Caucus News

Senator Nancy Skinner

SB 1014, Senator Skinner’s Electrify California Ride-hailing bill (E-CAr) Clears Senate Transportation and Housing Committee

April 24, 2018

Senator Nancy Skinner’s (D-Berkeley) E-CAr bill, SB 1014, was passed by the California State Senate Transportation and Housing Committee today and now goes on to Senate Appropriations. E-CAr, which stands for Electrify California Ride-hailing, would accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles and other zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) deployed by ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft. Skinner’s legislation would set zero-emission targets for rides arranged through Transportation Network Companies (TNCs).

Senator Nancy Skinner

Nancy Skinner’s SB 1227 to Boost Student Housing Clears Senate Transportation and Housing Committee

April 24, 2018

This afternoon, the California State Senate Transportation and Housing Committee passed Senator Nancy Skinner’s (D-Berkeley) bill aimed at increasing the production of needed housing for California’s college and university students. The bill, SB 1227, would change state housing law to encourage the construction of student housing and ensure affordable student units are included in that housing. SB 1227 will now move to Senate Appropriations.

Senator Nancy Skinner

Skinner and Beall’s Funding to Reduce Homelessness Clears Key Committee

April 24, 2018

SB 912 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Senator Jim Beall (D-Campbell) was passed by the California State Senate Transportation and Housing Committee on Tuesday. The bill now goes to Senate Appropriations. SB 912 would direct $2 billion of this year’s unanticipated revenue to provide homeless and affordable housing, and homeless services.

Senator Henry Stern

Stern’s Iconic African Species Protection Act Advances

April 24, 2018

SACRAMENTO — Today the Senate Public Safety Committee approved SB 1487, the Iconic African Species Protection Act by Senator Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park) in a 5-2 vote.

Senator Henry Stern

Stern’s Iconic African Species Protection Act Advances

April 24, 2018

SACRAMENTO — Today the Senate Public Safety Committee approved SB 1487, the Iconic African Species Protection Act by Senator Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park) in a 5-2 vote.

Connie M. Leyva

Senate Public Safety Committee Passes Leyva Bill Addressing High Suicide Rates at State Prisons

April 24, 2018

SACRAMENTO – Earlier today, the Senate Public Safety Committee unanimously approved SB 960 authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) which would ensure that state prisons in California promptly inform an inmate’s listed family member or contact person following the inmate’s serious illness/injury or death, including attempted suicide.

Senator Richard D. Roth

Addressing the Homelessness Crisis One “#,” One License Plate at a Time

April 24, 2018

(SACRAMENTO) – Today, the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee approved a bill by Senator Richard D. Roth that will empower California drivers to lead social change one hashtag at a time. SB 1112 creates a specialized license plate allowing the use of the “#” symbol, which will fund supportive and transitional services.

Senator Richard D. Roth

Senate Judiciary Committee Protects a Patient’s Right to Medical Records

April 24, 2018

(SACRAMENTO) – Today, Senator Richard D. Roth’s Medical Records Protection Act cleared another legislative milestone. After extensive questioning and contentious debate, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved SB 1238 in a bipartisan 6 to 0 vote, deciding that a patient has the right to be notified before their medical records are destroyed.

Senator Nancy Skinner

Senator Skinner’s SB 1437 BESTT Practices Act Passes Key Committee

April 24, 2018

Today, SB 1437, the Better and Equitable Sentencing Through Thoughtful (BESTT) Practices Act by State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) passed out of the Public Safety Committee and will now go on to Senate Appropriations. SB 1437 was introduced to clarify the use of California’s “felony murder” rule to ensure that individuals are charged appropriately for the crime they actually committed.

Senator Nancy Skinner

Senator Skinner’s “Craft Distiller Op-pour-tunity” Act Passes Committee Vote

April 24, 2018

In a move that’s sure to lift the spirits of California’s small distilleries, State Senator Nancy Skinner’s (D-Berkeley) SB 1164, the “Craft Distiller Op-pour-tunity” Act passed out of the California State Senate Governmental Organization Committee with bipartisan support and now goes on to Senate Appropriations. The Craft Distiller Op-pour-tunity Act would modify existing regulations to give craft distillers more leeway to sell and offer samples of their products.