The California Legislative Black Caucus continues celebrating Black History Month with the release of its Road to Repair 2025 priority bill package.

SACRAMENTO - Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) introduced SB 501, which will establish the nation’s second Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for household hazardous waste (HHW).
 

In response to a rise in hate, California lawmakers are turning their attention to gaps in Holocaust and genocide education in the state’s schools. Today, Senator Henry Stern (SD27 – Los Angeles) introduced SB 472, a bill aimed at addressing these gaps. The bill will implement two key recommendations from a statewide study: providing direct funding to school districts to teach this critical material, and establishing a system to monitor and evaluate educational outcomes.

On Thursday, February 27th, join me and Assemblymember Hart in welcoming Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and other industry experts at a town hall to discuss the state of home insurance for our community and state.
The town hall will be covering market challenges and upcoming reforms that the Department of Insurance is pursuing. There will be a presentation followed by Q&A.

Below is the most recent storm information as of 2:30PM on 2/12/2025
 
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
 
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has issued an EVACUATION ORDER for the identified properties associated with the Lake Fire burn scar. This Evacuation Order is due to strong storm conditions with the potential to produce flash flooding, debris flows, and landslides. Residents should leave no later than 3 PM. 
The remaining areas of the Lake Fire Burn Scar will stay under an Evacuation Warning. 

SACRAMENTO, California – February 12, 025 – Senator Laura Richardson (D-South Bay) joined Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) and a broad coalition of Senators from across the Golden State in announcing a sweeping legislative effort to strengthen California’s wildfire response and recovery, and to make communities more wildfire safe.

Sacramento, CA — Senator Josh Becker (D-San Mateo) and Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) have introduced new legislation to transform and streamline how wildfire mitigation investments are evaluated and coordinated across California. 
SB 326, the Wildfire Mitigation Strategic Planning Act, establishes a comprehensive framework to better align state, federal, industry, and private wildfire prevention efforts, ensuring that every dollar spent delivers maximum protection for communities.

SACRAMENTO, California – February 10, 2025 – California Senator Laura Richardson (D-South Bay) has proudly selected Mr. Herbert “Herb” J. Hudson, the visionary founder of Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles, as the 35th Senate District’s distinguished honoree at the Annual Legislative Business Brunch.

Montebello, CA – After years of advocacy, Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera) proudly affirms the State Historical Resources Commission’s unanimous vote today to officially designate the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument located in the 30th Senate District as a California State Historical Landmark.

The people of Moss Landing are experiencing what the people of Pajaro and Capitola have experienced before them. Three weeks after the catastrophic fire, news cameras and reporters are slipping away, they must deal with the aftermath while out of the spotlight.