Would have prohibited the sale of two or more newly constructed homes to institutional investors in an effort to increase the availability of housing stock for first-time homebuyers.

Would have provided grants to county election offices in San Benito, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz counties to create a pilot program to increase voter participation in county jail facilities.

Strengthens labor law enforcement outlined in the 2004 Private Attorney General's Act (PAGA) by increasing transparency, amending the statute of limitations, and creating protections against retaliation for employees who have experienced workplace violations.

Improves statewide conservation by requiring cities and counties to consider the movement and habitats of local wildlife when making determinations about infrastructure and development projects.

Would have mandated that local groundwater enforcement agencies adhere to a 30-day exploratory window and data reporting requirements before approving a permit for the construction of a new large-diameter, high-capacity well.

Bans the toxic chemical Di-2-ethylhexyl (DEHP) in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of medical IV bags and tubing in the state.

Strengthens the notification requirements for wage garnishments and bank levies, including providing time to request an exemption.

Would have required detectives and prosecutors investigating a police-related death to follow clear identification and declaration procedures when speaking to the family of the deceased, to provide any requested information about the status of their loved one, and to be transparent about whether the conversation was being recorded.

Prohibits the use of preferential admission standards for legacy or donor applicants at independent institutions of higher education.

Strengthens the Department of Pesticide Regulation's reporting requirements for pesticides used within 1/4 mile of a school site.

Strengthens reporting and review requirements for new and existing pesticides in use, and increases the pesticide mill fee that funds the Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Would have required that state prisons maintain average daily empty bed thresholds that are annually reported to the state legislature by the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Would have closed the loophole in 2014's plastic bag legislation to formally ban the use of any plastic bags at grocery store checkouts.

Would have improved transparency by requiring private contractors working with local governments to submit reports that detail service costs, workforce data, and performance reports

Would have prohibited a business that has an interest in more than 1,000 single-family properties from purchasing or leasing any additional single-family properties.

Would have prohibited commissioners from the Public Utilities Commission and Public Advocate's Office from seeking employment at the entities they regulate within one to two years of the end of a term, and imposed new requirements on utilities for recouping overspent forecasts.

Expands legal protections for drug-checking services to encourage more jurisdictions, research institutions, and community-based organizations to provide these critical services to the public.

Improves employment standards for janitorial labor within the state.

Would have strengthened employment protections by requiring a successor subcontractor to maintain contracts for janitorial staff for 90 days, and to offer continued employment if their performance is satisfactory after the 90-day window closes.

Mandates that public agencies make a presentation of their vacancies and recruitment efforts in a public hearing once annually, and that a union implement a plan to reduce vacancies if they exceed 20%.

Expands the tools available to public enforcement agencies to ensure that worker health and safety training requirements are met for individuals working for live events at public venues.

Would have enacted the Reducing Toxics in Packaging Act to prohibit the use of PFAS, PVC, or PVDC in plastic packaging manufactured, sold, or distributed in the state.

Would have reduced juvenile justice involvement by eliminating the requirement that school personnel report disruptive behavior and student drug possession to law enforcement officials.

Protects Californians from inflated utility prices by requiring the Public Utilities Commission to compare general fixed rates to past actual costs.

Closes a loophole to ensure that tenants are not unfairly penalized on rental applications if they have had previous civil eviction cases.

Amends ACA 1 to require a lower 55% vote threshold to pass any local bond measure in a special district, city, or county; retains the requirement that special taxes for construction, repair, or replacement of public infrastructure pass with a two-third majority. Failed on the 2024 general election ballot.

Prohibits any educational entity from establishing policies that forcibly out LGBTQ+ students, and requires the State Department of Education to develop in-service training resources for the support of LGBTQ+ students.

Would have protected communities from toxic emissions by requiring refineries to issues community notices when safe levels are surpassed, provide real-time air quality data, submit quarterly reports, conduct third-party audits, and perform analyses within 24-hours of any incident.

Would have deepened the protections of the Fair Employment and Housing Act by setting the statute of limitations to bring a group or class complaint with the California Civil Rights Department to seven years.

Mandates that all firearms must be properly stored in a residence when they are not being carried or controlled by a lawful user, regardless of whether there are children in residence.

Would have required that state prisons maintain average daily empty bed thresholds that are annually reported to the state legislature by the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Would have Improved protections for seniors by reducing the burden of proof for claims of elder abuse against a residential care or skilled nursing facility.

Would have improved the pretrial bail process by requiring the court to review both the fixed bail amount and whether there is clear and convincing evidence that the detained person poses a risk to the victim, public safety, or flight; would have required a review of nonmonetary conditions for release after 60 days of compliance.

Would have prohibited the Department of Housing and Community Development from denying an affordable housing loan to any individual who meets all stated requirements solely on the basis of their immigration status.

Extends the time that a tenant has to respond to an eviction notice from five days to ten days.

Strengthens tenant protects by allowing them to attend the move-out inspection, limiting the deductions that can be made from a security deposit, and requiring landlords to provide unit photos from before move-in and after move-out to make any claims against a security deposit.

Would have improved transparency by requiring that the top three funders of a referendum petition be printed directly on the petition, and required signers to initial to acknowledge that they read the names of the funders.

Would have updated a 2006 law to establish more modern requirements for the application and renewal of state video franchises and broadband, and adds increased penalties for customer service violations.

Accelerates the state's idle well clean-up processes by raising the annual fee structure, and increasing the percentage of idle wells that must be plugged annually by operators.

Requires the Department of Pesticide Regulation to reevaluate the toxic and commonly used weedkiller paraquat dichloride, which has been linked to cancers and brain disease, for cancellation or suspension by 2029.

