Caucus News

SACRAMENTO, CA –Today Senator Henry Stern honored the Conejo Schools Foundation (CSF), an organization which supports local education initiatives in the Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD), at the California Non-Profit of the Year Awards Ceremony held in Sacramento.  The annual awards ceremony honors the contributions of non-profit organizations to the State of California.

SACRAMENTO (June 27, 2017) -- Watch, listen to testimony and votes on #EquityAnd Justice package of criminal justice reform bills by Sens. Holly J. Mitchell and Ricardo Lara. Having already cleared the Senate, the bills passed their initial policy test in the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Click on individual bills below to watch. To read Mitchell's Press Release explaining the bills, click HERE:

SACRAMENTO – Earlier today, Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) recognized Heroes Warehouse in Fontana as the 2017 20th State Senate District “Nonprofit of the Year”.

Founded in 2012, Heroes Warehouse provides donated furniture and essential home items to previously homeless veterans and their families as they move into permanent housing.  The nonprofit’s extensive volunteer network—which includes many veterans and their families—help to operate Heroes Warehouse on a day-to-day basis, including picking up and loading donated items. 

Sacramento, CA – Today, Senator Anthony J. Portantino had the honor to recognize the Glendale Youth Alliance (GYA) as the 25th State Senate District Nonprofit of the Year.  GYA’s Board Chair, Shant Sahakian, and Executive Director, Karine Grigoryan, were in Sacramento to accept the honor.

SACRAMENTO – State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) will honor the Environmental Defense Center as her 2017 Non-profit of the Year in the second annual California Nonprofits Day in Sacramento today.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The Monterey County Chapter of “Guitars Not Guns” was honored today as the 17th Senate District Nonprofit of the Year by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel).  Guitars Not Guns is an all-volunteer nonprofit that provides guitars free of charge to children and teens, along with lessons, to encourage creativity, personal growth and help direct students away from harmful influences, such as drugs, alcohol, and gang activities.

Sacramento, CA – Despite an intense lobbying effort by the pharmaceutical industry, State Senator Mike McGuire’s legislation that restricts pharmaceutical companies from giving gifts and incentives to medical professionals was approved in the Assembly Health Committee.

SB 790 restricts pharmaceutical companies from providing gifts to health care providers, while maintaining important and critical opportunities for educational forums to doctors.

Sacramento – The Assembly Judiciary Committee today approved a bill by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to allow low-income Californians to shield up to $4,800 from bank levies so they can maintain enough financial stability to pay day-to-day expenses and avoid falling deeper into debt.

Senate Health Leader continues to fight Big Pharma in California for some much-needed sunshine on drug costs

SACRAMENTO – Today, the Assembly Health Committee approved passage of Senate Bill 17, which provides transparency on rising drug prices in California. 

Sacramento, CA – Yesterday, the California State Assembly Transportation Committee voted 12-1-1 to pass SB 400.  SB 400 is a bill authored by State Senator Anthony Portantino, D – La Cañada Flintridge, that requires Caltrans to freeze the rent for the homes located in the 710 corridor.  Decades ago, Caltrans purchased these homes to pave the way for the 710 freeway.  Caltrans is currently in the process of selling the homes.  After hearing concerns from renters in the cor