Caucus News

The California Senate today voted 27-12 to pass SB 2 – the Building Homes and Jobs Act – legislation authored by Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) that will create a permanent source of funding for affordable housing. SB 2 now moves on to the state Assembly for consideration.

Sacramento –  Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) offered the following statement on the passage of Senate Bill 2, which authorizes a fee on real estate transfers that will be used  to fund affordable housing. Senator Wiener is a co-author of SB 2, along with lead author Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego). SB 2 now heads to the Assembly for consideration.

Sacramento – Bay Area residents could see more transit-oriented developments near BART stations after the state Assembly approved a bill authored by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) today. Senate Bill 680 now heads to Governor Jerry Brown for his consideration.

SB 680 extends the boundaries where BART can pursue commercial, residential or mixed-use development from a quarter mile to a half-mile of its stations.  The move is consistent with policies for other transit village developments in California.

SACRAMENTO – A second component of the Senate’s funding package to combat California’s shortage of affordable housing was approved on a two-thirds majority vote today and sent to the Assembly.

“The approval last month of my bill, SB 3, a $3 billion bond proposal to generate more affordable housing units, combined with the today’s passage of SB 2 (Atkins) now forms the most viable package in the Legislature to solve the affordable housing crisis,’’ said Beall, chairman of the Transportation and Housing Committee.

Sacramento –  Today the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee approved Senate Bill 384, a bill authored by Senator Scott Wiener to allow – but not require – local communities to extend alcohol service to as late as 4 a.m. The LOCAL Act, which stands for Let Our Communities Adjust Late Night, applies to bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, but not to liquor stores.

SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee today passed legislation by Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, to improve protections for whistleblowers so they can keep their jobs while retaliation complaints against their employers are being investigated.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) honored the B Room Barber Salon as Senate District 33 Small Business of the Year for its hard work and dedication to the community.

“Small businesses are the heart and soul of our communities, and they bring a lot more than jobs to our cities,” said Senator Ricardo Lara. “The B Room is building bridges to Long Beach’s LGBT community and showing how immigrant-owned businesses are bringing economic vitality and inclusion.”

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) recognized Centro C.H.A. as Senate District 33 Nonprofit of the Year for their work to promote health and combat violence in the Long Beach community.

Sacramento, CA – Senator Anthony Portantino (D–La Cañada Flintridge), author of SB 328 (Healthy School Start Time), applauds the recent action by the National PTA, which voted to adopt a Resolution on Healthy Sleep for Adolescents.   Research has shown that moving high school and middle school start time later improves student health and academic performance.  Last week’s action by the National PTA embraces that research.  SB 328 is a California specific proposal that passed through ">

Nine bills authored by Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) have moved forward in the state Assembly: