Caucus News

Senator Bill Dodd

Sen. Dodd Comments on Legislature’s Passage of Wildfire Safety Bill

July 11, 2019

SACRAMENTO –Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, made the following statement today after major wildfire prevention and safety legislation proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers was approved with overwhelming, bipartisan support of the Legislature:

Bob Wieckowski

Wieckowski bill to reduce fees on accessory dwelling units passes Assembly Local Government Committee

July 10, 2019

SACRAMENTO – A major accessory dwelling unit (ADU) reform bill authored by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to eliminate developer impact fees on units below 750 square feet passed the Assembly Local Government Committee today.  SB 13, which also eliminates owner occupancy restrictions for five years, passed with bipartisan support.

Senator Anthony J. Portantino

More Sleep for Teens Gets One Step Closer to Ringing the Bell SB 328 - Late School Start Time Bill Passes Assembly Education Committee

July 10, 2019

Sacramento, California – Today, SB 328, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) passed the State Assembly Education Committee.  SB 328 addresses the significant public health crisis of sleep-deprived teens by requiring high schools in California to start no earlier than 8:30 AM and middle schools to begin no earlier than 8:00 AM. The California State PTA and Start School Later Ink are sponsors of SB 328. The bill has garnered strong support from medical professionals, researchers, law enforcement and education advocates. 

Senator Mike McGuire

Senator McGuire leads way to keep historic 4-day school week at Leggett Valley schools intact, reverses potential state fine

July 10, 2019

Sacramento, CA – Last fall, the small/isolated, rural Leggett Valley Unified School District was put on notice that it would be fined thousands of dollars due to a change in the state’s school funding formula policy that would have penalized the district for having 4-day school weeks, which they had been doing without issue for over twenty years.

Senator Scott Wiener

Senator Wiener and Assemblymember Gloria’s Legislation to Increase Access to PrEP, a Once-Daily Pill to Prevent HIV, Passes Assembly Committee

July 10, 2019

Sacramento–  Yesterday, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblymember Todd Gloria’s (D-San Diego) legislation to reduce barriers to accessing HIV preventative medications passed the Assembly Committee on Health with a 13-0 vote. It now heads to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. SB 159 authorizes pharmacists to furnish pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to patients without a physician prescription.

Senator Anthony J. Portantino

Ambassador Baibourtian Joins Senator Portantino in Sacramento for Armenian Trade Office Bill Hearing

July 9, 2019

Sacramento, California – Today, SB 302 authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D–La Cañada Flintridge) passed the Assembly Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy Committee. The bill seeks to reestablish the trade office between California and Armenia which was ended in 2008.   Ambassador Armen Baibourtian flew to Sacramento to offer his testimony in support of SB 302 as it would be the first international trade office reestablished since California ended the program.

Jerry Hill

Senator Hill Places Senate Bill 360 on Hold

July 9, 2019

State Senator Jerry Hill has decided to place on hold his legislation that requires clergy of all faiths to report knowledge of child abuse or neglect, even if such information is learned during penitential communications with other clergy members and coworkers.

Senator Mike McGuire

California Assembly passes Presidential Tax Transparency Bill

July 9, 2019

Legislation will head back to the Senate this week for final vote before heading to the Governor’s desk

Sacramento, CA – California’s historic legislation that would require Presidential candidates, and candidates for the Governor of California, to release their tax returns in order to be on the state’s ballot cleared another significant hurdle today with an overwhelming 57-17 vote of approval in the State Assembly.

Senator Mike McGuire

Senator McGuire’s opioid addiction funding added to State Budget

July 9, 2019

Includes funds for early, enhanced screening for millions of Californians

Sacramento, CA – Senator Mike McGuire’s efforts to combat opioid addiction has seen another success in this year’s state budget. McGuire was able to secure funding for California to implement an enhanced screening program when patients see their doctors, which is modeled off of successful programs for alcohol addiction. 

Senator Scott Wiener

Legislature Passes Senator Wiener’s Legislation to Protect Sex Workers from Arrest when Reporting Violent Crimes & to Prohibit Use of Condoms as Evidence of Sex Work

July 9, 2019

San Francisco –  Yesterday, Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) legislation to protect sex workers from arrest for sex work after they report a serious and violent crime, such as rape, passed the Legislature. Senate Bill 233 also ensures that the possession of condoms may not be used as probable cause to arrest someone for sex work or introduced as evidence to prosecute someone for sex work. SB 233 now heads to the Governor who has 30 days to sign or veto the legislation.