Becker Issues Last Call For Submissions To His “There Oughta Be A Law” Contest

SACRAMENTO – As the January 20th deadline draws closer, time is running out for anyone who wants to enter Senator Josh Becker’s (D-Menlo Park) inaugural “There Oughta Be A Law” contest.

“There are plenty of smart, thoughtful, creative people in this district and I’m really looking forward to reviewing the ideas people come up with,” said Becker.  “Don’t worry if you’ve never done this before because you’re certainly not alone.  Many people feel there are too many laws on the books already, so repealing something you don’t think is working is certainly an option.”   

An environmental leader who chairs the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy, Becker has spent his first two years in office authoring bills that predominantly deal with climate, justice, and economic opportunity issues, and is hopeful the ideas submitted as part of this contest will reflect one of those focuses.

Submissions are limited to people who live in Senate District 13 and all entries must be submitted online by midnight on January 20, 2023.  If people aren’t sure whether they live in Senator Becker’s district, they can look up their state senator on the Senate’s webpage.

“I’m continuing this tradition started by former area Senators Joe Simitian and Jerry Hill because it’s important to me to bring state government closer to people and show them that what happens in Sacramento really matters,” concluded Becker.  “My goal is to let people experience what it’s like to have an idea go from the drawing board to the legislative playing field and see for themselves what it takes for an idea to actually become law.”

Senator Becker will select the winning entry and will introduce it as a bill by February 17, 2023, the Senate’s deadline to introduce new bills.

First elected in 2020, Senator Becker represents the 13th Senate District covering portions of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties and includes the cities of Belmont, Half Moon Bay, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Mountain View, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, and Woodside.

Press Contact:  Evan Goldberg at evan.goldberg@sen.ca.gov

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