Senator Nancy Skinner

In a letter to Congress today, Sen. Nancy Skinner called on the federal government to take bold action this year to address childhood hunger. The letter was addressed to U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA), chair of the House Rules Committee.

Chair McGovern is hosting a hearing Ending Hunger in America: Examining the Role Schools Play in Ending Hunger and Improving Nutrition, on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 8 a.m. Pacific.

The governor signed SB 27 as part of a package of climate and budget legislation that included a record-setting $15 billion in funding for climate, wildfire, and drought resilience, along with unprecedented investments in zero emission vehicles and sustainable farming practices.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed SB 8, legislation by Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, that extends the provisions of the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 until 2030, streamlining the creation of more housing throughout the state. Gov. Newsom signed SB 8 as part of a package of bills designed to boost the number of new housing units throughout California.

The California state Senate voted unanimously today to approve Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 354, which will remove obstacles from children in the foster care system being placed with a relative caregiver who may have a past conviction, once the placement has been fully vetted to ensure the child’s safety. Earlier on Friday, the state Assembly passed SB 354 on a vote of 49-0. The legislation now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom for consideration.

The California state Senate today approved Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 65, the California Momnibus Act, on a 31-5 vote. SB 65, which is designed to improve maternal and infant outcomes, particularly in families of color. SB 65 won unanimous approval from the state Assembly on Thursday on a vote of 77-0.

The California state Senate voted 23-11 today to approve Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 81, which would establish judicial guidance on the use of sentencing enhancements. SB 81 won approval yesterday in the state Assembly on a 46-24 vote. The legislation now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom for consideration.

SB 81 is designed to address the proliferation of sentence enhancements in California, which can often double the length of years of a prison term and have been disproportionately applied to people of color and those suffering from mental illness.

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, issued the following statement on the end-of-session budget agreement between the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom, which was approved today by the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, for which she is chair:

The CA state Senate today unanimously approved Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 524, also known as “Choose Your Own Pharmacist,” on a 35-0 vote. SB 524, which won approval in the state Assembly yesterday on a vote of 57-7, will help ensure that patients can use the pharmacy they prefer by prohibiting “patient steering” — a practice in which health care plans and their agents limit what pharmacy can be used, even when the patient’s preferred pharmacy is in the patient’s health plan network. SB 524 now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom for consideration.

The California state Senate today greenlighted Sen. Nancy Skinner’s carbon sequestration bill, SB 27, on a vote of 34-4. SB 27, which is co-authored by Assemblymember Robert Rivas, D-Salinas, won unanimous approval in the state Assembly yesterday on a 75-0 vote. It would expand California’s carbon removal capability, also known as sequestration, as well as improve the carbon retention of the state’s natural and working lands. SB 27 now goes to Gov. Newsom for consideration.

The California Legislature today approved SB 16, which will expand public access to police misconduct records and strengthen communities’ ability to hold law enforcement agencies accountable. The bill by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, 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.