Caucus News

SACRAMENTO, CA — Today,  Senator Sydney Kamlager’s legislation, AB 962: Reusable Beverage Bottles, was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Now, rather than bottles being crushed for recycling, the bottles can be preserved to be washed and refilled by beverage producers --  simultaneously creating jobs and reducing waste.

Sacramento – A first-in-the-nation recycling reform bill was signed into law by Governor Newsom on Tuesday. Senate Bill 343, by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), expands the existing Truth in Environmental Advertising law, which prohibits use of the word “recyclable” on unrecyclable products, to say manufacturers cannot use the chasing-arrows symbol (also known as the recycling symbol) or any other suggestion that a material is easily recyclable if it is not.

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) issued the following statement today regarding community concerns about a sexually violent predator’s proposed placement in the Rancho Bernardo community:

SACRAMENTO – California is home to roughly 800,000 farmworkers who play a vital role in maintaining our food supply and whose work is more critical than ever during the pandemic. Now, with the enactment of Senator Ben Hueso’s (D-San Diego) SB 721, the state will formally recognize these contributions each year on August 26 as part of the newly-established California Farmworker Day.

Fresno, CA – Today, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) released the following statement after her bill, Senate Bill 393—The Farmworker Access to Childcare Act—was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom:

Sacramento, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 306 into law which would strengthen California’s public health infrastructure and provide greater testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STI).  Authored by Senator Dr. Richard Pan, SB 306 will expand access to STI testing remotely at home and in the community, increase access to STI treatment for patients and their partners, and update state law to boost congenital syphilis screening in the face of alarming increases in maternal-child transmission.

SACRAMENTO – The most vulnerable part of anyone’s life is often the beginning and the end. At the end of life, some of our most vulnerable members of society live in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs).  At the beginning, low income moms and babies need more healthcare coverage.  Yesterday, Governor Newsom signed two bills authored and co-authored by Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles).   Stern’s legislation mirrors life, with bills on more just beginnings and ends of life for the most vulnerable.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today that Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed his bill to extend a pilot program in Napa and San Bernardino counties that helps prevent urban sprawl and protects natural resources.

“The signing of this new law preserves farmlands and open space by ensuring Napa County focuses its new construction in city centers and transportation corridors,” Sen. Dodd said. “I thank Gov. Newsom and the Legislature for supporting this commonsense measure that will extend necessary services while reducing the need for new wells or septic systems.”

SACRAMENTO — Today Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Better & Equitable Sentencing Through Thoughtful (BESTT) Practices Act 2.0, an important justice reform bill by Senator Josh Becker. “My SB 775 closes an unjust loophole and brings greater fairness to our criminal justice system,” said Senator Becker.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom today signed a bill by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) that gives victims of revenge porn more time to report this type of abuse.

Senate Bill 23 extends the statute of limitations for victims who discover that their private, intimate images have been publicly released without their consent. The bill gives victims up to a year after discovery to seek charges against the perpetrators.