Caucus News

Sacramento, CA- In a 4 to 0 vote, the Senate Governance and Finance Committee passed SB 1246 to make settlements from the Woolsey and Thomas fires nontaxable. Combined, both fires burned almost 380,000 acres of land in southern California, destroyed almost 3000 structures, and caused over $8 billion in damages. This vote marks a major victory for the thousands of people having lost homes, businesses, and possessions to these widespread tragedies.

Pico Rivera, CA – Senator Archuleta’s bill SB 1323 to require lenders in foreclosure proceedings to hire a realtor and sell the secured property for its appraised value on a multiple listing service has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. This would allow the defaulted homeowner to be paid for their full savings in home equity in every applicable foreclosure.   

Sacramento — California made craft beer cool. The industry, still mostly mom-and-pop and independently owned and operated, contributes almost $10 billion to the state’s economy from over 1,200 craft breweries that call the Golden State home. Craft brewers employ 66,000 Californians.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)’s legislation, Senate Bill 1336, which establishes a carryforward tax credit for commercial cannabis retailers, has passed the Senate Governance and Finance Committee by a bipartisan vote of 4-0. It now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Sacramento, CA - Senate Bill 1079, a measure introduced by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) to monitor noise pollution by using sound activated devices, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee today.  Streets for All, a nonprofit organization that advocates for street safety, is a sponsor of the measure.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Starting May 1st, approximately 235,000 Californians previously ineligible Californians now qualify for Medi-Cal coverage under an extension spearheaded by California State Senator María Elena Durazo through last year’s budget process and signed by Governor Newsom.

As the program kicks off, Senator Durazo issued the following statement:

"After years of tireless work from organizers and advocates, all eligible Californians 50 and older regardless of their immigrations status will have access to full-scope health coverage.

A future that was unthinkable just a few years ago is quickly becoming reality. I will fight every day—for my daughter, and for all people—until our progress on reproductive rights is restored for everyone. In California, we value, protect and defend reproductive rights. I stand with our Governor, legislative leaders, Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, who have announced they are preparing a Constitutional amendment to ensure and protect access to abortion in California.

Sacramento, Calif. – El 3 de mayo de 2022, la Senadora Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) emitió la siguiente declaración luego de informes de noticias que detallaban un borrador inicial de la opinión de la mayoría de la Corte Suprema de los EE.UU. sobre el derecho al aborto:

Sacramento, Calif. – On May 3, 2022 Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach)  released the below statement following news reports detailing an initial draft U.S. Supreme Court majority opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade and end federal constitutional protections for the right to abortion:

SACRAMENTO – In response to an expected U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe. Vs. Wade, Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today he would join forces with other California leaders to enshrine women’s reproductive rights in California's Constitution.

“Clearly, the court is pursuing dangerous policy, undoing decades of precedent, and putting the lives of millions of women at risk,” Sen. Dodd said.  “In California, we will continue to defend a woman’s right to choose as well as access to health care by building a protective firewall in our state constitution.”