Press Releases

June 29, 2017

Sacramento – Today, Senate Bill 35, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) to address California’s housing shortage, cleared a key Assembly Committee, an important step as the bill makes its way through the State Assembly after passing the Senate earlier this month.

June 21, 2017

Sacramento –  Today the Senate Environmental Quality Committee passed a bill by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) to fix state recycling laws that are negatively impacting small businesses across California. SB 458 authorizes CalRecycle to create five mobile recycling pilot programs throughout the state, which will allow cities like San Francisco to pursue a mobile recycling redemption program.

June 16, 2017

Sacramento – Yesterday, the California Legislature approved the Cannabis Safe Payment Act as part of the California Budget. Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) partnered with Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Board of Equalization Chair Fiona Ma (who sponsored the bill) to introduce Senate Bill 148 to make it safer and simpler for cannabis business owners to pay state fees and taxes, encouraging compliance with state laws and providing support for business owners.

June 15, 2017

Sacramento –  Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) adjourned the California State Senate in memory of the three victims of yesterday’s shooting at a UPS facility in San Francisco. In speaking of Wayne Chan, 56, of San Francisco, Benson Louie, 50, of San Francisco, and Michael Lefiti, 46, of Hercules, Senator Wiener said:

June 1, 2017

Sacramento –  Today the Senate approved Senator Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 35 – which will create a streamlined approval process for housing in cities that are not meeting their housing goals required by the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). This streamlining will expedite the construction of critically needed housing. SB 35 was approved by a vote of 25-12, receiving support from both Democrats and Republicans, including from co-authors Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), and Andy Vidak (R-Hanford.)

June 1, 2017

Sacramento – Today the Senate passed a bill authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) that will modernize laws that criminalize and stigmatize people living with HIV.  Senate Bill 239 would amend California’s HIV criminalization laws, enacted in the 1980s and ‘90s at a time of fear and ignorance about HIV and its transmission, to make them consistent with laws involving other serious communicable diseases.

The bill now moves to the Assembly for consideration.

May 31, 2017

Sacramento –  Today the Senate approved Senate Bill 384, a bill authored by Senator Scott Wiener to allow – but not require – local communities to extend alcohol service to as late as 4 AM. The LOCAL Act, which stands for Let Our Communities Adjust Late Night, applies to bars and restaurants, but not to retail establishments.

May 31, 2017

Sacramento – Today the California Senate passed two bills by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) to strengthen food access and employment and training programs for low-income residents, while also protecting recipients from any gross negligence by government administration. SB 278 and SB 282 were passed by a unanimous vote, and will now move to the Assembly for consideration.

May 31, 2017

Sacramento –  Today the California Senate passed SB 219, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by Equality California. SB 219 is the LGBT Senior Long-Term Care Bill of Rights for seniors in long-term care facilities. The bill passed by a vote of 26-12, and will now move to the Assembly for consideration.