SACRAMENTO, CA — Today California is moving closer to streamlining access to medically necessary care for patients with the passage of SB 306, the Defending Physicians Decisions Act, authored by Senator Josh Becker (D‑Menlo Park). SB 306 cleared the Assembly Health Committee and now advances to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Bill 827, part of Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Good Governance package, was approved by the Legislature. The bill would ensure local government officials complete ethics training within six months of commencing service, and expand the requirement to include senior-level staff. The bill would also require local government officials to complete fiscal and financial training related to their duties such as budgeting, contracting and procurement.

SACRAMENTO – Legislation by Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, to extend funding to acquire, restore and enhance wildlife habitats across the state on Tuesday passed the Assembly.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced SB 820, authored by Senator Henry Stern (D–Los Angeles), a bill that will help make sure people with severe mental illness who commit misdemeanors have a chance to receive lifesaving medication while in jail.  The legislation will address persistent gaps in California’s treatment of individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial for misdemeanor offenses (MIST).

“Both Israelis and Palestinians deserve safety, dignity, and a peaceful future — California must stand on the side of humanity,” says Senator Wahab.
Sacramento, CA — State Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab (D–Silicon Valley) introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 105, Human Rights: Gaza. SCR 105 is joint authored by Senator Wiener with Assembly Members Elhawary, Haney, and Kalra as principal co-authors.

SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Bill 827, part of Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Good Governance package, was approved by the Legislature. The bill would ensure local government officials complete ethics training within six months of commencing service, and expand the requirement to include senior-level staff. The bill would also require local government officials to complete fiscal and financial training related to their duties such as budgeting, contracting and procurement.

SACRAMENTO – On the California Senate floor today, Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon), chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, presented the landmark Assembly Bill 1340, also known as the Transportation Network Company Drivers Labor Relations Act, that establishes collective bargaining rights for more than 800,000  rideshare drivers. The bill passed the Senate and now heads to the Governor’s desk.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Dave Cortese’s (D-Silicon Valley) SB 653 that defines and promotes environmentally sensitive vegetation management to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk while protecting native plants and wildlife today was passed by the California Senate on concurrence and now heads to the Governor’s desk.

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Legislative Bay Area Caucus released the following statement on preserving the Bay Area Transit Bridge Loan: 
“As members of the California State Legislature’s Bay Area Caucus, we strongly urge the Governor and Department of Finance (DOF) to reconsider their decision to pause the $750 million dollar bridge loan funding agreement. Denying funds needed to prevent service cuts will be detrimental to transit operators throughout the Bay Area.

State Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) today condemned the U.S. Supreme Court’s dangerous decision to allow federal immigration agents to resume targeting people based on their race, accent, and jobs in Los Angeles.