Caucus News

(SACRAMENTO) – Today, Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) introduced legislation that clarifies important consumer protections omitted in the final hours of the 2017 Legislative session. SB 1087 will better protect consumers who use Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing by ensuring greater public transparency of entities providing these loans.

San Diego, CA – February 9, 2018 – Senator Hueso (40th District) and City of San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer held a joint press conference today to highlight Sen. Hueso’s legislation, Senate Bill 635, which was sponsored by the City of San Diego, and will provide state assistance to communities designated as federal “Promise Zones” in their efforts to receive critical federal revitalization resources.

State Senator Jerry Hill introduced legislation to require that the savings privately owned utilities reap from recent federal tax changes are passed along to customers in the form of reduced rates. “The savings that these utilities realize must be returned to ratepayers,” said Senator Hill, D-San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. “Anything else would be grossly unfair.”

Sacramento, CA - Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) introduced legislation today that aims to dramatically reduce the incidence of distracted driving on California roads and highways. Senate Bill (SB) 1030, introduced in the Senate today, will strengthen current distracted driving penalties by making distracted driving a moving violation, and adding a point to the driver’s motor vehicle record for electronic device violations.

SACRAMENTO – Building on her ongoing efforts to protect victims of sexual harassment and other related forms of harassment, Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) today introduced important legislation to clarify that individuals can be held personally liable for retaliating against an employee for exercising her or his legal rights against discrimination and harassment under state law.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) introduced a new bill to protect access to drinking water for households. The bill would enact a sweeping slate of consumer protections to ensure that families struggling to pay their water bills are given time and options before their water service is disconnected.

Sacramento –  Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) announced Senate Bill 1021, which will keep out-of-pocket drug costs low for consumers by preserving and strengthening existing drug pricing protections. SB 1021 does this by permanently extending drug co-pay limits and prescription drug pricing standards put in place in 2015 under a bill (AB 339) authored by Assemblymember Rich Gordon, which are currently set to expire at the end of 2019. SB 1021 also strengthens these protections, including by ensuring these pricing protections apply to HIV prevention drugs.

SACRAMENTO – To increase mental health funding for children, a proposal to allocate at least half of grant funding for triage services available under the Mental Health Wellness Act for youth 18 years and younger was introduced today by Senator Jim Beall, D-San Jose.

SB 1013 would keep California in the lead on reducing HFCs after federal court deals blow to Obama Administration rules

SACRAMENTO – Today California Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) introduced the California Cooling Act (Senate Bill 1013) to target dangerous gases in refrigerants and air conditioners.\

SACRAMENTO – Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) introduced a bill to bolster the state’s efforts to prevent drunk driving. The bill would increase the reach of the California Highway Patrol’s Designated Driver Program, which provides education and outreach to help prevent drunk driving.