Caucus News

SACRAMENTO- California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D- Los Angeles), Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, has announced the following Rules Committee Appointments:

Sacramento –  Yesterday, the Transportation and Housing Committee approved Senate Constitutional Amendment 6 introduced by Senator Scott Wiener (D- San Francisco) to set the voter approval threshold for transportation funding measures at 55%, down from the current threshold of 2/3, or 66.6%. This would put transportation funding measures on the same level as school funding measures, which were set at 55% by California voters in the year 2000.

State Senator Jerry Hill announced today that he will introduce legislation to help the DMV curb abuses of the state’s program for disabled placards and license plates, which allows motorists to use parking spots reserved for disabled drivers and permits them to park in time-limited slots indefinitely. Holders of disabled placards and license plates can also park in metered spots without paying.

Sacramento –  Today the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee approved Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) bill to authorize the implementation of a solar mandate, which would require solar panels to be installed on most new buildings in California.  This would make California the first state in the country to require solar installation on new construction. SB 71 has previously been approved by the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee. 

Watch Sen. Holly J. Mitchell’s budget comments on KQED-TV

SACRAMENTO – Sen.  Holly J. Mitchell, chair of the Senate Budget Committee, today released the following information about this week’s expected developments on California’s state budget:

On Thursday, California Gov. Jerry Brown releases revised budget revenue estimates and additional changes to his budget plan for fiscal year 2017-2018.
 

SACRAMENTO - A statewide Jewish-advocacy group late Monday presented Sen. Holly J. Mitchell with its annual leadership honor, known as the Jerry Sampson Memorial Award.

"Holly Mitchell exemplifies the values that the Jewish community holds dear: helping those who are in need, looking out for society's most vulnerable, and working hard to ensure equality for all," Julie Zeisler, executive director of the group said.

SACRAMENTO – The Senate Energy Committee today passed a measure by California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) to set California on a path to 100% renewable energy by the year 2045.  The vote was 8 ayes – 2 noes.

Sacramento, CA – Local school districts would have more flexibility in managing their own money during economic downturns under legislation approved on Monday by the Senate.

Senate Bill 751, approved on a 38-0 vote, was co-authored by Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, and Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo. It would lift the local school district reserve cap from 6 percent to 17 percent, a nationally recognized standard for local government agency reserves. The bill now moves to the Assembly.

Advocates for strict legal safeguards to prevent abuse of children and teens in underage or forced marriages will testify in support of Senator Jerry Hill’s Senate Bill 273 in a hearing conducted by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Fifteen Fallen Officers Honored during California’s Peace Officers’

Memorial Day –May 8th 2017

SACRAMENTO—Law enforcement officers from across California converged at the State Capitol today to honor officers who made “the ultimate sacrifice” in the line of duty.  Senator Cathleen Galgiani served as the legislativesponsor of this year’s event that included the recognition of fifteen officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.