Senator Nancy Skinner

In honor of the 49th Anniversary of Roe. V. Wade, California Legislative Women’s Caucus Chair Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), Vice Chair Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), and other caucus members announced a united effort today to strengthen and expand access to abortion and ensure that California is a national beacon for reproductive freedom.

Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, released the following statements regarding Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2022-23 state budget:

Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins:

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, announced her plan today to introduce legislation that would create Hope Savings Accounts for California children who’ve lost a parent or primary caregiver due to COVID-19. Skinner plans to introduce The Hope for Children Act when the Legislature’s session begins in January.

With a strong fiscal outlook for California on the horizon that includes more than $51 billion in available discretionary resources for schools and other General Fund purposes, the Senate has begun work on a budget plan that harnesses the state’s wealth to ensure a more equitable economy that uplifts California families.

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, issued the following statement regarding the tragic passing today of longtime Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan, who was struck and killed by a car:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed SB 81, legislation by Sen. Nancy Skinner that provides guidelines to judges on the use of sentence enhancements. SB 81 is designed to address the proliferation of sentence enhancements, which can often double the length of a prison term and have been disproportionately applied to people of color and those suffering from mental illness.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 354, which removes obstacles in the foster care system that have prevented children from being placed with a relative caregiver who may have a past conviction. Current law can prevent someone from caring for a child, even when their past conviction is decades old and they pose no safety risk to the child.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed SB 65, the California Momnibus Act, by Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. SB 65 is aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality that is disproportionately impacting Black families and other families of color. SB 65 will require the California Department of Public Health to investigate maternal and infant deaths and strengthen research and data collection on racial, socio-economic and other factors that contribute to these deaths and poor health outcomes.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed SB 16, legislation by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, that expands public access to police misconduct records and strengthens communities’ ability to hold law enforcement agencies accountable. SB 16 opens access to records on officers who have engaged in biased or discriminatory behavior, conducted unlawful arrests or searches, or used force that is excessive or unreasonable.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 290, which will update the state’s density bonus law to support more affordable housing, particularly for low-income college students. The governor signed SB 290 as part of a package of 27 housing bills that he approved at an event in Oakland.