Increases protections for small businesses and non-profits by requiring their commercial landlords provide advance notification of rent changes, and prohibiting landlords from charging tenants any fees for unexpected building repairs or taxes.

Protects workers against retaliation or adverse action if they choose not to participate in an employer-hosted meeting about politics or religion that is unrelated to their job.

Requires that pre-treated seeds sold in the state be labeled with the pesticide they are treated with, including the toxicity level and EPA registration number.

Allows civil penalties on refineries and other non-vehicular sources of air contamination to be tripled for violation of air quality standards.

Would have required the State Department of Social Services to conduct a Guaranteed Income Statewide Feasibility Study to make recommendations on the benefits, challenges, and scalability of creating a permanent program across the state.

Would have required all gas stoves sold in the state to include an adhesive warning label that states the risk of air pollutants from the appliance.

Mandates that public agencies make a presentation of their vacancies and recruitment efforts in a public hearing once annually, and that a union implement a plan to reduce vacancies if they exceed 20%.

Would have given the California Attorney General the authority to approve, deny, or impose conditions on private equity or hedge funds when they make an effort to take over health facilities or medical providers

Gives a local entity the authority to prohibit oil and gas operations or development in a jurisdiction.

Accelerates decarbonization by authorizing a gas corporation to end service if an alternative substitute energy service is available, and requires each gas corporation to file an annual map of all potential gas distribution line replacement projects.

Would prohibit the use of face surveillance on body cameras worn by law enforcement officers for three years. Passed by Assembly; held in the Senate.

Would eliminate the use of bench warrants -- which courts use to arrest people who cannot afford to pay fines or face barriers to appearing in court -- for minor infractions, which overly targets low-income individuals. Passed by the Assembly; held in the Senate Appropriations committee.

Would centralize information on proper concealed carry practices and require concealed carry license applicants to pass a standardized exam. Passed by the Assembly; held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Would prevent the transfer of incarcerated individuals who qualify for release under certain criminal justice reforms to ICE. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

An act to amend Sections 1052 and 1831 of, and to add Chapter 2.5 (commencing Section 1065) to Part 1 of Division 2 of, the Water Code, relating to water.

Would strengthen the authority of the State Water Resources Control Board to prevent illegal or wasteful uses of water, and increases penalties. Passed by the Assembly; held in Senate Committees on Natural Resources and Water and Judiciary.

Would restore the right to personal visits for incarcerated individuals at a minimum of three in-person visiting days a week. Passed by the Assembly; held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Would eliminate the mandate that healthcare workers must report suspected domestic violence and abuse to law enforcement and creates new guidelines for directing survivors to social service agencies for support. Passed by the Assembly; held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Would eliminate the authority to tow or boot a vehicle for five or more unpaid parking citations, and increases the number of unpaid tickets that keeps a driver from renewing their vehicle registration. Passed by the Assembly; held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Would allow resentencing for individuals who have been subject to firearm sentence enhancements, which overly target people of color. Passed by the Assembly; held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Would allow individual judges to determine the procedure for a defendant found incompetent to stand trial and speed up their access to mental health diversion programs and hospital care. Passed by Assembly; held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Would require that regional transportation agencies collaborate with the state board to approve their technical projects, and prioritizes active transportation by promoting projects that reduce greenhouse gases and the miles that need to be traveled by vehicle. Passed by the Assembly; in Senate Committees on Transportation and Environmental Quality.

Would protect individuals seeking abortion or gender affirming care in California by prohibiting state governments with anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ laws from accessing their digital data to identify them to police. Passed by the Assembly, held in Senate Judiciary Committee.

Would prohibit peace or law enforcement officers from conducting searches without a warrant even if they have the expressed consent of the property owner. Not passed by the Assembly.

Would extend smog abatement fees and increased vehicle registration fees to 2025 with funds to go to the Alternative and Renewable Vehicle Technology Fund; reduces public funds allocated for hydrogen vehicle fueling stations and increases the development of electric vehicle infrastructure. Passed by the Assembly; held by the author.

Would prohibit discrimination based on an individual's caste, a social group that an individual is born into that has privileges and restrictions, depending on a person's caste. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Requires the ballot label for statewide referendum measures -- initiatives to overturn state law by directly going to voters -- to be followed by the choices “Keep the law” and “Overturn the law.” Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Prevents trial court proceedings from being automatically delayed when one party appeals the court's order to deny compelled arbitration. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Protects workers from retaliation after they report labor violations or unequal pay. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Improves worker safety by requiring employers to create a workplace violence plan, maintain documentation about workplace threats or incidents, and train employees on initiating an emergency response. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Would improve affordability and medical transparency by authorizing the public disclosure of financial reports and data from large medical groups, providers, and physician organizations. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Requires businesses with revenues over $500 million to provide publicly available biennial reports to disclose their climate-related financial risk and the procedures that have been adopted to reduce that risk. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Guarantees five days of paid sick leave for most workers in California. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Caps the security deposit required by any landlord for a rental unit at no more than one month of rent. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Improves equity and due process by authorizing a judge to recall a sentence at any time if there has been a change in circumstances or law since the original sentencing. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Creates greater protection for communities impacted by local oil well operation by increasing the oversight and enforcement capacity of the California Geologic Energy Management Division. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Would direct the California Air Resources Board to review the the Emissions Reduction Credit System administered by the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District and update enforcement measures to make sure the system actually reduces emissions instead of increasing them. Passed by the Senate; not passed by the Assembly.

