SACRAMENTO, CA – California State Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, issued the following statement recognizing Dina El-Tawansy on her appointment as Director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans):

Federal cuts put billions in annual funding in the crosshairs for the University of California alone, jeopardizing progress on treatments for severe health conditions and life-saving wildfire research.

SB 1088 clarifies end-of-life care directives, so Californians get the medical care they want when they can no longer express their wishes
SACRAMENTO – Legislation by Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, to ensure Californians get the end-of-life care they desire passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

Today, Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) introduced Senate Bill 73 that would provide California elections with additional protection against outside interference. The bill is a follow-up to Senate Bill 851 (Cervantes), which Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law last year. SB 73 has an urgency clause that would allow its provisions to take effect for the June 2 statewide primary election if signed into law by the Governor in time.

State Senator Henry Stern (D–Los Angeles) and other legislators submitted a public letter to the California Air Resources Board urging the Board to strengthen the state’s Cap-and-Invest program and reject recent proposed changes that would weaken its effectiveness, jeopardize pollution targets, and redirect billions of dollars away from public investments.

(SACRAMENTO) – On Thursday, Senate Bill 928 by Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside)—which would help prevent California State University (CSU) faculty from being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI)—was approved unanimously on the Senate Floor. SB 928, sponsored by the California Faculty Association (CFA) and the California Federation of Labor Unions, would require that a faculty member and an instructor of record for a course must be human beings; the bill would protect the quality of education for students and teaching professionals, including CSU faculty.

Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes (D–Colton) and Assemblymember Mike Fong (D–Alhambra) joined students and higher education leaders for a press conference highlighting legislation to establish Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANHPI) designations in California.

Woodlake, Calif. (April 24, 2026) — Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield), joined by Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón, local leaders, and firefighters on Friday celebrated the arrival of a new Type 3 fire engine for the Woodlake Fire District, marking a significant investment in public safety for the Central Valley.

Two Senate committees approved landmark legislation Tuesday, The California Voting Rights Act of 2026, by Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside). Senate Bill 1164 and Senate Bill 1360, collectively termed CVRA 2026, were both approved by the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee, and SB 1164 was also approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. CVRA 2026 will fight voter suppression and vote dilution, expand access to the ballot and election materials for limited-English proficient voters, and provide the Attorney General and California voters with more tools to enforce voting rights laws.

Senator Allen advances two measures to improve how insurance can work for Californians
SACRAMENTO – Senator Ben Allen (D-Pacific Palisades) advanced SB 1209 and SB 1301 out of committee this week to provide stronger protections for policyholders, ensuring the system is ready to work for Californians when they are most vulnerable.