Caucus News

Is the legal system failing our children? On the latest Then There's California podcast, Senator Susan Rubio, advocate Ana Estevez, whose son was murdered by his father, and Kathleen Russell, founder of the Center of Judicial Excellence, talk about reforming family court so that child safety is first.

Contact: Richard Stapler
Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator John Laird (D – Santa Cruz), Chair of the Senate Working Group on Climate Change, presented Senate Bill 1020, The Clean Energy Jobs and Affordability Act of 2022 in the Senate Appropriations committee.
The bill is a product of months of collaboration by the Senate Working Group to meet the challenges of climate change, adaptation, and resiliency through an equitable lens.

NAPA – Napa County’s Mentis has been serving the mental health needs of young people, adults and seniors for decades, providing life-saving treatment including suicide prevention and mental health therapy in Spanish and English, in times of crisis including earthquakes, wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. For Mentis’ significant contribution to the community’s mental well-being, it has been named Nonprofit of the Year for Senate District 3 by Sen. Bill Dodd.

Pico Rivera, CA – Senator Archuleta’s bill SB 1323 to require lenders in foreclosure proceedings to hire a realtor and sell the secured property for its appraised value on a multiple listing service has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. This would allow the defaulted homeowner to be paid for their full savings in home equity in every applicable foreclosure.   

Sacramento, CA- In a 4 to 0 vote, the Senate Governance and Finance Committee passed SB 1246 to make settlements from the Woolsey and Thomas fires nontaxable. Combined, both fires burned almost 380,000 acres of land in southern California, destroyed almost 3000 structures, and caused over $8 billion in damages. This vote marks a major victory for the thousands of people having lost homes, businesses, and possessions to these widespread tragedies.

Pico Rivera, CA – Senator Archuleta’s bill SB 1323 to require lenders in foreclosure proceedings to hire a realtor and sell the secured property for its appraised value on a multiple listing service has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. This would allow the defaulted homeowner to be paid for their full savings in home equity in every applicable foreclosure.   

Sacramento — California made craft beer cool. The industry, still mostly mom-and-pop and independently owned and operated, contributes almost $10 billion to the state’s economy from over 1,200 craft breweries that call the Golden State home. Craft brewers employ 66,000 Californians.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)’s legislation, Senate Bill 1336, which establishes a carryforward tax credit for commercial cannabis retailers, has passed the Senate Governance and Finance Committee by a bipartisan vote of 4-0. It now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Sacramento, CA - Senate Bill 1079, a measure introduced by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) to monitor noise pollution by using sound activated devices, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee today.  Streets for All, a nonprofit organization that advocates for street safety, is a sponsor of the measure.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Starting May 1st, approximately 235,000 Californians previously ineligible Californians now qualify for Medi-Cal coverage under an extension spearheaded by California State Senator María Elena Durazo through last year’s budget process and signed by Governor Newsom.

As the program kicks off, Senator Durazo issued the following statement:

"After years of tireless work from organizers and advocates, all eligible Californians 50 and older regardless of their immigrations status will have access to full-scope health coverage.