Senator Skinner’s 2023 Legislation
Dear Constituent,
One of the important roles I have as your state Senator is to deliver new laws on critical issues facing our district and California. Here is a summary of the bills I have introduced this year:
SB 36 Safe Haven for Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care
Strengthens CA’s "Safe Haven" laws by expanding legal protections for those who may face criminal prosecution or imprisonment by another state related to abortion or gender-affirming care.
SB 59 Equity, Period
CA provides free period products at public schools and the State Capitol. SB 59 ensures the same for state-owned buildings and those that offer state services.
SB 81 Fairness in Parole
California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst (LAO) found bias and other problems within CA’s parole hearing process. SB 81 would enact the LAO’s recommendations to increase fairness in the parole process.
SB 88 Safe Rides to School
Last year, I secured funding to increase home-to-school transportation in public schools. SB 88 ensures that all drivers paid to transport students meet health and safety standards.
SB 233 Using EVs to Power Your Home
The powerful batteries in electric vehicles not only power the vehicle, they can also power our homes and provide energy to the grid. SB 233 ensures that EVs sold in CA have this bidirectional capability.
SB 242 HOPE Accounts
Last year, my HOPE Accounts law made CA the first to provide savings accounts for children who lost a parent to COVID or who are in long-term foster care. SB 242 ensures that HOPE Accounts do not prevent these youth from receiving support from programs like CalWORKs, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal.
SB 254 Restoring Media Access to Prisons
Restores news media access to prisons and jails, and gives legislators and other state officials better access to these facilities to improve oversight.
SB 274 Keep Kids in School
In 2019, I authored a law eliminating the suspension of students in grades K-8 for low-level behavior issues known as “willful defiance.” SB 274 extends this ban to high schools and bars schools from suspending or expelling students for being tardy or truant.
SB 287 Holding Social Media Accountable
By adding new accountability measures to social media platforms, SB 287 is aimed at preventing social media from targeting youth with harmful content that promotes suicide, eating disorders or other harm, or promoting the illegal sale of fentanyl and unlawful guns.
SB 345 Protecting Medication Abortion & Gender Affirming Care
Gives legal protections to CA health care providers that provide or dispense medication or other abortion services, contraception or gender-affirming care, regardless of their patient’s location.
SB 348 Healthy Meals for Kids
In 2021, I led the effort to make CA the first state to offer two free meals a day to all public school students. SB 348 ensures that school meals are healthy and nutritious by establishing guidelines for added sugar and salt.
SB 377 Closing Gun Loopholes
Federal regulators have reported a disturbing trend of CA law enforcement officers selling illegal guns. SB 377 aims to correct this problem by preventing law enforcement officers from purchasing illegal guns.
SB 439 Curbing CEQA Abuse
Spurs more housing by limiting the ability of opponents to file frivolous lawsuits under the CA Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
SB 440 Financing Affordable Housing
Helps address CA's housing crisis by allowing local communities to join together to raise funds for affordable housing projects.
SB 516 Government Debtors’ Bill of Rights
Ensures basic protections for people who owe debts to a government agency.
SB 598 Patient-Centered Care
Stops insurance companies from overusing preauthorization that can delay or prevent patients from receiving needed medical treatment prescribed by their doctor or health care provider.
SB 680 Making EVs Affordable
Makes EVs more affordable by barring auto dealers from raising prices above the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price.
SB 682 Decarbonizing Cement
Helps decarbonize CA's cement-making industry by requiring state agencies to ensure that low-carbon cement represents at least 10% of cement purchases by the state by 2030.
In addition, this year, I am also a joint author or principal co-author of several bills, including:
SB 8 Gun Insurance
Requires gun owners to obtain liability insurance for negligent or accidental use.
SB 478 Junk Fees
Ends the deceptive practice of businesses applying hidden junk fees on goods and services.
AB 452 Justice for Survivors Act
Ends CA's civil statute of limitations for minors who have experienced sexual abuse.
And finally, I authored SBX 1-2 Banning Oil Price Gouging, which was sponsored by Gov. Gavin Newsom and signed into law on March 28. SBX 1-2 creates the strongest and most effective transparency measures in the nation to ensure that oil companies do not unfairly raise the price of gasoline and price gouge Californians.
For updates on my legislation and on the CA state budget, please follow me on Twitter and Facebook and visit my Senate website. It is a pleasure serving you in the state Senate.
Sincerely,
Nancy Skinner
State Senator, District 9