key parts of the county’s coronavirus pandemic response, has been named Woman of the Year for Contra Costa County by Sen. Bill Dodd.

State Senator Josh Becker named Rayna Lehman, whose work for the San Mateo Central Labor Council has provided a lifeline to thousands of union members and their families, the 2021 Woman of the Year for the 13th Senate District.

VALLEJO – Helen Pierson, whose company, Medic Ambulance Service, has been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, transporting some of the first people exposed to the virus on the Princess Cruise ship and later, organizing mobile testing and vaccine dissemination, has been named Woman of the Year for Solano County by Sen. Bill Dodd.