Senator Steven M. Glazer

State Sen. Steven Glazer (D-Contra Costa) called Friday for state regulators and the Legislature to consider far-reaching reforms aimed at strengthening California’s electrical grid against wildfires, keeping the power on during high-wind events, and ensuring that mobile phone service remains available during disasters. 

“The status quo is not acceptable,” Glazer said. “Ten-year plans are not sufficient. We need to move now to modernize our infrastructure and our laws so we can keep the power on and keep our communities safe.”

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Steve Glazer on Friday applauded Governor Gavin Newsom's appointment of Harriet Richardson as the first Inspector General for BART, a position created to give the agency’s board and the public an independent set of eyes and ears to hold managers accountable for the safe, clean and efficient operation of the transit system.

SACRAMENTO – For the first time in more than a decade, California voters could get the chance to approve higher education bonds to improve classrooms, labs and libraries on California State University and University of California campuses under legislation approved by the Senate Wednesday.

SACRAMENTO – California renters who have been drowning in unaffordable housing costs would see much-needed relief under a bill unveiled Wednesday by State Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa), Assembly members Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County) and 28 co-authors.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, released this response today to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal:

“I applaud Gov. Newsom for proposing a budget that invests in education, health care and housing – all the crucial needs of the state – while offering a prudent approach to taking on our long-term obligations. I look forward to working with him and my fellow legislators to hammer out the details of a plan that gives every Californian the opportunity to succeed and take part in our growing economy.”

ORINDA – The state’s top political watchdog on Thursday asked local district attorneys and the attorney general to prosecute BART for its illegal use of public funds for political purposes.

Sacramento – California’s growing pension liability is threatening California’s economic future, unless elected leaders show the courage to take on needed reforms, according to Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, and Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, R-Dublin, who will kick off their 2018 Bipartisan Speaker Series on the topic on Monday, January 22.

Statement from Sen. Glazer

SACRAMENTO – I want to thank Gov. Jerry Brown for signing SB 558, which allows the Secretary of State to place my rainwater recycling measure on the June 2018 ballot.

The measure, SCA 9, would allow property owners to install rainwater capture systems without triggering a reassessment of the value of their property and an increase in their property taxes. It is modeled after a similar exclusion that helped the solar industry get off the ground back in the 1980s.

SACRAMENTO – New state employees would be free to opt out of the state pension plan and choose a self-directed and portable retirement plan instead under legislation introduced today by State Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda).

Glazer’s bill, SB 1149, would offer new employees a 401 (K)-style plan in which their own contributions would be fully matched by the state, at the same level the state now contributes to the California Public Employees Retirement System defined benefit plan.

Sacramento, CA – State Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) introduced legislation that will help financially strapped California renters get some relief from rising housing prices by doubling the size of the state’s renter’s tax credit.

The bill, SB 1182, would increase the credit to $120 for renters filing their taxes as individuals and $240 for joint filers. It would be the first increase in the credit since 1979.

The credit goes to individuals with adjusted gross incomes of $40,078 or less and to joint filers with incomes of $80,156 or less.