Senator Benjamin Allen

SACRAMENTO – After receiving more than two-thirds of all votes cast in the November 8 election for the new 24th Senate District, Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) was sworn into office today at the Capitol. Both houses of the California Legislature kicked off the 2023-2024 legislative session with organizational votes and family celebrations. Legislators will be in recess until January 5.

Sacramento – Californians incarcerated due to criminal penalty enhancements that are no longer in state law may soon have those enhancements retroactively removed from their record. Governor Newsom’s signature of Senate Bill 483 last week, authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), applies the repeal of these demonstrably ineffective enhancements to people currently in jails and prisons, subject to court review and approval.

Sacramento – As Governor Gavin Newsom takes steps to prohibit new oil wells and facilities within a 3,200-foot exclusion area – or setback – from sensitive locations such as homes, schools, and hospitals, State Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and Co-Chair of the Environmental Caucus, today applauded the proposal that would also require pollution controls for existing wells and facilities within the same areas.

Sacramento – A first-in-the-nation recycling reform bill was signed into law by Governor Newsom on Tuesday. Senate Bill 343, by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), expands the existing Truth in Environmental Advertising law, which prohibits use of the word “recyclable” on unrecyclable products, to say manufacturers cannot use the chasing-arrows symbol (also known as the recycling symbol) or any other suggestion that a material is easily recyclable if it is not.

Sacramento, CA – Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal of a $214 billion state budget plan today –with allocations to fight wildfires, tackle drought, and transition to clean energy –State Senator Ben Allen (D –Santa Monica), chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and co-chair of the Environmental Caucus, released the following statement.

Sacramento, CA – Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal of a $214 billion state budget plan today, State Senator Ben Allen (D –Santa Monica) released the following statement.

Sacramento – The California Legislature will consider establishing an innovative program to help communities plan for and adapt to the long-term impacts of sea-level rise, Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) announced today. SB 1078 would create a revolving loan fund to offer low-interest, state-backed loans for local governments to buy threatened coastal property at a fair price. The measure will prioritize funding for under-resourced communities and those hardest-hit by climate change.
 

Los Angeles, CA -- With California gas prices topping $5 to $7 per gallon, California State Senator Ben Allen joined with consumer advocates today to announce new legislation that will require oil refiners to disclose once a month the price they pay for crude oil and the profit margins they make on the gasoline they refine and sell.SB 1322 (Allen), the California Oil Refinery Cost Disclosure Act, will allow Californians to finally know how much the big five oil refiners in the state are profiting from each gallon of gasoline they sell.

SACRAMENTO ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­– Senator Ben Allen today announced that he has named El Segundo-based Grades of Green as Nonprofit of the Year for the 26th Senate District. 

SACRAMENTO ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­– The most comprehensive measure in the nation to address the plastic waste crisis was signed into law today by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), Senate Bill 54 places the responsibility for costs on the producers rather than the local communities who pay for waste management and recycling.