Senator Josh Becker’s 2020-21 legislative portfolio on climate action, voter and digital equity, justice reform and housing has cleared the Senate and now advances to the Assembly, with initial committee reviews of his proposals starting in the coming week. “I’m grateful for the support of the Senate colleagues and look forward to working with my colleagues in the Assembly on my bills to help address our pressing climate concerns and equity issues on several fronts,” said Senator Becker, D-Peninsula and vice chair of the Joint Legislative Committee for Climate Change Policies.
Press Releases
The Senate passed bills by Senator Josh Becker to advance voter equity, justice reform and work to close the digital divide in K-12 schools. The Senate’s action this week sends the legislation to the Assembly for consideration. “Thanks to the support from my colleagues, my bills to improve access and fairness on several fronts can move ahead,” said Senator Becker, D-Peninsula.
With a bipartisan 35-1 vote, the Senate passed Senator Josh Becker’s bill to make it easier for owners to convert their property into electricity-powered homes and buildings. “SB 68 is about reducing the barriers for people who are trying to help us achieve climate goals by reducing their use of fossil fuels in buildings and vehicles,” said Senator Becker, D-Peninsula and vice chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies. “Unfortunately, when people want to switch to electric heating, or to install vehicle chargers or energy storage equipment, they often face high costs and long delays. We need people to be making these changes, so we should make it a lot easier for them.”
"Today, one year and one day after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, the California Senate passed SB 2 to prevent police officers with a record of misconduct and abuse of power from hopping from city to city to escape the consequences their actions – and offend again. We must do our utmost to protect Californians, especially those of color who disproportionately fall victim to bad cops..."
The Senate passed legislation Monday by state Senator Josh Becker to help California slash greenhouse gas emissions from the production of concrete and its main ingredient, cement. In presenting Senate Bill 596, the Peninsula Democrat noted that concrete is the most widely used building material in the world and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. It accounts for about 7% of global CO2 emissions. In California, production of concrete is the second largest industrial source of GHG emissions, outstripped only by oil refineries.
With a drought emergency declared in 41 of our 58 counties, 2021 is looking to be a very dry year. What are we doing about it? What should we be doing about it? Senator Josh Becker, D-Peninsula, convenes a panel of experts for a free livestream talk from 1 to 2 p.m. on May 27: “Water, Water, Nowhere! – Innovation, Resiliency & the Drought.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee, the upper house panel that serves as the gatekeeper of legislation with a potential fiscal impact to the state, passed nine bills by Senator Josh Becker this week, advancing key measures in the Peninsula Democrat’s 2021 legislative portfolio. “I’m grateful for the support from of my colleagues on bills that will help California slash greenhouse gas emissions, meet our clean energy goals, bridge the digital gap in education, enhance access to civil and criminal justice, address vote equity issues, and more,” said Senator Becker.
“Governor Newsom’s budget gives California what we need to come back strong. His proposal will help create the ‘Everyone Economy’ we need by using California’s historic surplus to aid those most in need and provide the springboard to true economic mobility that will break the cycle of generational poverty. This plan will help our families, our small businesses, the unhoused; invest in our kids, especially their growth and education; and address critical elements of our lives and livelihoods in the Golden State, including our water resilience and digital equity..."