Caucus News

LOS ANGELES - In response to the rise in hate crimes and attacks on Asian Americans in California and across the country, Senator Durazo (D-Los Angeles) issued the following statement on Monday:

SACRAMENTO – On a 34-0 bipartisan vote, the California State Senate today approved SB 7 by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), which restores California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) streamlining provisions and allows small-scale housing projects to benefit from those provisions.

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) released the following statement regarding the agreement and legislation to return California students to classrooms:

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today regarding a $6.6 billion plan announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders to open schools for the youngest students by the end of March:

“California must safely re-open schools as soon as possible,” Sen. Dodd said. “This plan accelerates that goal, balancing the needs of students, families and teachers as we ramp up vaccinations and get children back in the classroom. It's an important step toward relief and normalcy as we work to emerge from this devastating pandemic.”

SACRAMENTO, CA — Following yesterday’s vote by the Orange County Fairgrounds Board to hold four gun shows this year, Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine), the author of Senate Bill 264 (SB 264), which would prohibit gun shows on state and county property in California, released the following statement:

(SACRAMENTO) – Senator Monique Limon (D- Santa Barbara) and Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) introduced legislation today to protect taxpayers from bearing the significant costs associated with idle and deserted oil wells. The legislation will establish an industry-funded mechanism to employ workers to plug deserted wells and give the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) more authority to pursue companies that have failed to pay required fees.

(SACRAMENTO) – Senator Monique Limon (D- Santa Barbara) and Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) introduced legislation today to protect taxpayers from bearing the significant costs associated with idle and deserted oil wells. The legislation will establish an industry-funded mechanism to employ workers to plug deserted wells and give the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) more authority to pursue companies that have failed to pay required fees.

SACRAMENTO – The Senate Rules Committee appointed Cara N. Dessert to the Healthy California for All Commission during its hearing today. As Chair of the California Senate Rules Committee, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), who recommended Dessert to serve on the commission, issued the following statement:

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) has introduced new language for Senate Bill 252, also known as the PET (Prevent Extraneous Testing) Act. The PET Act ends the suffering of dogs and cats by prohibiting these household pets from being used in toxicity tests for products such as pesticides, food and color additives, and drugs. This bill exempts the testing of pet medications and pet products and testing for biomedical products. Additionally, SB 252 does not impact testing required by federal statutes or medical research in the state.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) is joined by Project Rebound Consortium and Michelson Center for Public Policy in announcing the introduction of SB 416, a bill that would amend California Penal Code to protect incarcerated students’ access to face-to-face instruction provided by quality nonprofit and regionally-accredited higher education providers.