Creating Change September 2024 |
September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, where we celebrate the rich history, thriving culture & many contributions & accomplishments that the Latino Community has made in the U.S. and in California.
In this edition of Creating Change - September 2024, I am eager to share with you a lot of updates, including my recent town hall on how to serve on boards and commissions, which had a massive turnout. I will also be sharing with you updates on the following:
1. Climate Week NYC,
2. Legislative Update,
3. AI and Democracy Expert Panel,
4. Connecting to the Grid Faster,
5. Virtual Town Hall on Boards and Commissions, and
6. Tuition Free College.
Warning About FasTrak Phishing Scams |
There has been another nationwide advisory regarding text phishing scams for bridge tolls.
California Toll Operators are advising drivers to disregard phishing texts if you receive one on your phones that details a specific outstanding toll amount. If you receive a text and are unsure, please contact the tolling agency in your region. You can also file a complaint at www.ic3.gov.
Climate Week NYC |
I am in New York City to participate in Climate Week NYC with a delegation of Senators to engage with other thought leaders, policy makers and business leaders to champion comprehensive strategies to combat climate change. I will be discussing my legislation on building decarbonization, carbon removal, solar incentives, and climate financing. We will be sharing with the world California’s climate policies as well as hearing from other experts around the world.
Legislative Update |
This year, I successfully passed 12 bills out of the legislature and sent them to the Governor for signature. So far, he has signed into law my Interim Housing Act (SB 1395), the California Artificial Intelligence Transparency Act (SB 942), and my bill prohibiting deepfake revenge pornography (SB 926), which I jointly authored with my colleague, Senator Aisha Wahab. The Governor has until September 30 to sign or veto bills, so I’ll let you know what happens soon.
AI and Democracy Expert Panel |
I was recently invited to join an expert panel in Chicago with other tech leaders to discuss the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and our democratic institutions and how the ethical use of AI can empower voters and strengthen our democracy if smart guardrails are in place. I talked about my bills, including the CA AI Transparency Act, and how I am working on addressing the spread of electoral misinformation and disinformation instigated by deepfakes.
Connecting to the Grid Faster |
This month, the California Public Utilities Commission voted to enact rules to implement SB 410, legislation that I authored to require utilities to connect new homes, EV chargers and other electronic equipment to the grid faster. This first-in-the-nation requirement will reduce the wait time that customers face when upgrading their homes to more energy efficient appliances and vehicles. PG&E customers could see a reduced wait time by seven to 47 percent.
Virtual Town Hall on Boards and Commissions |
Pictured here: Heather Glaser, City Clerk of Mountain View; Linda Wolin, Chief of Staff to Supervisor Pine; Morgan Carvajal, Governor’s Appointments Secretary
I first began my service on the State Workforce Development Board and the Childcare Partnerships Council in San Mateo County. Serving on a local or state board or commission is a great opportunity for civic engagement and to use your expertise to actively effect positive change in our communities. That is why I hosted a virtual town hall on how to apply for and serve on a board or commission. I was joined by the Governor’s Appointments Secretary, Supervisor Dave Pine’s chief of staff, and the Mountain View City Clerk, who provided information on how to apply for open positions on boards and commissions and how to be an effective public servant. You can view the town hall here.
Tuition Free College |
Making college more affordable and creating new pathways to success has been a priority since being elected. I’m pleased that SB 893 is having a huge impact for many students in the San Mateo County Community College District. Students are now able to take advantage of college tuition-free at SMCCC, a milestone achieved with a $6.4 million investment. This initiative aims to make free tuition permanent and support new student housing and expanded nursing programs and explore innovative scheduling options to better accommodate student needs. These efforts are a testament to our shared dedication to improving access and affordability in higher education, and I will continue working to find new innovative ways to expand tuition-free college opportunities for our students.
In the News |
AI-generated content could be easier to identify under new state law aimed at spotting fakes
(SF Chronicle, September 19, 2024)
What happens to homeless people after encampment sweeps? That's on cities, Gavin Newsom says
(CalMatters, September 19, 2024)
Governor Newsom Signs Legislation to Empower Cities to Streamline Interim Housing Projects
(The Ritz, September 19, 2024)
‘We’re Turning Up the Heat’ Newsom Signs Slate of Housing, Homelessness Bills
(KQED, September 19, 2024)
Newsom points finger at cities and counties for failing to get people off the street
(LAist, September 19, 2024)
Governor Newsom signs dozens of housing bills and announces $2.2 billion in Prop 1 funding for housing and services
(Capitol Public Radio, September 19, 2024)
Column: Gov. Newsom’s got good climate bills on his desk. Will he sign them?
(LA Times, September 17, 2024)
Some hiccups emerge with school cell phone bans
(POLITICO, September 16, 2024)
Are California prisons stiffing inmates on $200 release payments? Lawsuit says they are
(CalMatters, September 13, 2024)
What California lawmakers did to regulate artificial intelligence
(CalMatters, September 6, 2024)
Rooftop Solar Bill Would Halt 2023 CPUC Restrictions
(The Independent, September 5, 2024)
Bill To Expand Solar Benefits To Schools And Apartment Buildings (video)
(KTVU FOX 2 September 5, 2024)
Push to sign solar bill into law (video)
(NBC Bay Area, September 5, 2024)
Call to Approve Solar Benefits Bill (video)
(Today in the Bay, September 5, 2024)
Innovation Vs. Regulation Debate Reaches Gov. Gavin Newsom As AI Bills Hit His Desk
(ALM Law, September 3, 2024)
AI Briefing: How state governments and businesses are addressing AI deepfakes
(DigiDay, September 3, 2024)
Free college a San Mateo County Community College District priority
(San Mateo Daily Journal, September 3, 2024)
Bills Authored By Becker Await Newsom Approval
(SMDJ, August 30, 2024)
Mass Deportations May Be Unlikely, But It's Happened Before (listen)
(KQED, August 28, 2024)
Over 1 Million Were Deported To Mexico Nearly 100 Years Ago. Most Of Them Were US Citizens (listen)
(KQED, August 28, 2024)
If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact my district office at (650) 233-2724.
Sincerely,
Senator Josh Becker