Caucus News

Senator Nancy Skinner

Gov. Newsom Signs SB 394, Caregiver Court Diversion

October 8, 2019

Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed into law Senate Bill 394 by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. SB 394 is aimed at keeping children with their parents when a parent or guardian is charged with a nonserious, nonviolent crime by allowing counties to create a pretrial caregiver diversion program. Such a program would allow a primary caregiver of a dependent child to enter alternative supervision and avoid incarceration — if both the judge and the prosecutor agrees.

Senator Nancy Skinner

Gov. Newsom Signs SB 310, ‘The Right to a Jury of Your Peers’

October 8, 2019

Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed into law 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. It will also help ensure that the fundamental right to a jury of your peers applies to all defendants.

Senator Toni Atkins

PRESS RELEASE: Housing Bills Will Help Protect Renters From Rate Hikes, Discrimination

October 8, 2019

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) applauded the signing of key housing legislation today, which will help protect renters from indiscriminate evictions and exorbitant rate increases. Gov. Newsom also signed two Senate bills that expand discrimination protections for Californians receiving government assistance and for veterans or those who are currently serving the nation in the military.

Senator Mike McGuire

Senator McGuire’s Community Conversation and Coffee this Thursday in Blue Lake

October 8, 2019

Humboldt County, CA – Senator Mike McGuire is looking forward to hosting a Community Coffee in Blue Lake with Supervisor Mike Wilson and Blue Lake Mayor Adelene Jones this Thursday, October 10.

The interactive event will be an opportunity for neighbors to have a collaborative conversation about the most important issues facing Blue Lake, Humboldt County and all of the North Coast.

Senator Susan Rubio

Governor Signs Senator Rubio’s Bill Increasing Statute of Limitations for Domestic Violence

October 8, 2019

SACRAMENTO, CA – Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed legislation by Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) that would allow domestic violence survivors, who may be traumatized years after their abuse, additional time to heal before they seek justice.

Bob Wieckowski

Governor signs Wieckowski's pro-consumer debt collection bill

October 7, 2019

SACRAMENTO ­– With income inequality on the rise in California, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed a bill by State Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to prevent debt collection agencies from emptying out a consumer’s bank account and leaving people without any funds to cover day-to-day expenses.

Under Wieckowski’s SB 616, debt collectors must leave $1,724 in the account.  The bill is supported by legal aid providers, advocates for low-income consumers and statewide progressive organizations, who see the legislation as a key anti-poverty measure.

Bob Wieckowski

Governor signs Wieckowski bill protecting mortgage holders from abusive debt collection tactics

October 7, 2019

SACRAMENTO – California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senator Bob Wieckowski’s (D-Fremont) Senate Bill 187 to protect consumers with mortgages from abusive debt collection tactics.  The bill ends years of confusion and stops the debate as to whether mortgage holders fall under the same consumer protection umbrella as other debtors.

Senator Richard D. Roth

Senator Roth’s Statement about Signing of the School Facility Bond

October 7, 2019

(SACRAMENTO) –  Today, Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) joined Governor Gavin Newsom, Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), and students at Ethel I. Baker Elementary School to witness the signing of AB 48. Senator Roth issued the following statement:

Senator Richard D. Roth

Senator Roth Closes Out Another Successful Legislative Session

October 7, 2019

(SACRAMENTO) – On Friday, Senator Richard D. Roth’s (D-Riverside) Senate Bills 554 and 586 were signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom as a part of a higher education package of bills. Both bills expanded college and career technical educational opportunities in higher education.

Senator Scott Wiener

Governor Signs Senator Wiener and Assemblymember Gloria’s Groundbreaking Legislation to Expand Access to PrEP, a Once-Daily Pill to Prevent HIV

October 7, 2019

San Francisco – Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) issued the following statement in response to Governor Newsom signing SB 159, which reduces barriers to accessing HIV preventative medications. Specifically, SB 159 authorizes pharmacists to furnish pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to patients without a physician prescription. PrEP is a once-daily pill for HIV-negative people that reduces risk of infection by up to 99%, and PEP is a 28-day preventative course for people who may have been exposed to HIV.