Caucus News

Senators Thomas J. Umberg (D – Orange County) and Bill Dodd (D – Napa) will be joined by former Senator and retired Superior Court Judge, Quentin L. Kopp, in Sonoma on Monday, March 14th to dedicate a portion of Highway 37 as the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.

Sacramento, CA – On Monday morning at 10:30am, the North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) will be holding their final meeting.  

After nearly 30 years of controversy, massive policy setbacks, and straddling bankruptcy for years - the agency that was charged with trying to bring rail back to the North Coast will officially cease operations, per state law passed by Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire. 

State Senate Budget Committee Chair Nancy Skinner today praised the Legislature’s agreement to take action on AB 168/SB 118, a budget trailer bill that would safeguard student enrollment at UC Berkeley and remove the singling out of student enrollment as a separate project under CEQA. The agreement would also preserve the requirement that long-range development plans of California’s public higher education campuses be fully reviewed for their environmental impacts.

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Chair Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) released the following statement about a Legislative agreement that has been reached regarding environmental review of California’s public higher education campuses’ long-term development plans, which also would ensure access to a new generation of students at UC Berkeley for the 2022-23 academic year.

Pro Tem Atkins:

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) introduced a resolution today that recognizes the importance of school nutrition programs and the critical role of staff in making sure our children are provided with vital meals throughout the school day.

As California experiences its worst drought in 1,200 years, extreme swings in weather, record heat and a near-constant wildfire season, Senate Majority Leader Emeritus Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) introduced new legislation Thursday to protect the state’s most vulnerable communities from climate change while also creating new jobs in the process.

Sacramento, CA – Senate Bill 851, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge), passed the Senate Education Committee. The measure strengthens and expands financial support for low-income college students who choose to attend independent, nonprofit California colleges and universities. 

SACRAMENTO: Senator Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced) introduced SB 1326 which would allow the import and export, of legally produced cannabis and cannabis products, to other states and authorize the Governor to enter into trade agreements with other U.S. states. SB 1326 requires the trade agreement to include public health, safety, and labeling standards, a system to regulate and track cannabis items, collection of applicable taxes, and require any out of state cannabis items delivered to California be tested, packaged, and labeled in compliance with California state law.

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, today introduced SB 993, which would expand and enhance services for crime victims in California. The legislation would improve access to financial resources available to survivors and increase the amount they can receive from the California Victim Compensation Board. SB 993 would also remove barriers that prevent many crime survivors from receiving assistance, and lessen racial disparities that have impacted access to services.

Today, Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley) introduced SCR 80 on the Senate Floor to celebrate and recognize Visual and Performing Arts Education Month in California. SCR 80 passed with no opposition in the State Senate.