Senator Scott Wiener

Sacramento –  Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) offered the following statement on the passage of Senate Bill 2, which authorizes a fee on real estate transfers that will be used  to fund affordable housing. Senator Wiener is a co-author of SB 2, along with lead author Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego). SB 2 now heads to the Assembly for consideration.

Sacramento –  Today the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee approved Senate Bill 384, a bill authored by Senator Scott Wiener to allow – but not require – local communities to extend alcohol service to as late as 4 a.m. The LOCAL Act, which stands for Let Our Communities Adjust Late Night, applies to bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, but not to liquor stores.

Sacramento –  Today, Senators Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) and Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) adjourned the California State Senate in memory of Arnold C. Lee of Millbrae, who died at the age of 80 on June 23. Arnold was a leader in the Chinese community, including serving as president of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, and as a board member of the Lee Family Association and of the Central Chinese High School in America.

Sacramento – Today, Senate Bill 35, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) to address California’s housing shortage, cleared a key Assembly Committee, an important step as the bill makes its way through the State Assembly after passing the Senate earlier this month.

Sacramento –  Today the Senate Environmental Quality Committee passed a bill by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) to fix state recycling laws that are negatively impacting small businesses across California. SB 458 authorizes CalRecycle to create five mobile recycling pilot programs throughout the state, which will allow cities like San Francisco to pursue a mobile recycling redemption program.

Sacramento – Yesterday, the California Legislature approved the Cannabis Safe Payment Act as part of the California Budget. Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) partnered with Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Board of Equalization Chair Fiona Ma (who sponsored the bill) to introduce Senate Bill 148 to make it safer and simpler for cannabis business owners to pay state fees and taxes, encouraging compliance with state laws and providing support for business owners.

Sacramento –  Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) adjourned the California State Senate in memory of the three victims of yesterday’s shooting at a UPS facility in San Francisco. In speaking of Wayne Chan, 56, of San Francisco, Benson Louie, 50, of San Francisco, and Michael Lefiti, 46, of Hercules, Senator Wiener said:

Sacramento –  Today the Senate approved Senator Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 35 – which will create a streamlined approval process for housing in cities that are not meeting their housing goals required by the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). This streamlining will expedite the construction of critically needed housing. SB 35 was approved by a vote of 25-12, receiving support from both Democrats and Republicans, including from co-authors Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), and Andy Vidak (R-Hanford.)

Sacramento – Today the Senate passed a bill authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) that will modernize laws that criminalize and stigmatize people living with HIV.  Senate Bill 239 would amend California’s HIV criminalization laws, enacted in the 1980s and ‘90s at a time of fear and ignorance about HIV and its transmission, to make them consistent with laws involving other serious communicable diseases.

The bill now moves to the Assembly for consideration.

Sacramento –  Today, the Senate approved two bills by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) to dramatically expand and transform California’s use of solar energy and meet its aggressive renewable energy goals. SB 71 will expand rooftop solar, and SB 700 will provide customer rebates for installing energy storage systems, which will allow solar energy to be used at night. SB 700 also ensures that energy storage investments will be made in low-income and economically disadvantaged communities.