Caucus News

Senator Anthony J. Portantino

Senator Portantino’s Pasadena Affordable Housing Bill Sent to Governor’s Desk

August 31, 2022

Sacramento, CA - Senate Bill 959, authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) passed the Legislature and is on the Governor’s desk for signature.  With the SR 710 freeway gap between Alhambra and Pasadena no longer on the table, the City of Pasadena expressed a need for legislative changes to the current property sales process.

Senator Toni Atkins

Senate Leader Atkins, Budget Chair Skinner Applaud Final Budget Allocations Approved by Legislature

August 31, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Chair of the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review,  released the following statements regarding the Senate’s passage of the August Budget Package, a series of bills to further delineate 2022-23 budget funding that will bolster California’s commitment to putting its wealth to work to benefit all who live in the Golden State:

 Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins:

Senator Anthony J. Portantino

Portantino/Garcia Bill to Expand and Enhance Health Care Coverage for Necessary Breast Cancer Screening Sent to Governor

August 31, 2022

Sacramento, CA – Senate Bill, 974 authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) addresses a significant flaw in women’s healthcare insurance coverage.  The bill fixes a delay and absence of live-saving early detection diagnosis by expanding health care coverage for diagnostic breast imaging following an abnormal mammography.  SB 974 has passed both houses of the Legislature and is on the Governor’s desk for signature.

Senator Anthony J. Portantino

Portantino/Wilk Bill to Expand Critical Services for Young Disabled Californians Heads to Governor’s Desk

August 31, 2022

Sacramento, CA - Senate Bill 870, a measure authored by Senators Anthony J. Portantino and Scott Wilk, seeks to increases the “age of onset” definition of a developmental disability to twenty-two.  In addition, it expands supportive services and programs for those 18-21 who are developmentally disabled.  SB 870 is now headed to the Governor’s desk for signature. 

Senator Anthony J. Portantino

Portantino Bill Implementing Car Free Incentive Program Headed to Governor’s Desk

August 31, 2022

Sacramento, CA - Senate Bill 457, authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) creates a rebate program for each person without a car in a household.  It passed the Legislature and  is headed to the Governor’s desk for signature.  The bill is aimed at reducing California’s dependence on cars, providing more incentives for walking and bicycling, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  It was initiated and sponsored by Streets for All.

Connie M. Leyva

Senator Leyva Urges Governor to Sign Bill Empowering Sexual Assault Survivors

August 31, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Earlier today, the California State Senate gave final legislative approval to Senate Bill 916 by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino), an important bill that will empower survivors with critical information following a sexual assault.  By equipping them with this information, survivors will be able to make informed decisions regarding steps they wish to take, or not, in the post-assault process.

Bob Wieckowski

Legislature approves Wieckowski's final ADU bill

August 31, 2022

SACRAMENTO — The California Legislature approved SB 897, Senator Bob Wieckowski’s (D-Fremont) final accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bill to help homeowners construct ADUs by removing unnecessary barriers that hinder develop. The bill now goes to Governor Newsom for his consideration.

Senator Bill Dodd

Legislature Approves Sen. Dodd’s Medical Equipment Re-Use Bill

August 31, 2022

SACRAMENTO – The California Legislature today approved a bill from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to improve the lives of the state’s most vulnerable including seniors and the disabled by increasing access to specialized medical equipment.

Connie M. Leyva

Leyva Bill Restoring Salary Steps for CSU Employees Moves to Governor’s Desk

August 31, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Earlier today, the Legislature approved Senate Bill 410 by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that will require the California State University (CSU) to implement a nine-step merit salary system for all California State University non-faculty staff employees, many of whom are the lowest-paid employees at the university system—such as custodians and groundskeepers.  This legislation will provide parity with California’s other 233 state agencies and over 210,000 state employees.

Bob Wieckowski

Senate sends Wieckowski wage garnishment bill to Governor Newsom

August 31, 2022

SACRAMENTO — Californians struggling to pay down their debts while dealing with rising costs from inflation and supply shortages will get assistance to help them avoid falling deeper into financial crisis if Governor Newsom signs a bill passed by the Senate last night.