Caucus News

SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate adjourned the first year of the 2021-22 legislative session having made monumental strides for Californians and historic investments in climate change, wildfire, drought, schools, infrastructure, and health care.

The California state Senate voted unanimously today to approve Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 354, which will remove obstacles from children in the foster care system being placed with a relative caregiver who may have a past conviction, once the placement has been fully vetted to ensure the child’s safety. Earlier on Friday, the state Assembly passed SB 354 on a vote of 49-0. The legislation now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom for consideration.

Starting this fall, November 14 will become Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in California, thanks to the efforts of fifth-graders at Martin School in South San Francisco school who working to make the special day of recognition for the civil rights pioneer a national observance. “Ruby Bridges is a role model to our youth, particularly young girls, and her courageous act demonstrates the immense potential our young people have to become leaders,” said State Senator Josh Becker, D-Peninsula.

SACRAMENTO – Recognizing the advances in electric and autonomous vehicle technology, the California State Senate today approved a bill by Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to bring the state’s vehicle code into the 21st century. SB 570 passed the Assembly and Senate with bipartisan support. The bill will now go before Governor Gavin Newsom.

On Tuesday, September 7th, the California State Senate paused its busiest week of work to conduct its annual remembrance of 9/11.  Senator Umberg, a U.S. Army veteran who served three overseas tours, took the opportunity to remind Californians about the unending, dangerous, and often thankless work of many Afghanis and other allies to support the United States in the aftermath of 9/11 and to assist our troops on the ground in the months and years later. 

The California state Senate today approved Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 65, the California Momnibus Act, on a 31-5 vote. SB 65, which is designed to improve maternal and infant outcomes, particularly in families of color. SB 65 won unanimous approval from the state Assembly on Thursday on a vote of 77-0.

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) Senate Bill 357, the Safer Streets for All Act, passed the Assembly by a vote of 41-26. It now heads to the Senate for a concurrence vote, and then to the Governor’s desk to be signed.

Sacramento, Calif. – On September 9, 2021, the State Legislature approved SB 606 – Workplace Safety Enforcement by Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) which would implement stronger enforcement measures for egregious and flagrant violations in order to keep workers safe, especially as California continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

SACRAMENTO — The state Legislature advanced crucial legislation Thursday in California’s efforts to combat worsening drought conditions just weeks after one of the state’s biggest water reservoirs reached its lowest-ever point. Senate Majority Leader Robert M. Hertzberg's (D-Van Nuys) Drought Resilient Communities Act (SB 552) strengthens drought preparedness in small and rural communities often hit the hardest by drought.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, today lauded the Legislature’s approval of a $20 million pilot program he promoted to expand the use of controlled burning to prevent wildfires. The investment comes as Sen. Dodd’s own Senate Bill 332, which also would advance the use of the proven firefighting tool, won legislative approval and awaits a signature from Gov. Gavin Newsom.