Caucus News

SACRAMENTO - Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) released the following statement today:

"Security at the California Mexico border has been strengthened to unprecedented levels over the past decade, which has resulted in historically low unlawful border crossings. Therefore, I don’t think it’s prudent to deploy the National Guard to militarize the border.

SACRAMENTO - Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) released the following statement today:

"Security at the California Mexico border has been strengthened to unprecedented levels over the past decade, which has resulted in historically low unlawful border crossings. Therefore, I don’t think it’s prudent to deploy the National Guard to militarize the border.

SACRAMENTO, CA –Senate Bill 1303 to require autopsies be conducted by medical experts to ensure they are accurate and unbiased passed the Senate Governance & Finance Committee today.

“Autopsy reports provide critical information in determining the cause and manner of death and we must have the confidence in their accuracy,” said Dr. Pan, a pediatrician and Senator representing the Sacramento region. “The public and juries need to trust that they will receive accurate and objective information to make the correct verdict on a criminal case.”

SACRAMENTO—Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) has appointed Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) to the State Council on Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

“As a veteran of the U.S. Army and the father of a young child, Senator Newman is uniquely qualified to serve in this role,” Senate leader Atkins said. “I’m confident that Senator Newman will be a strong advocate to ensure that all of California’s military children have access to a quality education.”

SACRAMENTO – The Senate Health Committee passed Senate Bill 992, which brings more oversight for licensed substance use disorder treatment facilities and adds transparency to unlicensed recovery homes, by a vote of 9-0.

SACRAMENTO – The Senate Health Committee passed Senate Bill 1255, which establishes state-funded subsidies for Californians to purchase health coverage through Covered California, by a vote of 8-1.

Authored by Senator Ed Hernandez, O.D., (D-West Covina), SB 1255 would direct Covered California to administer state-funded subsidies to Californians who have to pay more than 8% of their annual household income on insurance premiums.

Mayors of Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Oakland united in support of Senate Bill 1402, which holds major retailers liable when trucking companies break labor laws

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) introduced Senate Bill 1402 to end the rampant exploitation of truck drivers who haul cargo from California’s ports.

Sacramento, California- Today, the Senate Education Committee unanimously passed SB 1243 with bi-partisan support. The legislation is authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino, D- La Cañada Flintridge, and sponsored by IBM. SB 1243 proposes a unique early college/high school technology pathway program which is known as P-TECH.

SACRAMENTO – A proposal from Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to provide universal preschool to 4-year-olds cleared the Senate Education Committee Wednesday.

The legislation builds on the state’s existing transitional kindergarten program, which is currently available to 4-year-olds who turn 5 shortly after the start of their first semester.

SACRAMENTO – Longer fire seasons, floods and increasing heat waves are already affecting California’s residents and natural environment, and as these and other dangers posed by climate change threaten more aspects of everyday life the state is working to adapt by investing in coordinated programs that integrate information, modern science and best practices to protect the public.