Requires all new handguns sold in the state to be equipped with microstamping technology to improve the process of tracing shooters and gun traffickers. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Would require that chain employers provide at least 60 days notice of the closure of a business location, and offer employees a store transfer to a location within 25 miles if there is an open position for which they are qualified. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Advances the creation of a single payer healthcare system by engaging stakeholders and leaders in discussions on program and funding. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Expands public healthcare reporting requirements to include data from Community Health Centers on labor, revenue, workforce development, and mergers and acquisitions. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Improves environmental accountability by requiring oil well owners to establish a bond to cover the full expense of plugging, decommissioning, and restoring the oil well site. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Would increase charter school accountability by placing more regulations and reporting requirements on financial distributions from the Charter School Facility Grant Program, which provides facilities and operations funding for many charter schools in the state. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Would ensure protection against discrimination for individuals who are caregivers for family members. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Would mandate that a ballot measure designed to increase the voter approval requirement for future bills to also pass by that higher requirement. Passed by the State Legislature and qualified for the November 5, 2024 statewide ballot.

Requires a statewide study of the opportunities, resources, obstacles, and recommendations for the creation of affordable social housing. Passed the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Closes loopholes that allow for rampant abuse of the no-fault just causes for eviction and provides mechanisms for accountability and enforcement. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Eliminates the deadline for individuals convicted of low-level, non-violent felonies to apply for a reduction to a misdemeanor that was set in Proposition 47, approved by voters in 2014. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Creates greater political transparency by adding the names of organizations, businesses, and individuals supporting or opposing a ballot measure directly to the ballot label so that voters can see the information as they vote

Establishes a statewide, 10-member Fast Food Council through 2029 to determine minimum wages, working hours, and health and safety standards across the sector

Establishes the California Housing Authority to efficiently meet housing needs across the state by producing and acquiring development for mixed income communities

Expands the existing in-person secret ballot process by which farmworkers can unionize to include new procedures for mail ballots, authorization cards, and petition signatures

Requires that courts consider alternatives to incarceration in criminal sentencing, including collaborative justice, restorative justice, and diversion programs

Provides immunity from liability for a pregnant person by eliminating the requirement that a coroner investigate and document a fetal death

Installs stronger criminal justice protections by allowing jury instructions to direct jurors to consider a lesser charge if the defense and evidence align to the conviction of a lesser offense

Regulates Inland Empire emissions pollution near homes, schools, hospitals, and playgrounds by requiring that warehouse distribution centers adhere to local measures to reduce health and safety impacts

Allows Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland to provide overdose prevention programs, including safe injection sites with sterile consumption supplies, trained staff, and treatment resources

Addresses homelessness and the low income housing crisis by creating the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency to centralize efforts to increase funding, preservation, development, and updated zoning across the region

Mandates that all prisons or similar facilities create and follow written standards for segregated confinement, including protections for disabled individuals, people under the age of 26, and people over the age of 59

Expands the type of conditions that would qualify an incarcerated person for compassionate release and mandates that any inmate who is medically incapacitated be reviewed for release without individual recommendation from the Department of Corrections

Prohibits establishing new oil and gas wells, or updating existing wells, within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, nursing homes, or hospitals

Expands the Racial Justice Act to allow individuals convicted before January 1, 2021, to petition the court on instances of racial bias in their cases

An act to repeal and add Section 1300 of the Elections Code, and to amend Section 24200 of the Government Code, relating to elections.

Increases climate accountability by requiring corporations to annually report and verify their greenhouse gas emissions

Provides that 90% of bail premiums must be returned to defendants if charges are dismissed or not filed, and ensures that defendants out on bail will not be charged for costs related to the conditions of their release like electronic monitoring devices

Expands the Racial Justice Act to allow individuals convicted before January 1, 2021, to petition the court on instances of racial bias in their cases

Establishes a statewide, 10-member Fast Food Council through 2029 to determine minimum wages, working hours, and health and safety standards across the sector

An act to amend Section 11165.1 of the Penal Code, relating to crimes.

An act to add Section 12805.4 to the Government Code, and to add Section 3203.5 to the Public Resources Code, relating to natural resources.

An act to amend Sections 2101, 2105.6, 2105.7, 2106, 2150, 2201, 2212, 2300, and 14240 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.

An act to amend Sections 1255.1 and 1255.25 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to health facilities.

An act to add Section 9001.6 to the Public Resources Code, relating to resource conservation.

An act to amend Sections 98.7 and 1102.5 of the Labor Code, relating to employment.

An act to add Part 5.7 (commencing with Section 1515) to Division 2 of the Labor Code, relating to employment.

An act to amend Section 8670.64 of the Government Code, relating to oil and gas.

An act to add Title 19 (commencing with Section 3273.01) to Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, and to add Section 23039 to the Financial Code, relating to COVID-19 relief.

An act to add Section 2810.8 to the Labor Code, relating to employment.

An act to amend Section 12930 of, and to add Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 12999) to Part 2.8 of Division 3 of Title 2 of, the Government Code, relating to employment.

An act to amend Section 1946.7 of the Civil Code, relating to tenancy.

Lead Author: McCarty Summary: A 1994 court ruling established the right of counties to oversee Sheriff Departments. Across California, however, many overzealous Sheriffs continue to resist this essential check on their power -- including a Sacramento Sheriff who blocked an Inspector General from coming to work after a reckless shooting performed by his office. AB1185 would codify the court ruling and affirm the right of counties to create oversight boards. It was not given a floor vote in the Senate.

An act to amend Sections 1473 and 1473.7 of, and to add Section 745 to, the Penal Code, relating to criminal procedure.

An act to add, repeal, and add Section 231.7 of the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to juries.

An act to amend Section 8670.64 of the Government Code, relating to oil and gas.

An act to add Section 2810.8 to the Labor Code, relating to employment.

An act to amend Sections 650.01, 805, and 805.5 of, and to add Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 2837.100) to Chapter 6 of Division 2 of, the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.

