Senator Bill Dodd

NAPA – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters, will host a free, tax help day Feb. 11 in their Napa offices. Experts from the California Society of Enrolled Agents will provide one-on-one assistance, answering questions on a wide variety of tax topics including the Affordable Care Act, running a business, buying a home, getting married and AB 5, the state’s new law regarding independent contractors. Assistance will be available in English and Spanish.

 SACRAMENTO –Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced legislation today that would help schools recover funding and instructional time lost by wildfire-related power shutoffs from Pacific Gas & Electric Co and other utilities.

“Educating our children is priority one, so communities stricken by PG&E’s poorly executed power outages shouldn’t be forced to endure losses to their school budgets,” Sen. Dodd said. “My bill will ensure school districts are made financially whole while providing a mechanism to offer makeup days for students who have missed value classroom time.”

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today in response to an objection filed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the bankruptcy financing scheme proposed by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.:

SACRAMENTO -- Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced legislation today to streamline residential insurance claims for victims of disasters such as wildfires.

“When someone has lost their home or suffered serious damage in a disaster, they shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get coverage they are entitled to,” Sen. Dodd said. “Insurance companies must act swiftly to advance living expenses for temporary housing and other costs and they shouldn’t bury home owners in exhaustive inventory forms. People who pay their premiums deserve to be made whole without unnecessary delay.”

SACRAMENTO –Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today he’s introduced new legislation to improve conditions in California during wildfire-related utility power shutoffs such as those last year from Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

“Power shutoffs must be limited in scope and duration, which is something PG&E has so far failed miserably to do,” Sen. Dodd said. “But if they do happen, utilities must protect our most vulnerable populations, and we must ensure our local governments have the ability and resources to respond.”

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, released the following statement today regarding Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2020-21 state budget:

“I appreciate Gov. Newsom’s continued investment in wildfire prevention and emergency preparedness. This budget makes critical investments in bolstering education, combating homelessness, and saving for a rainy day. I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues in the Legislature to build on this framework.”

Highlights of the governor’s proposed $222.2 billion budget include:

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced legislation today to improve horse racing safety across California and build on reforms adopted last year.

“We must do everything we can to put safety first and stop unacceptable horse deaths,” Sen. Dodd said.  “We must ensure track conditions are right and horses are fit before they hit the starting gate so we aren’t jeopardizing them and their jockeys.”

SACRAMENTO –Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced legislation today to extend a pilot program in Napa and San Bernardino counties that helps prevent urban sprawl and protects natural resources.

“This is a common sense measure that helps extend necessary services while reducing the need for new wells or septic systems,” Sen. Dodd said. “It embraces our goals to preserve agricultural land and open space while focusing new construction in city centers and transportation corridors.”

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and Assemblymember Adam Gray, D-Merced, will convene a joint Senate-Assembly informational hearing Jan. 8 in Sacramento on a proposal to legalize sports betting in California.

SACRAMENTO – Sixteen new laws written by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, take effect Jan. 1 including measures to enhance wildfire safety, protect the elderly, promote new housing and improve transportation. No other legislator had more bills signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2019.