SACRAMENTO – Today, after learning of the tragic story of Adam Raine, the California teen that ended his life after being allegedly encouraged to by ChatGPT, California State Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), penned a letter to every member of the California State Legislature (attached) urging them to support the critical protections in his legislation, Senate Bill 243. SB 243, the first-of-its-kind in the nation, would require chatbot operators to implement critical, reasonable, and attainable safeguards to protect users from the addictive, isolating, and influential aspects of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and provide families with a private right to pursue legal actions against noncompliant and negligent developers.

SACRAMENTO –  The California Assembly today passed Senator Dave Cortese’s SB 602 which would expand opportunities for animals to get health services across the state of California by permitting a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) to conduct vaccine and parasite control wellness appointments in many animal shelters.

SACRAMENTO – California Senate Transportation Chair Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley), state lawmakers, labor leaders, business leaders, and construction trade workers stood together today to call upon the Legislature to support the Governor’s proposal to dedicate $1 billion annually from Cap-and-Trade revenues to keep California’s high-speed rail on track.

SACRAMENTO – The following statement was issued by State Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley), Chair of the California Senate Transportation Committee, in response to the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2025 Supplemental Project Update Report. The Authority notes that long-term, stable state funding is essential to achieving commercial success and attracting private sector participation through potential public-private partnerships.

Despite a seven-month delay caused by the Eaton Fire, hundreds of constituents turned out to witness Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) take the ceremonial oath of office at Pasadena City College on Saturday, August 23.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) released the following statement today following an agreement between Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) and Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), California’s long standing system for addressing financially unsound school districts:

Senator Sasha Renée Pérez says immigration enforcement agents should have no place on California college campuses

ENCINITAS – Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, and local leaders joined together on Saturday to urge the Encinitas City Council to reject any proposal to remove core safety features along the recently completed $4.1 million western phase of the Santa Fe Drive Corridor Improvements Project.

Senator Sasha Renée Pérez will host a community swearing-in event tomorrow and will take a ceremonial oath of office, administered by Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) to represent District 25 in the California State Senate.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) issued the following statement on redistricting legislation:

“I was proud to stand alongside my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly and with Governor Gavin Newsom as we signed historic legislation that puts the power back in the hands of Californians.