An act to amend Sections 2119, 2120, 2150, 2150.2, and 2271 of, and to add Sections 2273 and 2351 to, the Fish and Game Code, and to amend Section 597.3 of the Penal Code, relating to animals.

An act to amend and repeal Section 12945.6 of, and to amend, repeal, and add Section 12945.2 of, the Government Code, relating to employment.

Lead Author: Wiener Summary: California law mandates that offenders who engage in consensual, yet illegal, sex with 14-17 year old be treated differently, based on whether the sex is penile-vaginal, or anal and oral intercourse. This distinction creates more significant penalties for LGBT offenders, despite having committed the same offense -- resulting in disproportionate numbers of LGBT people on the sex offender registry. SB145 ends this irrational, discriminatory distinction. This bill did not receive a Floor vote in the Assembly.

Lead Authors: Allen, Skinner, Stern, Wiener Summary: The United States produces 30 million tons of plastics each year, and the recycling industry, often underfunded by local governments, does not seem equipped to stem this tide. Unused plastics that find their way to oceans and forests have awful effects on the wildlife and natural beauty of those places. SB54 requires producers of single-use plastic packaging to hit certain reduction targets -- among them, 75% by 2030 -- in an attempt to limit pollutive plastics from contaminating our natural environments. This bill did not receive a vote in the Assembly.

Lead Authors: Mark Stone, Lorena Gonzalez, Reyes Summary: Many California employers settle threatened claims or lawsuits with agreements that includes a no re-hire provision, preventing the aggrieved employee from ever applying for a job within the company or its subsidiaries again. No re-hire provisions do nothing more than punish an employee who has been harmed. AB749 prohibits these provisions from being included in settlement agreements. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Ting Summary: Facial recognition technology is a nascent technology, both invasive and prone to systematic errors when used on women and people of color. As privacy concerns grow around personal privacy and our increasing surveillance state, AB1215 prohibits police departments across the state from using this harmful technology until 2023. This bill passed and has been signed into law.

Lead Authors: O’Donnell, Bonta, McCarty, Smith Summary: California has over a 1300 charter schools, many of which siphon resources from public education, disproportionately harming low-income families and accelerating the wealth gap. AB1505 would give local districts more power to evaluate charter applications based on the charter’s projected fiscal impact on the district as well as a potential school’s redundancy with other nearby charters. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Kalra Summary: A defendant facing trial should have every opportunity to know if an officer involved in their case has any instances of documented police misconduct. AB1600 helps to expedite this process by shortening the notice requirement from 16 days to 10 days after the defendant has filed a motion to obtain these records. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Wood Summary: The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is primarily funded by the two largest dialysis providers in the US -- DaVita and Fresenius. AKF steers dialysis patients from Medi-Cal and toward private insurance, where the reimbursement rates they receive are much higher. This practice has helped enable these two companies to make profits exceeding four billion dollars since 2017. AB290 stops this heinous, price-gouging practice and will benefit both patients and taxpayers. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Lorena Gonzalez Summary: Employers make common practice of forcing workers, as a condition of employment, to sign mandatory arbitration agreements -- in effect, demanding they waive their full legal right to pursue damages in a potential dispute -- to get a job. This practice is unethical and protects offending companies from being held fully accountable for causing injury -- especially in cases made more visible through the #MeToo movement. AB51 ends the practice of forced arbitration and has been passed and signed into law.

Lead Author: Holden Summary: Over 30,000 abandoned or idle oil and gas wells are scattered across California, and in many cases, nearby highly residential areas. A recent Los Angeles County report found many wells capable of leaking toxic chemicals, putting people and wildlife at risk. AB1328 requires two state agencies to study defunct wells to determine if greenhouse gases, volatile compounds, toxic contaminants and other pollutants are escaping into the air. This bill passed and has been signed into law.

Lead Author: Ting Summary: One devastating component of what we call the gig economy -- from driving to task apps -- has been the lack of critical training and oversight apps like Uber and DoorDash provide their employees. AB1360 mandates that third-party food delivery platforms require employees to take food safety training and carry insurance for these drivers, protecting consumers, as well as the low-wage employees who do the work. This bill did not receive a floor vote in the Senate.

Lead Author: Eggman Summary: Safe-injection sites offer protected space and clean supplies for people to use drugs with assistance from trained medical staff. Far from enabling drug use, safe-injection sites have played a role in reducing overdose mentality and improving public health in Canada. AB362 would allow California to establish contracts with safe-injection site operators in the Bay Area. It has yet to be considered by the Senate.

Lead Author: Kalra Summary: Workplace retaliation claims -- where an employer takes adverse action against an employee as retaliation for exercising their rights under the Labor Code -- increased by 22% in 2016, and immigration-specific retaliation claims increased by 90% in 2017. Immigrant workers are often afraid or unable to quickly come forward with a claim for a number of reasons. AB403 lengthens the statute of limitations for filing a claim from 6 months to 3 years. It passed, but was vetoed by the Governor.

