Caucus News

SACRAMENTO – California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s recent comments about the state of California:

(Sacramento) – In the wake of a major human trafficking sweep in Los Angelesyielding474 arrests and identifying at least 55 survivors, State Senator Henry Stern introduced legislation supported by a coalition of human trafficking groups, to expand access to hotline services.

Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) today announced the introduction of SB 219, the California LGBT Seniors Long-Term Care Bill of Rights, which will strengthen protections for LGBT seniors living in long-term care facilities against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status. The bill would protect all seniors living in skilled nursing facilities, immediate care facilities, and residential care facilities.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, introduced a constitutional amendment today that will help California better manage water by allowing agencies to adjust their rates to encourage conservation and provide discounts to people struggling to pay their water bills.

Sacramento – Testifying before two environmental committees chaired by Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) today, the head of the Independent Review Panel (IRP) charged with making recommendations to improve the Department of Toxic Substances Control said the department needs consistent leadership, organizational improvements, a stable budget and increased transparency and accountability to fulfill its core functions in the future.

SACRAMENTO – Earlier today, Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) introduced a critical bill to ensure that K-12 students across California have access to clean drinking water at school.

California Senate Committee Approves Senate Leader de León’s “California Values Act”

SACRAMENTO – A Senate policy committee Tuesday approved the “California Values Act” by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) to prevent the use of state and local resources for federal immigration enforcement actions that will separate families and hurt the state’s economy.

SACRAMENTO –Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) recently introduced new legislation to support public libraries by giving local communities more flexibility to approve library bonds. 

“Our public libraries provide critical services to our state, educating future generations, promoting lifelong learning and providing cultural enrichment,” said Senator Bill Dodd. “That’s why we need to empower local communities to better maintain and expand the accessibility and capacity at their public libraries.”

Two of the seventeen federal Executive Orders issued by the White House last week were directed at immigrants. Executive Order #12 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize particular undocumented immigrants and broadly expands grounds for deportation. Executive Order #13 prevents immigrants from entering the U.S., specifically people from 7 Muslim majority countries.

Today Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) will introduce the HEAL (Help End Antiretroviral-related Lipodystrophy) Act which will require insurance companies, as well as government programs, to cover medical treatment for lipodystrophy, a fat-redistribution condition impacting many HIV-positive people who took life-saving early HIV medication that were highly toxic in this regard. Equality California is sponsoring the bill.