SACRAMENTO – People incarcerated in California state prisons, as well as those held in state and local juvenile detention facilities, will be able to make and receive phone calls free of charge beginning January 1, 2023, after SB 1008 (Becker) was signed into law Thursday night by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Press Releases
Governor Signs Becker’s “California Employee Ownership Act” Into Law
SACRAMENTO – “A win-win-win for business owners, workers and their communities” is how Senator Josh Becker (D-Peninsula) describes today’s signature by Governor Gavin Newsom on SB 1407 (Becker), the “California Employee Ownership Act.”
SACRAMENTO – Letting affordable housing developers spend more money building houses instead of holding dollars back to fund a rarely used reserve account is the goal of SB 948 by Senator Josh Becker (D-Peninsula), which was signed into law today by Governor Gavin Newsom.
(Menlo Park) – Bringing together experts to talk about adolescents struggling with mental health issues and identifying common stressors in young people’s lives that can lead to a mental health crisis are the goals of “Mind Matters: Nurturing Mental Wellness In Adolescents,” a virtual town hall to be hosted by Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), on Wednesday, September 28, from 12:00pm to 1:30pm.
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.
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.