Lead Authors: Mark Stone, Jones-Sawyer Summary: Incarcerated people enter prison with disproportionately high rates of poverty, then often forced to work manual labor for almost nothing. Charging inmates administrative fees (or co-pays) for medical visits is unnecessary and unfair. The barrier it creates to inmates receiving basic care exacerbates minor conditions and leads to the spread of infectious diseases. AB45 ends this practice. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Chiu Summary: Affordable housing is a priority concern all across our state, and no region has a bigger housing problem than the Bay Area. AB1487 creates the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority, which will raise and distribute funds for affordable housing and tenant protection. Unlike previous attempts at similar relief, the BAHFA will assess and meet challenges on a region, not just municipality level. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Rivas Summary: Despite progress being made toward renewable energy by California environmental groups, the state is still deeply invested in oil refining -- and the dangers of a spill of highly toxic ‘non-floating’ crude oil are vast. Past spills, like the Santa Barbara spill in 1969, have the potential to devastate both natural and human life. AB936 strengthens transparency around non-floating crude oil, forces into law a proper definition of this substance and requires the state energy commission to create contingency plans, in the event of a transportation accident. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Mark Stone Summary: Under current code, people are entitled to a hearing for early parole if they were less than 26 years old at the time of the controlling offense. However, the Department of Corrections holds a confusing, problematic definition of ‘initial hearing’ when measuring the time served of those incarcerated as youth. AB965 clarifies the definition and offers these folks the opportunity to earn credit toward earlier release dates, benefitting from the provisions of Prop 57 and having a smoother path toward rehabilitation and reintegration into society. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: McCarty Summary: A 1994 court ruling established the right of counties to oversee Sheriff Departments. Across California, however, many overzealous Sheriffs continue to resist this essential check on their power -- including a Sacramento Sheriff who blocked an Inspector General from coming to work after a reckless shooting performed by his office. AB1185 would codify the court ruling and affirm the right of counties to create oversight boards. It was not given a floor vote in the Senate.

Lead Author: Bloom Summary: A widespread lack of affordable housing is the most pressing issue facing California today. AB1279 would identify “high-resource” areas that show patterns of exclusion, encourage the production of affordable housing there -- and prevent displacement where cheaper housing exists. It would force certain areas to accommodate people in desperate need of housing. It has yet to be considered by the Senate.

Authors: Daly, Obernolte Summary: In 2012, the legislature eliminated the authority of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) – thinking that an unregulated market would produce more affordable, widely available broadband. It didn’t happen. Instead, as is most common, the lack of regulation created monopolistic conditions – and expensive, slow internet speeds throughout the state. Corporate providers like AT&T and Comcast would have loved to see such conditions continue, and tried to extend them via passage of AB1366. Internet and technology issues are complicated and, for a time, this complication obscuring these truly damning effects of the bill. Eventually, though, everyday people’s voices won out and the bill was pulled after wide protest.

Lead Authors: Chiu, Bloom, Bonta, Grayson, Wicks Summary: The systemic lack of affordable housing in California grants landlords extraordinary power to gauge renters. Limiting rent increases creates stability, helps vulnerable Californians plan for their future and balances the playing field between renters and landlords. AB1482 will cap rent increases at 5% over 12-month periods, as well as force landlords to show “just cause” before evicting. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Gipson Summary: Current California law allows juvenile court judges to criminalize youth for truancy and other non-criminal offenses. This practice increases the chances that youth end up in a juvenile court and, therefore, the juvenile justice system. AB901 firmly decriminalizes truancy and forces counties to seek non-criminal alternatives, including referring juveniles to community based diversion programs before issuing a notice to appear in court. This bill did not receive a Floor vote in the Senate.

Lead Author: Chiu Summary: The practice of “balance billing” -- forcing patients to pay surprise costs after they are treated, usually in an ER, by doctors who happen to be out of network -- is yet another example of our broken healthcare system. AB1611 strikes down this practice, requiring providers charge the same out-of-pocket costs for emergency care whether the doctors who treated a patient are in the patient’s plan or not. This bill has yet to be considered by the Senate.

Lead Authors: Chiu, Santiago Summary: Nationally-owned banks dominate the financial marketplace, and time and again, invest resources in causes opposed to the values of Californians. Wall Street-backed banks often charge whatever exorbitant fees they can, enabled by their stranglehold on the market. AB857 allows local governments to sponsor public banks, which will be FDIC-insured, likely to charge lower fees and invest in locally-oriented resources while increasing competition in the marketplace. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Authors: Low, Gonzalez, Voepel Summary: Youth voters are chronically underrepresented in the voting population. At 17, many Californians are earning income on which they can be taxed, and facing life choices which can be severely affected by the decisions of elected officials. ACA8 lowers the minimum voting age to 17 years old in California. This proposed amendment has passed the Assembly but has not been considered by the Senate.

Lead Authors: Mark Stone, Lorena Gonzalez, Reyes Summary: Many California employers settle threatened claims or lawsuits with agreements that includes a no re-hire provision, preventing the aggrieved employee from ever applying for a job within the company or its subsidiaries again. No re-hire provisions do nothing more than punish an employee who has been harmed. AB749 prohibits these provisions from being included in settlement agreements. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Authors: McCarty, Bonta, Carrillo, Gipson, Lorena Gonzalez, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Mullin, Mark Stone, Weber Summary: Over 50,000 Californians still on parole for past crimes are not allowed to vote. Not only is this practice wrong -- a person who has served their time should have the same rights as anyone else -- but it disproportionately impacts low income Californians and people of color. ACA6 would restore voting rights for people on parole. This proposed amendment passed the Assembly but was not considered by the Senate.

Lead Author: Wiener Summary: California makes it very difficult to generate revenues for essential services, often requiring two-thirds majority of voters to approve any tax hike. A recent law mandates ballots include descriptions of these proposals that do not exceed 75 words. However, this makes it nearly impossible to pass progressive-minded parcel taxes, which often contain multiple tiers that can not be detailed in 75 words. SB268 allows detailed information to be included in the official voter guide, which has more space, instead of the ballot itself. This bill passed but was vetoed by the Governor.

