Caucus News

With a vote of 37-0, the state Senate approved legislation to bring more oversight to the construction contractors’ industry, sending the bill introduced to address accountability gaps revealed by the Berkeley balcony tragedy to the governor for his consideration.

SACRAMENTO -- The Senate today sent Governor Brown a landmark measure by California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) that launches a retirement-security program for nearly 7 million private-sector workers in California who are currently without one.

The Senate’s approval of the California Secure Retirement Savings Program, SB 1234, by a bipartisan vote of 27-12 caps a six-year effort by Senator de León who worked with the Obama administration to make way for this first-of-its-kind state plan.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) released the following statement on the Legislature’s approval of $10 million for the construction of the Interlake Tunnel between Lake Nacimiento and Lake San Antonio in Monterey County:

SACRAMENTO – Legislation to help businesses recover from natural disasters recently passed the legislature with unanimous bipartisan support. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), will provide tax relief by allowing impacted businesses to defer tax payments without additional costs. The idea for the bill was brought forward by Board of Equalization Chairwoman Fiona Ma in the aftermath of the 2015 Valley Fire in Lake County.

Sacramento – SB 1160 authored by Senator Tony Mendoza, Chair of the Senate Labor & Industrial Relations Committee, is on its way to Governor Brown after receiving final approval today by the State Senate on an overwhelming bipartisan concurrence vote of 35 to 3.

San Diego, CA… Today, Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) Chair of the Senate Energy Utilities and Commerce Committee stated he is thrilled about President Obama’s announcement regarding the memorandum of understanding between The Department of Interior and the California Natural Resources Agency to mitigate the damage suffered by the Salton Sea. 

Bill will help renters and property owners conserve 
SACRAMENTO – Today, after a six-year effort, the State Legislature sent the Governor a landmark measure by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to encourage responsible water use and conservation by requiring water meters and submeters in new apartment and other multifamily residential buildings. 

(Sacramento, CA) – Senator Richard D. Roth’s (D-Riverside) proposal to restore lost funding to Riverside County’s four newest cities has been approved by the California State Senate on a bipartisan, unanimous vote of 39-0, sending the measure to Governor Brown for his signature.

“I am proud that both houses of the Legislature have rallied behind our cities in bipartisan support,” said Senator Roth. “I am confident the Governor will recognize that SB 817’s approval not only restores lost funding, but restores an important measure of fairness and equity for our cities.”

Informational Hearings on Drug Prices Planned & Mylan CEO Invited to Participate

Today, in the final hours of the California State Legislative session, Senate Joint Resolution 29, authored by Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), was approved by the State Legislature and will be now sent to Washington, D.C. SJR 29 urges Congress to take action against the company Mylan, which makes the EpiPen.

(SACRAMENTO, CA)– The State Senate voted 25-12 yesterday to send Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. a measure by State Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to help failing public water systems in disadvantaged communities throughout California provide their customers with safe and affordable drinking water. 
Wolk’s Senate Bill 552 would authorize the State Water Resources Control Board to contract with a third party to provide administrative and managerial services to failing public water systems.