Caucus News

SACRAMENTO –Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today he’s introduced new legislation to improve conditions in California during wildfire-related utility power shutoffs such as those last year from Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

“Power shutoffs must be limited in scope and duration, which is something PG&E has so far failed miserably to do,” Sen. Dodd said. “But if they do happen, utilities must protect our most vulnerable populations, and we must ensure our local governments have the ability and resources to respond.”

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener (D- San Francisco) introduced a bill today that would require state agencies to establish and implement a master plan to end new infections of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The diseases disproportionately impact gay and bisexual men, African American men, and young people ages 15-24. Though many effective preventative and treatment tools exist today, these epidemics still persist.

Sacramento – Today, Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) legislation to hold PG&E and other utilities accountable for mass blackouts and their impacts passed out of the Senate Energy, Utilities & Communications Committee by a vote of 10-1. It will now head to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Sacramento – With California’s bottle recycling program in tatters, the state Senate Environmental Quality Committee today approved a bill by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to create a new streamlined stewardship program that places redemption and recycling responsibilities on distributors operating inside the state.

Sacramento, California – State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D - La Cañada Flintridge) and each of the two Assemblymembers have introduced bills to address this important issue.

Abigail E. Disney is scheduled to testify in the state Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 15, in support of SB 37, Sen. Nancy Skinner’s income inequality legislation, also known as “Corporate Fair Share for California and Californians.” An independent filmmaker, philanthropist, and member of the Patriotic Millionaires, Abigail Disney is the granddaughter of Roy Disney, co-founder of the Walt Disney Company.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) issued the following statement on today’s Kern County Board of Supervisors’ meeting regarding California’s new oil and gas initiatives:  

SACRAMENTO – Senator Scott Wiener (D- San Francisco) will announce landmark mental health legislation today to require insurance companies to cover all medically necessary mental health care and substance use disorder treatments, not just emergency crisis care treatment. SB 855 is part of a growing movement to reverse the stigmatization of mental illness and addiction.

Fremont – State Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), Fremont Mayor Lily Mei and cycling and natural science advocates marked the progress of the Sabercat Bridge Bike and Pedestrian Trail project and plans to build an Interpretive Center to educate the public about the paleontological history of the area at a press conference this morning.

(SACRAMENTO) – Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) issued the following statement today in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2020-21 state budget: