Caucus News

SACRAMENTO – The California legislature today passed fifteen a package of fifteen consequential measures aimed at tackling the state’s housing crisis; a problem that has made California home to 21 of the 30 most expensive housing markets in the nation.

At a time when homeownership in California is at its lowest point since the 1940’s, the state Senate is moving policies to fund new development, streamline approval processes, strengthen existing laws, and create more local accountability to build new housing and increase homeownership across the Golden State. 

SACRAMENTO – Senator Bill Dodd’s (D-Napa) resolution naming the third week of September as Child Passenger Safety Week in California passed the State Legislature with bipartisan support. Dodd’s resolution recognizes that fatal vehicle collisions account for 25 percent of injury deaths for children.

SACRAMENTO – The Senate today passed budget trailer bills AB 109 and AB 134, making this the most historic investment of its kind to clean air across California and advance zero-emission technologies in the transportation sector. Senate Democrats this summer led in determining the spending priorities for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, with the primary focus on reducing carbon emissions and other air pollutants from the transportation sector.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) released this statement after the Senate approved the California Clean Air Initiative (AB 109 and AB 134) to spend nearly $1.5 billion in Cap and Trade funds. Senator Lara created programs that will receive major investments through the Clean Truck and Bus program (SB 1204, 2014) and the Super Pollutant Reduction Act (SB 1383, 2016). AB 134 also expands funding for the Dream Loan program created by SB 1210 (Lara, 2014):

“No matter what happens in Washington, we can count on California to protect our environment.

Senator Richard D. Roth’s (D-Riverside) measure to address the State’s housing crisis has been approved by the California State Assembly. 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 70-8.

Sacramento, CA – Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) to reauthorize and reform the state’s Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) program passed the legislature today.  The program was set to expire at the end of 2017 absent legislative action.  As part of the reauthorization, Allen sought to strengthen environmental protection measures within the program.   Senate Bill 249 was approved by the state Senate on a unanimous, bi-partisan vote of 40 – 0.

Sacramento, CA – The California State Senate gave final approval today to legislation, Senate Bill 50, that will be the first law in the country that could effectively block the sale or lease of federal public lands in the state.  Authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), the Public Lands Protection Act passed on a vote of 28 - 12.

Sacramento – Today Senator Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 35 – which creates a streamlined approval process for housing in cities that are not meeting their state-mandated housing goals – was approved by the California Assembly as a key part of a housing package. This streamlining will expedite the construction of critically needed housing, including affordable housing. SB 35 now goes back to the Senate for a concurrence vote to accept amendments made in the Assembly before moving to the Governor’s desk. SB 35 was previously approved by the Senate earlier this year.  

SACRAMENTO – Tonight, the California Legislature passed a package of bills aimed at easing the state’s housing crisis. Among these are Senate Bill 166 and Senate Bill SB 167 authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). Senate Bill 166 strengthens California’s No Net Loss zoning law and Senate Bill 167 strengthens the Housing Accountability Act (HAA).   

The California Assembly today voted 54-25 to pass SB 2 – the Building Homes and Jobs Act – legislation authored by Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) that will create a permanent source of funding for affordable housing. Atkins wishes to make the following statement: