SACRAMENTO – Today, the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee passed Senate Bill 1309, authored by Senator Steve Padilla’s (D-San Diego). The bill directs the California Energy Commission (CEC), in consultation with other state agencies, to establish a Lithium Battery Production Council to conduct an economic analysis on workforce development needs, infrastructure needs, sewage and wastewater treatment, and housing needs for lithium battery production.
Press Releases
SACRAMENTO – Yesterday, Senator Padilla, alongside legislative partners and leadership from the California Initiative for Technology and Democracy (CITED), a project of California Common Cause, announced a legislative package designed to protect California’s elections from misinformation and misuse of emerging technology.
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), joined by community leaders, labor leaders, and environmental advocates, held a press conference announcing a new package of environmental justice legislation addressing cross border pollution from trash and human waste (Senate Bill 1178) as well as halting development of a landfill that would only cause further harm to the impacted communities (Senate Bill 1208).
Senator Padilla and LGBTQ+ Leaders Introduce Legislation to Protect LGBTQ+ Community after Disasters
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), joined by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the state’s first openly LGBTQ+ statewide elected official, and Equality California, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, announced he would amend SB 990 to include language to direct the Office of Emergency Services to specifically establish what best practices state and local governments are to use when addressing the needs of the LGBTQ+ community after a disaster.
SACRAMENTO – Today, the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee #4 on State Administration and General Government, chaired by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) and Standing Committee on Governmental Organization, chaired by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) held informational hearing to discuss ethical and safety concerns regarding the development and use of artificial intelligence.
SACRAMENTO – Yesterday, Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) introduced Senate Bill 1105, a measure to allow California farmworkers to use sick time when weather conditions prove too hazardous to work.
SACRAMENTO – Last week, Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) introduced Senate Bill 1049, a bill to create a program to certify and highlight businesses paying workers a living wage, one that allows full-time employees to afford a decent standard of living in the region they work. The bill also requires the Department of Industrial Relations to develop a calculation of what a living wage would be in every county of the state.
SACRAMENTO – Last week, Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) introduced Senate Bill 1006, a bill to establish milestone goals for transmission infrastructure development for the first time in California history, aligning the state’s grid with its energy ambitions.