Senator John Laird

For Immediate Release
Contact: Richard Stapler, Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator John Laird issued the below statement following Governor Gavin Newsom’s State of the State address tonight:

For Immediate Release
Contact: Richard Stapler, Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
Senate Bill 418 will immediately create the Pajaro Valley Health Care District which is first in line to purchase the Watsonville Community Hospital

For Immediate Release
Contact: Richard Stapler, Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Bill 418, authored by State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) was approved by members of the State Senate with a bipartisan floor vote of 34 – 0.  SB 418 will preserve access to healthcare service for Pajaro Valley residents by forming a healthcare district and allowing the return to public ownership of Watsonville Community Hospital.

Contact: Richard Stapler
Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) is authoring urgency legislation, Senate Bill 418, to preserve access to health care for Pajaro Valley residents by forming a health care district and allowing the return to public ownership of Watsonville Community Hospital.
Today, SB 418 received unanimous bipartisan support in Assembly Local Government Committee. The bill now heads to the Assembly Floor for a vote of the full house.

SB 850 was introduced in honor of Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Deputy Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller
Contact: Richard Stapler
Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator John Laird (D – Santa Cruz) introduced Senate Bill 850 to ensure families of fallen officers receive their full survival benefits regardless of family structure.

Contact: Richard Stapler, Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – The chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) made the following statement today on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January budget proposal for 2022-23:

Contact: Richard Stapler, Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
Governor Newsom Signs Senator Laird’s Legislation to Improve the EDD

Contact: Richard Stapler
Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO, CA –Governor Newsom recently signed budget trailer bill AB 170 that includes $1 million for existing Garrapata State Park trails.
Garrapata State Park is situated on the northern end of the Big Sur coast and features seven miles of scenic rocky shoreline, coves, and the sandy expanse of Garrapata Beach. The park extends along four miles of State Coast Highway 1, encompassing a total of 2,902 acres.

Contact: Richard Stapler, Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO, CA – Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 456, authored by Senator John Laird (D – Santa Cruz).  This bill will require the state to establish a long-term fire-prevention action plan to ensure statewide investments to combat fires are comprehensive, science-based, and utilize complementary partnerships.

Contact: Richard Stapler
Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO, CA – Governor Newsom has announced the signing of Senate Bill 496, authored by Senator John Laird (D – Santa Cruz) to fund the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project. This bill directs the Department of Water Resources to pay 100 percent of the state’s cost share for reconstruction of the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project. This funding will enable environmental projects including groundwater management, floodplain recharge, and fishery protection.