Senator Josh Becker

We need urgent action, and the federal dollars from the new law – coupled with the new laws we are considering in Sacramento – can drastically accelerate our path to 100%clean energy and a carbon-free future. In California, transformative change through climate investment and action has become a mantra in our Capitol. I’m heartened that with our President, the White House again embraces this theme. While we all have much work still before us, it is encouraging to see our President and Congress working to reclaim America’s position as a leader in climate action.

Senator Becker’s portfolio of climate action, social justice, economic equity, affordable housing and patient care bills now heads to the full Assembly for the final stretch of legislative reviews. “I’m grateful to all my bill partners, community advocates and legislative colleagues whose support helped these measures reach this critical stage,” Senator Becker said.

SACRAMENTO – Fifteen bills representing the array of Senator Josh Becker’s legislative priorities were cleared by the powerful Senate Appropriation Committee on Thursday, allowing the bills to advance to a floor vote by the state Legislature’s upper house.
The deadline for bills to pass their house of origin is May 27. Senator Becker’s bills are among the roughly 300 that are eligible for Senate votes next week.

Typically, summer heatwaves add stress to our electricity grid. Increased warming and extreme heat events from climate change add a further burden. What must California do to ensure grid reliability while also reducing use of fossil fuels? Senator Josh Becker, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Energy Future, holds a hearing to explore the issue.

Our state Senate and Assembly have approved historic investments for the recovery and resiliency of Californians and our state, while banking hefty reserves and positioning California for a strong future. We have a budget to be proud of. As a longtime advocate for education at all levels, affordable housing, mental health, economic equity, social justice and fast-tracking our clean energy transition, I’m pleased with budget elements we’re sending to the governor.

UPDATED: The Legislature approved more than $12 million in Peninsula investments proposed by Senator Josh Becker in the package of trailer bills that were passed on June 29 and sent to Governor Newsom, who signed them June 30. “This funding will help improve the lives of Peninsula residents while strongly contributing to a healthier environment, strengthening pathways to skilled, good-paying jobs, fostering entrepreneurship and local business, and creating parklets in our county seat for all to enjoy,” said state Senator Josh Becker, D-Peninsula.

This is a very dark day: Today, a highly politicized US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade to roll back human and reproductive rights. Not in California! Our Governor, our Legislative leaders and I are working to make California a place to welcome all women in need of the reproductive health services that SCOTUS has said can be denied.

Project Safety Net of Palo Alto, named by Senator Josh Becker as the 13th Senate District’s Nonprofit of the Year, took its place today among the state’s outstanding nonprofits that were celebrated at the Capitol. “Project Safety Net’s collaboration with our community organizations, schools and local government has created a strong network of support and services to prevent teen suicides and nurture the mental health and wellness of young people,” said Senator Becker, D-Peninsula.

A future that was unthinkable just a few years ago is quickly becoming reality. I will fight every day—for my daughter, and for all people—until our progress on reproductive rights is restored for everyone. In California, we value, protect and defend reproductive rights. I stand with our Governor, legislative leaders, Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, who have announced they are preparing a Constitutional amendment to ensure and protect access to abortion in California.

With a stroke of a pen, Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis signed Senator Josh Becker’s Senate Bill 504 into law today to ensure equal access to voter registration for overseas military personnel and people living with disabilities.The legislation was the first to be signed by Acting Governor Kounalakis and the first bill by Senator Becker to become law in 2022. “I’m so honored for Acting Governor Kounalakis to sign my voter access and equity legislation into law,” said Senator Becker, D-Menlo Park.