Lead Author: Skinner Summary: A person who has been incarcerated and released has served their debt to society, and should be granted equal rights to any citizen. Banning formerly incarcerated people from serving on juries disenfranchises them, while also disproportionately removes people of color -- who are disproportionately incarcerated due to our flawed justice system -- from the jury pool, perpetuating biased legal outcomes. SB310 reinstates the right of most formerly incarcerated people to serve on juries. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Mark Stone Summary: Under current code, people are entitled to a hearing for early parole if they were less than 26 years old at the time of the controlling offense. However, the Department of Corrections holds a confusing, problematic definition of ‘initial hearing’ when measuring the time served of those incarcerated as youth. AB965 clarifies the definition and offers these folks the opportunity to earn credit toward earlier release dates, benefitting from the provisions of Prop 57 and having a smoother path toward rehabilitation and reintegration into society. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Mitchell Summary: Landlords are legally prohibited from discriminating against a renter based on the source of their income -- but not required to accept housing vouchers. This freedom to deny renters can limit the mobility of low-income people to move from poverty-concentrated areas. This law passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Wieckowski Summary: Aggressive collection practices can wipe out families and send them into poverty instead of moving debt collection toward resolution. Allowing debt collectors to empty entire bank accounts is harmful and dangerous. SB616 forces debt collectors to leave the final $1,724 -- the minimum amount a family of four needs to survive a month -- in a debtor’s bank account, leaving them breathing room to work out repayment terms. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Wood Summary: The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is primarily funded by the two largest dialysis providers in the US -- DaVita and Fresenius. AKF steers dialysis patients from Medi-Cal and toward private insurance, where the reimbursement rates they receive are much higher. This practice has helped enable these two companies to make profits exceeding four billion dollars since 2017. AB290 stops this heinous, price-gouging practice and will benefit both patients and taxpayers. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Authors: Chiu, Bloom, Bonta, Grayson, Wicks Summary: The systemic lack of affordable housing in California grants landlords extraordinary power to gauge renters. Limiting rent increases creates stability, helps vulnerable Californians plan for their future and balances the playing field between renters and landlords. AB1482 will cap rent increases at 5% over 12-month periods, as well as force landlords to show “just cause” before evicting. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Ting Summary: Facial recognition technology is a nascent technology, both invasive and prone to systematic errors when used on women and people of color. As privacy concerns grow around personal privacy and our increasing surveillance state, AB1215 prohibits police departments across the state from using this harmful technology until 2023. This bill passed and has been signed into law.

Lead Author: Chiu Summary: Affordable housing is a priority concern all across our state, and no region has a bigger housing problem than the Bay Area. AB1487 creates the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority, which will raise and distribute funds for affordable housing and tenant protection. Unlike previous attempts at similar relief, the BAHFA will assess and meet challenges on a region, not just municipality level. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Author: Wiener Summary: Incarcerating individuals costs California citizens $80,000 per individual year. Current law includes mandatory sentencing enhancements that add 1 year of incarceration for each past offense committed by the accused -- a mandatory add-on that impacts a third of the incarcerated population. Significant research suggests these enhancements do not deter crime. SB 136 repeals these enhancements, ending this costly practice which leads to major inequities in the justice system. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Authors: Chiu, Santiago Summary: Nationally-owned banks dominate the financial marketplace, and time and again, invest resources in causes opposed to the values of Californians. Wall Street-backed banks often charge whatever exorbitant fees they can, enabled by their stranglehold on the market. AB857 allows local governments to sponsor public banks, which will be FDIC-insured, likely to charge lower fees and invest in locally-oriented resources while increasing competition in the marketplace. This bill passed and was signed into law.

Lead Authors: Atkins, Portantino, Stern Summary: In just three years, the Trump administration has gutted many federal environmental regulations and attempted to roll back dramatic environmental progress made in California. SB 1 would override Trump-era concessions made to corporations and Big Ag, in order to protect California’s environment. SB 1 cements any rolled back environmental standards as state law, particularly as they apply to the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. It passed but was vetoed by the Governor.

Lead Author: Bradford Summary: SB218 allows local governments to better enforce anti-discrimination laws, to establish remedies and penalties for violations for claims that arise under FEHA -- the Fair Housing and Employment Act. The bill passed, but was vetoed by the Governor.

Author: Gloria Co-author: Wiener   Child welfare agencies are required to assess the health needs of all young people in foster care, and to ensure they receive appropriate and timely care to address the needs identified by qualified professionals. This bill makes clear that, to meet this obligation for transgender and gender nonconforming youth, child welfare agencies must ensure access to clinicians who provide gender-affirming treatment consistent with established standards of care.

Authors: Ting, Muratsuchi, Reyes Co-author: Allen   Currently, family members and law enforcement may make a request to the court when they believe someone is a danger to themselves or others. If a judge agrees, that person must temporarily give up possession of their firearms and is banned from buying new ones, generally for 21 days. AB 2888 would add employers, coworkers, high school and college staff, and mental health workers to the list of individuals who can seek this type of restraining order.

Author: Muratsuchi, Limón Co-author: Jackson   The Trump administration has been actively attempting to increase offshore drilling efforts across the American coastline -- including off California’s shores. AB 1775 and SB 834 would protect California’s coastline, environment, and economy by putting a stop to new offshore oil and gas drilling and production and making it nearly impossible to transport oil from offshore facilities.

Author: Reyes Co-author: Lara   Communities deserve the right to know when new pollution sources are proposed to be built in their neighborhoods. AB 2447 would protect environmentally vulnerable and economically disadvantaged communities from further degradation by mandating that land use notices be provided in the languages spoken by local residents.

Authors: Arambula, Thurmond Co-authors: Burke, Carrillo, Chiu, Friedman, Gonzalez, Wood   Currently, undocumented Californians are not eligible for Medi-Cal, leaving thousands of residents uninsured and without adequate health care. AB 2965 and SB 974 would extend eligibility for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to low-income adults ages 19-25 and 65 and over who are otherwise eligible, regardless of their immigration status.

