Caucus News

SACRAMENTO – Earlier today, the California State Senate approved Senate Bill 210—a measure that will establish ‘smog check’ requirements for heavy-duty diesel trucks in California—and sent this important air quality bill to the Governor for his consideration. Unlike personal vehicles, current law does not require heavy-duty vehicles to have the same types of smog checks that have been required for passenger vehicles for decades.

SACRAMENTO ­– With bipartisan support, the state Assembly today approved an accessory dwelling units, often referred to as granny flats, bill that targets some of the biggest remaining barriers blocking their construction in California.  SB 13, authored by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) is strongly supported by ADU advocates across the state.  

San Francisco –  Yesterday, Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) Senate Bill 127, which will prioritize the creation of ‘complete streets,’ including safer and better designed sidewalks, bikeways, and crosswalks, on state highways that run through cities, towns, and neighborhoods passed out the Legislature with a 28-12 vote. It will now head to the Governor who has 30 days to sign or veto the legislation.

SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Bill 230, by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. SB 230 is a comprehensive measure that would require every law enforcement officer to be trained in techniques to reduce the need for deadly force. The bill will ensure California leads the nation in regards to departmental use of force policies, ensures robust officer training, and reaffirms a commitment to protecting the sanctity of life.

Sacramento –  Today, Senator Scott Wiener’s (D- San Francisco) legislation to repeal a one-year sentence enhancement that is added to an individual’s base sentence for each prior prison or felony jail term served passed the Assembly with a 41-34 vote. SB 136 is a key driver of mass incarceration in California, given that 11,000 state prison sentences have the enhancement, in addition to an unknown number of county jail sentences. SB 136 now heads back to the Senate floor for a concurrence

As California’s unhoused population increases, Senate Bill 329 would level the playing field for renters who need the most assistance. With rising rent, lack of affordable housing, this bill protects Californians who use housing vouchers from discrimination by landlords.

Black women in the US are more likely to die in childbirth. Although California's rate of maternal mortality has decreased since 2006, 700 women still die each year from childbirth, according to the CDC. Of those who die in labor, 21% are Black women even though they only make up 5% of the childbirth cohort. “Black women do deserve better,” Senator Holly J. Mitchel said in the Assembly Health Committee in June, “When we recognize that the Black maternal mortality rate is 4-times higher of other racial groups that is why the bill is before you today.”

Atkins’ Tax Credit for Historic Preservation Passes Assembly

SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate has passed SB 451, legislation by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), to establish a tax credit for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings in California. SB 451 passed out of the Legislature unanimously.

The California Legislature has approved SB 337, “The Child Support Reform Act,” by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. SB 337 will help low-income families by ensuring that more child support payments go to kids and less is taken by the state. The bill increases the amount of the child support payment that is passed through to custodial parents from $50 to $100 for families with one child and to $200 a month for those with two or more kids.

Assembly and Senate Approves SB 206 the Fair Pay to Play Act

SACREAMENTO ­– Yesterday, Senate Bill 206, authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), was approved by the California State Senate with unanimous support. SB 206, known as the Fair Pay to Play Act, will give California student athletes the right to their name, image, and likeness, allowing them to earn money from sponsorships, endorsements and other activities.