NE Sacramento News

Thursday, August 15, is a critical day for California lawmakers as they wait to learn whether their bills are removed from the suspense file to continue through the legislative process in the California State Legislature.

Members of the California Senate Republican Caucus are monitoring their bills in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. They have measures addressing community protection, wildfire issues, and veterans' assistance. The Suspense File process involves the Assembly Appropriations Committee considering hundreds of bills with costs higher than $150,000 without public debate.

"Senate Republicans are pushing common-sense reforms to Fix California—because our communities need solutions, not suspense," said Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego), who also Vice Chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Transparency is key to a functional and efficient state government," said Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson). "Californians should be paying attention to what happens in this committee. Many good bills will be rejected without discussion which is all the more reason for the public to keep a close eye on this."

Here is a list of some top bills authored by California Senate Republicans:

Protecting our Communities:

SB 1074 (Jones): Known as the Sexually Violent Predator Accountability, Fairness, and Enforcement Act (SAFE Act), this measure would aim to prevent the Newsom Administration from secretly dumping SVPs into family-friendly neighborhoods with no regard for public safety.

SB 268 (Alvarado-Gil): Would make rape of an intentionally intoxicated person a violent felony.

SB 796 (Alvarado-Gil): Would make general threats against a school or place of worship a felony.

SB 1414 (Grove): Would address sex trafficking and aims to increase penalties for those who purchase children for sex.

SB 1442 (Ochoa Bogh): Would allow the state to produce and distribute Fentanyl tests throughout California so that accidental poisonings from products laced with Fentanyl can be avoided.

Addressing Wildfire Issues:

SB 542 (Dahle): Would exclude settlement payments awarded to victims of the 2022 Mill Fire and the 2021 Dixie Fire from gross income, meaning those payments would not be subject to income taxes.

SB 1004 (Wilk): Would make settlement payments made in connection with any California wildfire from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2029 tax-exempt.

SB 1176 (Niello): Would require several departments to collaborate in forming a workgroup that will develop best practices and recommendations to protect wildfire-impacted communities and first responders from exposure to heavy metals following a wildfire.

Assisting our Veterans:

SB 73 (Seyarto): Would allow private businesses to establish voluntary hiring preferences for Veteran applicants.

SB 916 (Seyarto): Would clarify that extended education courses applicable toward an undergraduate degree are included in the CalVet Fee Waiver.

SB 920 (Seyarto): Would formally establish the Purple Star School Program which helps military families identify schools that specialize in providing support for challenges faced by children of military families.

Providing Government Transparency:

SB 978 (Seyarto): Would help Californians access critical information regarding how their tax dollars are spent by making the State Budget machine readable.

SB 1043 (Grove): Endorsed by child advocate Paris Hilton, this bill would propose greater transparency for children and young adults living in facilities licensed by CDSS by requiring information related to restraints and seclusion rooms be accessible publicly.

SB 1194 (Wilk): Would mandate CDE post names and counties of residence of its Parental Advisory Council members on its website by January 31, Additionally if employed by an LEA that information must also be included.

Protecting our Environment:

SB1062(Dahle)Would support conversion biomass generation facilities newer advanced bioenergy technology allowing them continue operating reduce harmful debris pose serious wildfire threat communities

SB1088(Alvarado Gil)Would improve water infrastructure rural communities facing imminent wildfire threats

Addressing Animal Shelter Welfare:

SB1233(Wilk)Would establish framework Californias two accredited schools veterinary medicine UC Davis Western University Health Sciences create first nation High Quality High Volume Spay Neuter HQHVSN certification program

SB1459(Nguyen)Would require shelters large counties post monthly reports websites including numbers intakes outtakes euthanasias other types deaths animals endure