Author: Gonzalez Co-authors: Jackson, Bonta, Carrillo, Friedman, Gloria, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Levine, McCarty, Muratsuchi, Reyes, Mark Stone, Weber, Leyva, Mitchell, Skinner   Vulnerable workers are often subjected to workplace abuse and even coerced into signing agreements that force them to settle disputes out of courts of law, effectively stripping away a worker’s ability to fight against wage theft, sexual harassment, and other workers’ rights violations in court. AB 3080 would prohibit employers from requiring workers to sign forced arbitration agreements as a condition of employment, protecting vulnerable workers from coercion.

Author: Bonta Co-authors: Skinner, Wiener, Fletcher, Quirk   Although the passage of Proposition 64 legalized recreational cannabis use and allowed for the “resentencing and destruction of records for prior convictions,” it did not specify a process for the retroactive erasure of non-violent cannabis convictions. AB 1793 mandates the California Department of Justice to search its database for eligible cases and send them to district attorneys for review by July 2019, potentially prompting the overturning of a plethora of wrongful convictions within the next few years.

Author: Reyes   Securing employment is a crucial step in keeping people from going back to prison. However, about 30 percent of all jobs require professional licenses, which are usually granted by state boards. AB 2293 was part of a bill package that would have prohibited these boards from using arrest or conviction records as the only basis to deny professional licenses to applicants with nonviolent criminal arrests or convictions. It would have prohibited denial of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification based on an individual's criminal record. The bill was significantly amended to focus exclusively on mandating new reporting on EMT certification applicants including the demographic and criminal conviction history of applicants that were approved and denied certification.

Authors: Bloom, Chiu   The Ellis Act allows landlords to evict all tenants from a building, in order to go out of the rental business and use that building for another purpose. If an owner chooses to do so, they may not turn around after evicting the tenants and return their units to the rental market. However, the Act contains a loophole which allows landlords to do this unit-by-unit, thus allowing them to evict all their renters one by one and still remain in the rental business. AB 2364 would have closed this loophole.

Author: Kalra Co- authors: Bradford, Mitchell, Bloom, Bonta, Chiu, Chu, Gonzalez, Jones-Sawyer, McCarty, Mark Stone, Ting   Californians struggling with loans -- often minorities, veterans, students, and seniors -- end up falling deeper in debt due to penalty fees, debt collection lawsuits, damaged credit, and even bankruptcy. AB 2500 would have protected consumers from being targeted by predatory lenders by capping interest rates for loans at roughly 20% for consumer loans between $2,500 and $10,000.

Authors: Gonzalez, Bonta   Currently, California’s labor code prevents discrimination or retaliation against victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. AB 3081 would also prohibit an employer from firing or otherwise discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment, further expanding protections for victims of workplace harassment.

Authors: Gloria, Chiu Co-author: Hill   The increased militarization of local law enforcement has made of our neighborhoods feel like warzones. AB 3131 would restore transparency and accountability by making sure that law enforcement agencies provide notice to the public before they decide to acquire military equipment.

Author: Talamantes Eggman Co-authors: Wiener, Friedman, Lara   4,654 people died of drug overdoses in 2016 in California alone, according to the Center for Disease Control. AB 186 would authorize local governments to operate safe, hygienic, and secure injection sites for IV drug users and protect users and staff from prosecution. Permitting local governments to start these pilot programs would also prevent needless overdoses by managing dosages and prevent the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B and C by assuring access to clean needles. Additionally, the sites would refer people to treatment and housing services.

Author: Hernandez Co-authors: Gloria, Mitchell   Many hospitalized, unhoused people are often at risk of being discharged out into extreme weather or other unsafe conditions, making them even more vulnerable to worsened illness. SB 1152 would create a hospital discharge planning process for patients experiencing homelessness that takes into account the unique medical and social service needs of these individuals by mandating hospitals discharge homeless patients to a primary residence, health facility, or shelter facility that has agreed to accept them. SB 1152 would also require discharge planning for patients experiencing homelessness to ensure that the patient is clothed, has been offered screening for communicable disease, and has been offered enrollment assistance for affordable health care options.

Author: Portantino   Despite having some of the strongest gun safety legislation in the country, California still suffered from over 300 mass shootings in 2018. Currently, Californians are only permitted to purchase one handgun every 30 days. SB 1177 would prohibit a person from purchasing more than one long gun per month, aligning California law for both types of firearms.

Authors: Jackson, Lara Co-authors: McGuire, Muratsuchi, Allen, Bloom, Stern, Wiener   The Trump administration has been actively attempting to increase offshore drilling efforts across the American coastline -- including off California’s shores. SB 834 and AB 1775 would protect California’s coastline, environment, and economy by putting a stop to new offshore oil and gas drilling and production and making it nearly impossible to transport oil from offshore facilities.

Author: De León Co-authors: Allen, Beall, Berman, Bonta, Carrillo, Chiu, Dodd, Friedman, Gabriel, Gloria, Gonzalez, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Lara, Levine, Limón, McCarty, Monning, Muratsuchi, Pan, Quirk, Reyes, Rivas, Santiago, Skinner, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wieckowski   As the world’s fifth-largest economy and a global leader in environmental protections, California has the ability to move toward 100% clean energy. SB 100 acknowledges this and sets a goal for California to transition to 100% clean energy by 2045.

Author: Portantino Co-authors: Bonta, Gipson, Gonzalez, Wiener, Skinner   Despite having some of the strongest gun safety legislation in the country, California still suffered from over 300 mass shootings in 2018. Existing law prohibits the sale or transfer of a handgun to anyone under 21 years old. SB 1100 raises the minimum age to purchase a long-gun to 21 years old, making both the law concerning handguns and long-guns consistent.

