Caucus News

Sen. Holly J. Mitchell: ‘This bill will preserve lives so that childbirth becomes a joyful moment for all mothers and not a life-threatening event for Black mothers.’

SACRAMENTO – The California Senate today approved a plan confronting the higher rate of California Black women dying during childbirth than women of other racial and ethnic groups.

Sacramento–  Today Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, made the following statement regarding Harvey Milk Day:

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, will host a joint legislative hearing of the Senate and Assembly Governmental Organization committees this afternoon to review equine and human safety in California’s horse-racing industry.

The hearing was prompted in part by recent racing horse deaths at Santa Anita Park in Southern California.  A hearing agenda is attached.

WHAT: Joint hearing on horse racing safety

WHO: Sen. Bill Dodd, Asm. Adam Gray and panelists.

SACRAMENTO – Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) announced today that the California State Senate unanimously approved SB 258, his bill to create a grant program for shelters that offer shelter, food, and basic veterinary services to the pets of people experiencing homelessness.

Sacramento–  Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblymember Todd Gloria’s (D-San Diego) legislation to reduce barriers to accessing HIV preventative medications passed the Senate on a vote of 34-1. It now heads to the Assembly for committee hearings in the coming weeks. SB 159 authorizes pharmacists to furnish pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to patients without a physician prescription.

SACRAMENTO – Without a single ‘No’ vote, the California State Senate passed legislation earlier today authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that will require law enforcement agencies and forensic laboratories to promptly analyze and test all newly collected rape kit evidence in California.

Sacramento, CA – May 21, 2019 – The California State Senate yesterday voted unanimously to pass legislation seeking to allow the use of medical cannabis in healthcare facilities for Californians who are terminally ill. Senate Bill No. 305, authored by Sen. Ben Hueso and known as “Ryan’s Law,” would provide relief, compassion and dignity to Californians during the most vulnerable time of their lives.

Sacramento, California – Today, SB 328, authored by Senator Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) passed the California State Senate.  

SB 328 solves the significant public health crisis of sleep-deprived teens by requiring high schools in California to start no earlier than 8:30 AM. SB 328 is sponsored by the California State PTA and has garnered strong support from medical professionals, law enforcement, and education advocates. 

SACRAMENTO – Yesterday, Senator Henry Stern’s bill to enhance conservatorships for Californians experiencing chronic homelessness and severe mental health and substance abuse issues (SB 40) passed the California State Senate.

“Some people don’t have the capacity to accept help, and they die because of it. That’s where government has a moral obligation to step in,” said Senator Stern. “I applaud my colleagues for supporting these enhancements to our conservatorship programs so that we can save California’s most vulnerable.”