Caucus News

Sacramento, Calif. – Today, on the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D- Long Beach) introduced Senate Bill 245, the Abortion Accessibility Act to ensure all women and pregnant people have access to abortion services regardless of an individual’s income, status, race, zip code, or bank account.

Sacramento, California – Today State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) introduced SB 237, a measure which would require elementary schools to screen students for dyslexia.

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced SB 225: the Bodily Autonomy, Dignity and Choice Act, to provide children and their families a chance to make informed decisions about major surgeries to change variations in the appearance of genitalia and other sex characteristics. Under SB 225, these surgeries will be prohibited when a child is under the age of six (except in the cases where it is medically necessary), allowing for parents to continue to learn with their child and child’s physician regarding the potential need for medical interventions.

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) has been named the Chair of the California Senate Mental Health Caucus, which focuses on improving California’s resources and care for mental health and substance use disorder. Senator Wiener was also named the California Marriage and Family Therapist’s “Legislator of the Year” for his work on Senate Bill 855, which was signed into law on January 1st.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced SB 234, the SUPPORT Act (Supporting Underserved Young People for Positive Resets and Transitions). SB 234 creates a $100 million forgivable loan program to fund new housing, or acquire existing housing, for transition age youth between ages 16 and 26. The housing will be targeted toward young people who are homeless, in or exiting foster care, or exiting the criminal justice system.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today upon the inauguration of the 46th president, Joe Biden, and the nation’s first woman vice president, Kamala Harris:

Sacramento, California –  Today State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) introduced SB 224, a measure which would require elementary schools to screen students for dyslexia.

For Immediate Release: January 19, 2021

Contact: Faith Pulido at faith.pulido@sen.ca.gov

SACRAMENTO –The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today called Southern California Edison’s (SCE) handling of public safety power shutoff (PSPS) events “tactless” and “deficient in meeting the standard its customers deserve.”

SACRAMENTO – With the release of a new study showing low-income Californians are struggling to afford drinking water, especially amid economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced legislation today to provide financial assistance to customers who can’t pay their water bills and to prevent service disconnections.

The events of the past year and recent days make the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. more precious to us as a nation than ever before. More than 50 years ago, the civil rights pioneer said:
“America is at a crossroads of history, and it is critically important for us, as a nation and a society, to choose a new path and move upon it with resolution and courage.”