Author: Muratsuchi, Limón Co-author: Jackson   The Trump administration has been actively attempting to increase offshore drilling efforts across the American coastline -- including off California’s shores. AB 1775 and SB 834 would protect California’s coastline, environment, and economy by putting a stop to new offshore oil and gas drilling and production and making it nearly impossible to transport oil from offshore facilities.

Authors: Skinner, Anderson Co-authors: Gipson, Bonta, Burke, Medina, Wiener   Current California law states that someone can be held criminally liable for murder if it occurs during a felony they committed, even if they were not present for the actual death. This results in hundreds of people being jailed for murders they didn’t commit. SB 1437 would ensure that a person can only be convicted of felony murder if they were directly involved with the crime and would reduce the number of people unfairly sentenced.

Author: Wieckowski   While we need to bring more renewable energy onto our electric grid, we cannot allow the transition to clean energy to unjustly impose more burdens on communities already suffering from pollution that fossil fuel and natural gas production have caused. SB 64 would require state agencies to work together to collect data and identify ways to reduce air pollution, specifically prioritizing reducing emissions in communities most impacted by climate change.

Author: Reyes Co-author: Lara   Communities deserve the right to know when new pollution sources are proposed to be built in their neighborhoods. AB 2447 would protect environmentally vulnerable and economically disadvantaged communities from further degradation by mandating that land use notices be provided in the languages spoken by local residents.

Authors: Gonzalez, Bonta   Currently, California’s labor code prevents discrimination or retaliation against victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. AB 3081 would also prohibit an employer from firing or otherwise discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment, further expanding protections for victims of workplace harassment.

Authors: Gloria, Chiu Co-author: Hill   The increased militarization of local law enforcement has made of our neighborhoods feel like warzones. AB 3131 would restore transparency and accountability by making sure that law enforcement agencies provide notice to the public before they decide to acquire military equipment.

Author: Jackson Co-author: Gonzalez   Despite the progress made in recent years to combat cultures of harassment and abuse, workplace harassment remains a pervasive issue. SB 1300 amends existing state law to strengthen training requirements and other employer obligations to prevent workplace harassment, requires employers provide employees with information on how to file harassment complaints, and removes barriers to workers bringing claims and speaking out against harassment and abuse.

Author: Wieckowski   Currently, individuals such as farm laborers, substitute teachers, janitors, and others who work seasonally are at risk of losing their savings to creditors during the off-season. SB 298 would protect two months’ worth of savings at the amount of the hourly minimum wage from being taken by debt collectors so that seasonal workers are not left bankrupt.

Authors: Mitchell, Lara Co-author: Kamlager-Dove   Currently, California lacks any law to prevent young children from being prosecuted as adults, leaving young children within the criminal justice system particularly vulnerable to prosecution and unfair convictions. SB 439 establishes 12 years as the minimum age for prosecution in juvenile court unless a minor younger than 12 has committed murder or rape.

Author: Ting Co-authors: Carrillo, Jones-Sawyer   AB 748 would mandate that, if requested, law enforcement agencies publicly provide audio and visual recordings of incidents in which lethal force was used. With so many jurisdictions and departments all over California, transparency and accountability would increase dramatically if body camera footage were made more available to the public.

Authors: Mitchell, Lara Co-authors: Kalra, Beall, Bradford, Carrillo, Jones-Sawyer, Quirk, Skinner, Weber   California’s severe sentence enhancements for prior convictions keeps inmates imprisoned for much longer than they should have to serve time. SB 1393 would restore the court’s discretion to slash the five-year sentence enhancements for prior serious felony convictions.

Author: Skinner Co-authors: Lara, Bradford, Glazer, Hill, Jones-Sawyer, McCarty, Mitchell, Moorlach, M. Stone, Weber, Wieckowski   Police departments across the state have traditionally acted with little accountability and transparency, especially in cases of sexual assault, planting evidence and lying, and racist uses of lethal force. SB 1421 provides the public access to records regarding police misconduct, deadly and serious uses of force, and sexual assault.

Author: Lara   Californians’ personal data is often collected and stored by the state to help state agencies serve the public, but the data has also been used to aid mass deportations and religious registries. SB 244 would enhance privacy and confidentiality protections in state databases to ensure that personal data is only used to assess eligibility for and to provide public services. It would also prohibit disclosure of personal data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles database except in cases of warranted requests.

Authors: De León, Wiener Co-authors: Santiago, Bonta   After the Trump administration moved to slash net neutrality’s protections for consumers, California legislators attempted to protect net neutrality with state legislation. SB 460 would reinstate net neutrality in CA and prohibit broadband providers from charging website access fees.

Author: Talamantes Eggman Co-authors: Wiener, Friedman, Lara   4,654 people died of drug overdoses in 2016 in California alone, according to the Center for Disease Control. AB 186 would authorize local governments to operate safe, hygienic, and secure injection sites for IV drug users and protect users and staff from prosecution. Permitting local governments to start these pilot programs would also prevent needless overdoses by managing dosages and prevent the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B and C by assuring access to clean needles. Additionally, the sites would refer people to treatment and housing services.

Author: Wieckowski   Currently, individuals such as farm laborers, substitute teachers, janitors, and others who work seasonally are at risk of losing their savings to creditors during the off-season. SB 298 would protect two months’ worth of savings at the amount of the hourly minimum wage from being taken by debt collectors so that seasonal workers are not left bankrupt.

Authors: Mitchell, Lara Co-author: Kamlager-Dove   Currently, California lacks any law to prevent young children from being prosecuted as adults, leaving young children within the criminal justice system particularly vulnerable to prosecution and unfair convictions. SB 439 establishes 12 years as the minimum age for prosecution in juvenile court unless a minor younger than 12 has committed murder or rape.