Caucus News

SACRAMENTO — The state Senate today approved Senator Bob Wieckowski’s (D-Fremont) bill to have the California Energy Commission (CEC) create a carbon capture grant program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the state meet its climate goals. SB 1399 passed with bipartisan support and now heads to the state Assembly.

SACRAMENTO – The California Senate today voted unanimously to approve legislation written by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, D-San Diego, and co-written by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to add wine and distilled spirits bottles to California’s recycling program.

SACRAMENTO – Legislation written by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) to add wine and distilled spirits bottles to California’s recycling program passed the California State Senate 39-0 and now moves on to consideration in the Assembly.

SACRAMENTO – SB 1375, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins’ (D-San Diego) legislation to increase access to affordable, quality abortion and reproductive care in California, was passed today by the California State Senate, moving the opportunity for more trained and qualified nurse practitioners to provide abortions without the supervision of a doctor one step closer to becoming law.

SACRAMENTO - Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)’s Senate Bill 964, the Behavioral Health Workforce Revitalization Act, passed the Senate with a unanimous, bipartisan vote. It will now head to the Assembly for policy committee hearings.

SB 964 increases California’s investment in its behavioral health workforce in order to retain workers, increase the size of the behavioral health workforce, and support behavioral health workers who are facing a significant increase in demand for services.

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)’s Senate Bill 1144, the Safe and Efficient Water Act, passed the Senate by a vote of 35-1. It will now head to the Assembly for policy committee hearings. SB 1144 requires public schools and state agencies to complete a water quality and efficiency assessment on their facilities. This bill ensures our public schools and state agencies have safe, drinkable water. Far too many school children and other California residents currently lack access to clean water.

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) legislation to address the student and faculty housing shortage, Senate Bill 886, passed the Senate by a vote of 31-1. It now heads to the Assembly for policy committee hearings.

Yesterday I was on the floor of the State Senate, speaking in support of a resolution honoring the late civil rights hero Harvey Milk - whose life was cut short by a bullet from an angry man’s gun. In the course of those remarks I noted how leaders like Milk have the capacity to provide hope for a better tomorrow in a troubled world and I acknowledged how elusive the feeling of hope can be in today’s world, particularly given the nastiness of our political discourse and the seemingly never-ending stream of mass shootings.

Sacramento, CA - Senate Bill 932, a measure introduced by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) to prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety, passed the Senate Floor today.  The bill would require California cities to take concrete steps to reduce traffic collisions and fatalities and has garnered an impressive list of supporters, including Streets For All, ActiveSGV, CalBike, and Streets Are For Everyone.   

SACRAMENTO – With bipartisan support, the California State Senate today passed an important bill by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that establishes universal preschool in California by expanding access to care and early learning opportunities for California’s youngest learners.  Specifically, Senate Bill 976 ensures that parents have the option to send their children to a public elementary school provider or a community-based childcare provider to benefit from universal preschool.