SACRAMENTO – Governor Newsom signed Senator Josh Becker’s climate bills today, making the three key measures law that take effect January 1. These include the centerpiece of Senator Becker’s 2022 climate bill portfolio, Senate Bill 1203, which he announced at COP26 at Glasgow last year.
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The State Legislature Passes a Dozen Climate, Equity and Social Justice Bills by Senator Josh Becker
MENLO PARK – Bold plans to speed clean energy action, waive fees for more San Mateo County community college students, and create a regional pharmacy using surplus meds to fill free prescriptions for the indigent are among the bills by Senator Josh Becker now heading to Governor Newsom for review.
The Legislature passed 12 bills by the Peninsula Democrat in the final days of the state’s 2021-2022 legislative session, which adjourned early Thursday.
A stroke of the Governor’s pen would enable the San Mateo County Community College District to offer fee waivers to more students in need by using existing local revenue and without incurring further costs to the state. SB 893 by Senator Josh Becker allows the college district to operate a pilot program that expands aid to underrepresented and marginalized community members using unrestricted local funds. The district now helps 2,000 students experiencing financial hardship attend its community colleges. SB 893 would enable the district to defray college expenses for an estimated 6,000 students from San Mateo County. The Senate sent the bill to the Governor’s desk with a unanimous bipartisan vote.
SACRAMENTO – Independent San Mateo bookstore Reach and Teach and its co-owners, work and life partners Craig Wiesner and Derrick Kikuchi, were honored today at the California Small Business Association’s annual celebration of California small businesses selected for outstanding recognition by their state legislators.
We need urgent action, and the federal dollars from the new law – coupled with the new laws we are considering in Sacramento – can drastically accelerate our path to 100%clean energy and a carbon-free future. In California, transformative change through climate investment and action has become a mantra in our Capitol. I’m heartened that with our President, the White House again embraces this theme. While we all have much work still before us, it is encouraging to see our President and Congress working to reclaim America’s position as a leader in climate action.
Senator Becker’s portfolio of climate action, social justice, economic equity, affordable housing and patient care bills now heads to the full Assembly for the final stretch of legislative reviews. “I’m grateful to all my bill partners, community advocates and legislative colleagues whose support helped these measures reach this critical stage,” Senator Becker said.
Typically, summer heatwaves add stress to our electricity grid. Increased warming and extreme heat events from climate change add a further burden. What must California do to ensure grid reliability while also reducing use of fossil fuels? Senator Josh Becker, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Energy Future, holds a hearing to explore the issue.
Our state Senate and Assembly have approved historic investments for the recovery and resiliency of Californians and our state, while banking hefty reserves and positioning California for a strong future. We have a budget to be proud of. As a longtime advocate for education at all levels, affordable housing, mental health, economic equity, social justice and fast-tracking our clean energy transition, I’m pleased with budget elements we’re sending to the governor.