Caucus News

SACRAMENTO – Power Knot, a Fremont company that manufactures biodigesters that are usually used in commercial kitchens, cruise ships and corporate cafeterias to reduce the expense, carbon footprint and inconvenience of disposing of food waste that would otherwise be hauled to a landfill, is Senator Bob Wieckowski’s Small Business of the Year for the 10th Senate District.  

Senator Dave Cortese’s (D-San Jose) bill, SB 874, to provide parity to classified school employees of merit system K-12 and California Community College districts has been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.
SB 874 will provide classified employees of merit K-12 and California Community College districts the same clarity that is provided to classified employees in non-merit districts regarding their right to return to their prior classification if they are promoted and fail to complete probation for their new position.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an item authored by Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg to move forward the framework proposed in Senator Dave Cortese’s (D-San Jose) SB 1341 as a pilot program to serve unhoused students in Santa Clara County through guaranteed income.

SACRAMENTO – The Legislature has approved a bill from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would add electromagnetic pulse attacks to the grounds for which a California governor may declare a state of emergency, ensuring the quick deployment of resources to any natural or made-made strike that threatens critical infrastructure.

We need urgent action, and the federal dollars from the new law – coupled with the new laws we are considering in Sacramento – can drastically accelerate our path to 100%clean energy and a carbon-free future. In California, transformative change through climate investment and action has become a mantra in our Capitol. I’m heartened that with our President, the White House again embraces this theme. While we all have much work still before us, it is encouraging to see our President and Congress working to reclaim America’s position as a leader in climate action.

SACRAMENTO – The Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), reappointed Debra Maxie to the California Student Aid Commission on Wednesday, August 10.

“Debra Maxie has decades of real world experience teaching in classrooms and counseling youth,” Pro Tem Atkins said. “Her keen understanding of the needs of California’s students has made her a critical voice on the Commission.”

SACRAMENTO – The California Assembly has approved a proposal from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would address the effects of climate change, including sea-level rise and wildfire, through creation of local resilience districts to undertake and promote conservation efforts.

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) released the following statement following a recognition ceremony held during floor session today to honor the 2021-22 California Senate Fellows and the California Council on Science and Technology Policy Fellows placed in the Senate:

SACRAMENTO — The state Assembly today approved a bill by State Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to transition California away from wasteful single-use, 1-pound propane cylinders to refillables by 2028. The bill is expected to pass the Senate on a concurrence vote and go to the Governor for his signature.

SACRAMENTO, CA – The State Assembly today passed Piqui’s Law, by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), which mandates judges take training on domestic violence and child abuse to prioritize child safety in custody proceedings and clarifies California's ban on the use of dangerous reunification programs in family court.