Senator Bill Dodd

SACRAMENTO – With a renewed focus on curbing racial inequities in health care, the Senate today overwhelmingly approved legislation from Sens. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles and Assemblymember Autumn Burke, D- Inglewood, to improve access to high-quality maternity treatment in California. Senate Bill 1237, sponsored by the California Nurse-Midwives Association and Black Women for Wellness, would address disparities in outcomes for Black women and infants and counter the obstetrician shortage – projected to be critical in some counties by 2025.

SACRAMENTO – The Senate today unanimously approved legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would aid people with disabilities and local governments during wildfire-related utility power shutoffs such as those last year from Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

SACRAMENTO – The Senate today unanimously approved legislation from Sens. Bill Dodd and Steve Glazer to ensure critical facilities such as hospitals, fire stations and water treatment plants can operate during wildfire-inspired electric utility power shutoffs such as those used last year by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, said today he is removing from consideration the legislation he proposed with Assemblymember Adam Gray, D-Merced, to legalize sports betting in California. Senate Constitutional Amendment 6 had been scheduled for hearing in the Appropriations committee Tuesday.

SACRAMENTO -- Legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would streamline residential insurance claims for victims of disasters such as wildfires was approved by the Senate today with overwhelming support.

SONOMA – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, will host a virtual town hall June 30 on community policing, race and reform amid the recent high-profile deaths of African Americans and people of color at the hands of law enforcement.

Sen. Dodd will be joined in the town hall broadcast live on KSVY/Sonoma TV and streamed across multiple channels by a panel of community leaders and experts who will answer submitted questions and take calls from listeners.

NAPA – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, will co-host a tele-town hall June 18 with California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on resources for small business and the community in an era of increasing wildfire risk and the coronavirus pandemic.

Sen. Dodd and Commissioner Lara will provide updates about the two challenges and the state’s response. Panelists will discuss state and federal resources, as well as wildfire prevention strategies as peak wildfire season approaches. Questions from listeners will be submitted via email.

SACRAMENTO – The California Senate today unanimously approved legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would help expedite and improve emergency evacuations in disasters such as wildfires by authorizing municipalities across the state to use European-style “hi-lo” sirens in patrol vehicles.

VALLEJO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today in response to a recent officer-involved shooting death by Vallejo police and the state Department of Justice’s announcement that it would review the Vallejo department’s policies and procedures on the use of lethal force:

“I appreciate the Attorney General coming in to review and help reform the Vallejo Police Department,” Sen. Dodd said. “From use of force, to elimination of bias and improving training, it’s critical that we have an outside review.”

SACRAMENTO – A proposal from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and Assemblymember Adam Gray, D-Merced, to legalize sports betting in California, taking the practice out of the shadows and generating hundreds of millions of dollars for the state budget deficit, cleared a key committee Tuesday.