Caucus News

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) issued the following statement about AB 2179, legislation that would extend eviction protections through June 30 for Californians who are participating in rental assistance programs.

SACRAMENTO — Seeking to reduce obstacles to the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), one of the few bright spots in California’s struggle to provide more housing, the Senate Housing Committee today passed Senator Bob Wieckowski’s SB 897.  The bill now heads to the Senate Governance and Finance Committee.

MARTINEZ – Noralea Gipner, a former Martinez City Council member who led a successful public safety sales tax campaign and was instrumental in efforts to improve services for the homeless, has been named Contra Costa County Woman of the Year by Sen. Bill Dodd.

WALNUT GROVE – Mona Pasquil Rogers, a State Personnel Board member and onetime acting lieutenant governor who became the first woman and Asian person ever to serve in that role, has been named Woman of the Year for Sacramento County by Sen. Bill Dodd.

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California State Senate in a bipartisan,unanimous vote today passed a resolution by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) declaring March 2022 as Unaccompanied Women Experiencing Homelessness Awareness Month. 

Senator Josh Becker announced legislation today to expand employee ownership of businesses in California by providing education, technical assistance and other supportive resources for enterprises making the transition. Senate Bill 1407, the Expanding Employee Ownership Act, reduces the barriers for businesses seeking to transition to employee ownership and worker-led models, such as employee stock ownership plans, known as ESOPs, and worker cooperatives, or co-ops.

Senator Josh Becker announced a bill today to eliminate all telecommunication fees in California’s county jails and state prisons, a change that would rid incarcerated people and their families of the financial burden that results from connecting by phone, electronic messaging or video calling systems in state and local lockups. “Staying connected with family and friends is integral to the mental health and well-being of all people, but especially incarcerated Californians,” said Senator Becker, D-Peninsula, the author of Senate Bill 1008, the Keep Families Connected Act.

NAPA – Jill Techel, a four-term Napa mayor who served on the City Council during a 25-year period of economic expansion and led the city through a series of natural disasters, including a devastating earthquake, flood and wildfires, has been named Napa County Woman of the Year by Sen. Bill Dodd.

Sacramento, CA – Today, Senate Bills 941, 1016, and 1302 authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) passed the Senate Education Committee.  SB 941 encourages inter-district collaboration for courses related to STEM and dual language immersion, while SB 1302 would establish or improve wellness and mental health support centers on campus and SB 1016 would enhance special education services.

FAIRFIELD – Dawn La Bar, who leads Fairfield’s homelessness relief effort and has devoted her more than 20-year career to social policy and advocacy in Solano County, has been named Solano County Woman of the Year for 2022 by Sen. Bill Dodd.