Caucus News

San Francisco –  Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) announced his intent to re-introduce a bill to exempt compassionate care programs from paying state commercial cannabis taxes when they are providing free medical cannabis to financially disadvantaged people living with serious health conditions. This bill is modeled off of Senator Wiener’s SB 829, which was vetoed by Governor Brown in September.

More than a dozen bills by Senator Jerry Hill will take effect as law during the coming year with new mandates for safety, consumer protection, accountability and other requirements phasing in from January 1 to July 1. All but one of the bills being enacted – legislation to expand a pilot program requiring repeat DUI offenders and certain first timers to install technology in their cars to prevent drunk driving – were passed and signed by the governor in 2018.

Senator Jerry Hill and San Francisco Police Chief William Scott with MADD and Peninsula law enforcement partners hold a news conference Friday to announce the statewide rollout of a pilot program requiring convicted repeat DUI offenders and certain first timers to install ignition interlock devices in their cars. The technology, known as IIDs, stops a car from starting if the would-be driver’s breath sample exceeds a preset blood alcohol concentration level.

Senator Jerry Hill and San Francisco Police Chief William Scott with MADD and Peninsula law enforcement partners hold a news conference Friday to announce the statewide rollout of a pilot program requiring convicted repeat DUI offenders and certain first timers to install ignition interlock devices in their cars. The technology, known as IIDs, stops a car from starting if the would-be driver’s breath sample exceeds a preset blood alcohol concentration level.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, was reappointed today to the chair of the powerful Senate Governmental Organization committee, which oversees a wide array of important policy areas – from emergency services to alcoholic beverage laws.

San Francisco –  Today, Senator Scott Wiener issued the following statement upon being named Chair of the Senate Housing Committee:

SACRAMENTO – California Senate President pro Tempore, Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), today announced the Senate’s leadership positions and committee assignments. These assignments reflect a diversity of skills and backgrounds needed to continue to move California forward and achieve the people’s work.  

Designated committee chairs and vice chairs will be formally adopted by the Senate in January 2019.

Senate Leadership Positions

SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) announced that Senator Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, will serve as the next Majority Leader of the California State Senate.

Upon the announcement, Senator Hertzberg released the following statement:

San Diego, CA – December 21, 2018 – As 2018 comes to a close, State Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) is proud to announce that ten bills he authored will go into effect on January 1, 2019. All of these bills were passed by both houses of the California State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.

#EquityAndJustice success continues

SACRAMENTO – After a busy year of legislative work, Sen. Holly J. Mitchell will see several of her new laws take effect Jan. 1, 2019, including reforms in criminal justice that will protect youth and help shore up families and communities.