Here is a brief summary of legislation iby Sen. Skinner that is moving forward in the 2023-24 Legislation Session (Updated 9-27-23):

SBX 1-2 (Banning Oil Price Gouging): Signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 28, 2023, SBX 1-2 creates the strongest and most effective transparency measures in the nation to ensure that oil companies do not price gouge Californians at the gas pump. See the governor's press release here. For more information, email Jessica.Bartholow@sen.ca.gov

SB 25 (Declaration of Candidacy Reform): Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on June 29, 2023, SB 25 allows candidates for public office in California to register their candidacy in another state if they're unavailable to return home by the filing deadline. For more information, email Josh.Wright@sen.ca.gov 

SB 54 (Investing in Equity): Approved by the Legislature on Sept. 7, 2023, SB 54 would bring transparency to venture capital investing in California and is designed to help more women- and minority-owned startups access vital VC funding. See the bill's press release here. For more information, email Kapri.Walker@sen.ca.gov

SB 59 (Equity, Period): A 2-year bill, SB 59 would require that all state-owned buildings and those that administer state services, along with state-funded hospitals, provide free menstrual products. Period products would be available in all women’s and all-gender restrooms, and in at least one men’s restroom per building. For more information, email Kapri.Walker@sen.ca.gov

SB 81 (Fairness in Parole): Approved by the Legislature on Sept. 14, 2023, SB 81 would codify recommendations by California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst (LAO) to reduce bias and increase fairness in the state's parole process. For more information, email Kapri.Walker@sen.ca.gov

SB 88 (Safe Rides to School): Approved by the Legislature on Sept. 7, 2023, SB 88 would ensure that drivers paid to transport public school students, and the vehicles they use, meet basic safety standards. For more information, email Elmer.Lizardi@sen.ca.gov 

SB 233 (Using EVs to Power Your Home): A 2-year bill, SB 233 is designed to ensure that new electric cars and light trucks sold in California have the capability to power the EV's owner's home or provide energy to the grid. For more information, email Elmer.Lizardi@sen.ca.gov 

SB 242 (HOPE Accounts): A 2-year bill, SB 242 would ensure that Senator Skinner's 2022 HOPE Accounts law, which made California the first to provide savings accounts for children who lost a parent to COVID or who are in long-term foster care, does not prevent these youth from receiving support from programs like CalWORKs, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal. To follow the implementation of HOPE Accounts, click here. For more information, email Kapri.Walker@sen.ca.gov

SB 254 (Restoring Media Access to Prisons): A 2-year bill, SB 254 would restore access to California prisons to the news media to the level it was in the 1990s, before the state greatly restricted access. SB 254 would also open access to prisons for state legislators and other state officials in order to provide policymakers with the information they need for effective oversight. For more information, email Robert.Gammon@sen.ca.gov

SB 274 (Keep Kids in School): Approved by the Legislature on Sept. 7, 2023, SB 274 is designed to keep students in school by eliminating the suspension of students for low-level behavior issues known as “willful defiance” in California’s public schools. Under SB 274, the ban on willful defiance suspensions would last until 2029 for middle school students and would be expanded to include high school students until 2029. See the bill's press release here. For more information, email Kapri.Walker@sen.ca.gov

SB 343 (Child Support Federal Rule Compliance): Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Sept. 22, 2023, SB 343 requires the California Department of Child Support Services and the Judicial Council to conform with federal rule changes, resulting in the increased ability of non-custodial parents to pay their child support orders, and thus increasing assistance to custodial parents and their children. For more information, email Elmer.Lizardi@sen.ca.gov

SB 345 (Shield Law Protecting Medication Abortion & Gender Affirming Care): Signed into law on Sept. 27, 2023, SB 345 provides legal protections for California health care providers that provide or dispense medication or other services for abortion, contraception or gender-affirming care, regardless of their patient’s location. It also strengthens California's "Safe Haven" laws by expanding protections for people who have come to California to avoid criminal prosecution or imprisonment related to that state’s criminalization of abortion or gender-affirming care. See the bill's press release here. For more information, email Kate.Chatfield@sen.ca.gov

SB 348 (Healthy Meals for Kids): Approved by the Legislature on Sept. 7, 2023, SB 348 would make California the first state to codify President Joe Biden’s new federal guidelines on school nutrition standards aimed at reducing sugars and salt in school meals. See the bill's press release here. For more information, email Josh.Wright@sen.ca.gov

SB 439 (Curbing CEQA Abuse). Approved by the Legislature on Sept. 11, 2023, SB 439 would spur the creation of more affordable housing in California by limiting the ability of opponents to file frivolous lawsuits under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). For more information, email Josh.Wright@sen.ca.gov

SB 516 (Patient-Centered Care: Prior Authorization Reform): A 2-year bill, SB 516 would stop insurance companies from overusing preauthorization that can delay or prevent patients from receiving needed medical treatment prescribed by their doctor or health care provider. For more information, email Josh.Wright@sen.ca.gov

2023-24 legislation in which Sen. Skinner is a joint author or principal co-author:

SB 8 (Gun Insurance - joint author with Sen. Blakespear): A 2-year bill, SB 8 would require California gun owners to obtain liability insurance for the negligent or accidental use of their firearms. For more information, email Kapri.Walker@sen.ca.gov

SB 478 (Junk Fees - joint author with Sen. Dodd): Approved by the Legislature on Sept. 12, 2023, SB 478 would end the deceptive practice of businesses applying hidden junk fees on most goods and services in California. For more information, email Josh.Wright@sen.ca.gov

AB 126 Clean Transportation Program Modernization: Approved by the Legislature on Sept. 14. 2023, AB 126 would modernize and reauthorize the CA’s Clean Transportation Program and secure $2.125 billion for zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure. For more information, email Elmer.Lizardi@sen.ca.gov

AB 452 (Justice for Survivors Act - principal co-author with Asm. Addis): Approved by the Legislature on Sept. 12, 2023, AB 452 would end California's civil statute of limitations for minors who have experienced sexual abuse. For more information, email Josh.Wright@sen.ca.gov