Senator Scott Wiener

SB 3 Increases Floor Wage in Two Steps: $11 an hour in 2016 and $13 in 2017, Automatic Adjustments Start in 2019
SACRAMENTO – Legislation that would help lift California’s low-wage earners out of poverty passed the Senate today. Senate Bill 3, authored by Senator Mark Leno, would raise the state’s minimum wage to $11 an hour in 2016 and $13 in 2017. The bill is jointly authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva, D-Chino.

SAN FRANCISCO – Senator Mark Leno has named four local community leaders as his Women of the Year for Senate District 11. The women receiving the honor include Susan Brissenden-Smith, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, Manufou Liaga-Anoa’l, and Doniece Sandoval.

Senator Mark Leno issued the following statement following Contra Costa County Probation Department's decision to end its use of solitary confinement for all youth detained in Contra Costa County Juvenile Hall.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Mark Leno, Chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, released the following statement today regarding Governor Jerry Brown’s revised budget for 2015-16.

SACRAMENTO – Legislation that would allow the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) to increase its use of renewable energy passed the Senate today. SB 502, authored by Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, allows the regional passenger rail system to purchase wholesale electricity directly from renewable energy sources, enabling BART to reduce the carbon footprint of hundreds of thousands of Bay Area commuters.

SACRAMENTO – Caregivers tasked with placing California foster youth in homes would be required to take a young person’s gender identity into consideration when making this critical decision, under new legislation passed by a key Senate committee. Senate Bill 731, authored by Senator Mark Leno, is designed to ensure that all foster youth, including those who identify as transgender, are placed in appropriate homes where they feel safe and accepted. The bill passed the Senate Human Services Committee on Tuesday with a 3-0 vote.

SB 215 Limits the Powers of the CPUC President, Restricts Back-Channel Communications and Sets Standards to Curb Bias
SACRAMENTO – Following ongoing revelations of unethical back-channel communications between the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the utilities it regulates, Senator Mark Leno today announced significant legislative reforms to help rebuild public trust in this important agency.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Mark Leno has introduced new legislation that would help mitigate the negative impacts of Ellis Act evictions in San Francisco. Senate Bill 364 closes a loophole in the Ellis Act that allows speculators to buy rent-controlled buildings in San Francisco and immediately begin the process of evicting long-term renters. The new bill mirrors SB 1439, which was approved by the Senate last year but fell one vote short in the Assembly Housing Committee.

SACRAMENTO – A bill introduced in the Senate today would help consumers make more informed decisions about their privacy when installing a new smartphone or tablet application that will track their location using GPS. Senate Bill 576, authored by Senator Mark Leno, requires that consumers get a clear notice explaining how their location information will be used and shared when they install a new app. It also ensures that app users give expressed consent before their geolocation data can be collected and shared.

Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Hearing: Wednesday, March 4