Caucus News

Sacramento, California – State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) announced strong coalition support from mental health advocacy groups for Senate Bills 224 and  14, both of which address the growing mental health crisis among California’s youth. The bills mandate mental health education and training programs in schools. The Senator also announced that the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission voted to support both measures, increasing their positive momentum.

Today, Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) introduced SB 692, the “Special Education Inclusion Act”, sponsored by the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE).
With numerous studies indicating that inclusion significantly increases graduation rates and academic performance for students with disabilities, SB 692 would create a disincentive for schools to segregate students with special needs into separate and unequal classrooms. 

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) released the following statement regarding Berkeley becoming the second California city, after Sacramento, to end exclusionary single family zoning. These zoning reforms come three years after Senator Wiener first introduced his landmark legislation to end exclusionary single family zoning at the state level (Senate Bill 827, followed by SB 50).

SACRAMENTO - Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) issued a statement following the United States District Court's decision to uphold the enforcement of net neutrality in California. Senator Wiener authored and passed SB 822, the California Internet Consumer Protection and Net Neutrality Act of 2018, but the legislation had previously been tied up in court since being signed into law by former Governor Jerry Brown.

Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) has introduced SB 649 to make policy findings that allow the use of tenant preferences to prevent residential displacement and stabilize neighborhoods. The bill permits developers that receive local or state funds or tax credits designated for affordable housing to prioritize those at the highest risk of displacement and most in need of stable housing.

SACRAMENTO – Today, the California State Auditor’s Office published its Audit of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), initiated by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) in 2020. Senator Bradford issued the following statement in response to the troubling findings in the audit and the recommendations of the State Auditor:

California state Sen. Nancy Skinner, chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, applauded today Gov. Newsom and the Legislature’s approval of the following Golden State stimulus actions:

SACRAMENTO – Last week, Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) introduced Senate Bill 655. This bill will codify reporting requirements for underrepresented groups on insurance company governing boards, lower the existing California premium reporting threshold value for board and supplier diversity data from $100 million to $75 million, and define the term Diverse Investment Managers in the COIN program. The bill is sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.

Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) has confirmed his full bill package for his first year serving in the State Legislature. The Senator, who was elected to serve District 15 in November of 2020, has introduced an ambitious set of bills to address the existential issues that Californians are currently faced with, from our climate crisis, to housing affordability, to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senator says his priorities stem from the policies and programs he has successfully championed in his District, with hopes to expand these concepts statewide.

For Immediate Release: February 22, 2021Contact: Faith Pulido at faith.pulido@sen.ca.gov

SACRAMENTO – Today Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) and his Senate colleagues voted overwhelmingly to send a $9.2 billion stimulus package designed to help working families and small businesses left behind by federal COVID-19 relief to the Governor’s desk.