Press Releases

Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) has appointed Dr. William T. Armaline to the Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory (RIPA) Board. The President pro Tempore appointed Dr. Armaline to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of the last member.




This year’s state budget (see SB/AB 153 for details) includes California’s first state-funded universal basic income (UBI) proposal. The Legislature today voted to begin administering the “California Guaranteed Income Pilot Program”, a $35 million program to be governed by the state Department of Social Services for the purposes of providing payments of up to $1,000 to eligible program participants. The Department will prioritize funding to serve residents exiting the state’s extended foster care program as well as pregnant individuals.




SB 300, The Sentencing Reform Act of 2021, authored by Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) has passed the California State Senate and will now head to the State Assembly.




Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) has secured $2 million to move forward the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s (Midpen) Highway 17 Wildlife and Trail Crossings Project and connect over 30,000 acres of open space in the Santa Cruz Mountains. 




Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) has secured $2 million to assist local jurisdictions with the removal of trash and debris from local streets and along state highways in Santa Clara County.

The Budget Act of 2021 (SB/AB 129) that the State Legislature passed this week included Senator Cortese’s proposal under which the Santa Clara County Consumer & Environmental Protection Agency (CEPA), in collaboration with the County’s 15 cities, would identify and prioritize beautification areas and litter abatement opportunities in Santa Clara County.