Caucus News

As California faces the driest stretch the West Coast has seen in 1,200 years, the Senate took action Thursday and approved historic water conservation standards, moving the state closer to achieving water efficiency as a way of life.

Sacramento, CA – Senate Bill 941, a measure authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) which seeks to address teacher shortages and improve student learning environments, passed the Senate Floor today.

Sacramento, CA – Senate Bills 974 and 987, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) which address the delay and absence of live-saving treatments for cancer patients, passed the Senate Health Committee.  

SACRAMENTO – Legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to improve liability coverage for California motorists, protecting people injured in crashes as well those who might be exposed to paying higher medical and vehicle repair bills, has cleared its first policy committee.

Critical support for California community health clinics and their workers cleared its first legislative hurdle Wednesday, passing the Senate Health Committee. Senate Majority Leader Emeritus Bob Hertzberg’s (D-Van Nuys) legislation, SB 1014, funnels crucial state dollars to community clinics so they can keep their doors open to the vulnerable communities that rely on them for care and pay their workers a fair wage.

Senator Cortese (D-Silicon Valley) made the following statement in support of San Jose State University’s (SJSU) Student Homeless Alliance (SHA) today:

SACRAMENTO – Senate Bill 1296 authored by State Senator Dr. Richard Pan to improve California’s viral surveillance passed the Senate Health Committee on a unanimous vote and it will now head to the Senate’s Appropriations Committee.

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) legislation to improve patient access to quality health care, Senate Bill 853 and Senate Bill 858, passed the Senate Health Committee by votes of 10-0 and 8-1 respectively. SB 858 will now head to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and SB 853 will head to the Senate Appropriations Committee. SB 858, the Health Plan Accountability Act, updates and increases penalties for health plans that violate state law in denying or delaying insurance coverage.

Sacramento, California – Senate Bill 830, a bill authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) which would increase supplemental funding for K-12 schools based on enrollment numbers, passed the Senate Education Committee today. 

Sacramento, CA - Senate Bill 906, a bill authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) that prioritizes student safety, passed the Senate Education Committee today.  By ensuring safe at-home storage of firearms and quick, robust investigations of imminent school threats, SB 906 aims to prevent tragic shootings on our campuses.