Press Releases

September 16, 2021

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed SB 8, legislation by Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, that extends the provisions of the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 until 2030, streamlining the creation of more housing throughout the state. Gov. Newsom signed SB 8 as part of a package of bills designed to boost the number of new housing units throughout California.

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September 14, 2021

In a letter to Congress today, Sen. Nancy Skinner called on the federal government to take bold action this year to address childhood hunger. The letter was addressed to U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA), chair of the House Rules Committee.

Chair McGovern is hosting a hearing Ending Hunger in America: Examining the Role Schools Play in Ending Hunger and Improving Nutrition, on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 8 a.m. Pacific.

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September 10, 2021

The California state Senate voted unanimously today to approve Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 354, which will remove obstacles from children in the foster care system being placed with a relative caregiver who may have a past conviction, once the placement has been fully vetted to ensure the child’s safety. Earlier on Friday, the state Assembly passed SB 354 on a vote of 49-0. The legislation now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom for consideration.

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September 10, 2021

The California state Senate today approved Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 65, the California Momnibus Act, on a 31-5 vote. SB 65, which is designed to improve maternal and infant outcomes, particularly in families of color. SB 65 won unanimous approval from the state Assembly on Thursday on a vote of 77-0.

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September 9, 2021

The California state Senate voted 23-11 today to approve Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB 81, which would establish judicial guidance on the use of sentencing enhancements. SB 81 won approval yesterday in the state Assembly on a 46-24 vote. The legislation now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom for consideration.

SB 81 is designed to address the proliferation of sentence enhancements in California, which can often double the length of years of a prison term and have been disproportionately applied to people of color and those suffering from mental illness.

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September 7, 2021

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, issued the following statement on the end-of-session budget agreement between the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom, which was approved today by the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, for which she is chair:

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