Amid political promises of mass deportation under the incoming Trump administration, Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez introduced legislation Monday that will prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering school campuses.
Sacramento, Calif. – On May 21, 2024, Majority Leader Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Senate Bill 1337 the Referendum Funding Transparency Act passed the Senate with a vote of 28-9. The bill will provide California voters with additional transparency about the entities and corporations that fund referendum measures to overturn existing laws. As large corporations increasingly exploit the referendum process for financial gain and to undermine the voices of Californians who rely on their elected leaders to enact beneficial legislation, it is more important than ever to safeguard voters from these misleading campaigns and to provide them with tools for more informed decision-making.
As a child, she played hide and go seek, enjoyed playing Nintendo or building treehouses. She dreamed of being an astronaut, traveling the world as a Globe-Trotter, and now she’s the most powerful woman in California politics.
While the climate crisis has many factors that play a role in the exacerbation of the environment, some warrant more attention than others. From plastic pollution to food waste and deforestation, Earth Month brings with it a range of environmentally focused events and campaigns. We are all encouraged to come together to support and amplify environmental advocacy work, and focus on solutions to give our planet a healthier future.
SACRAMENTO – Recent reports indicate the projected budget shortfall has grown by an additional $15 billion, resulting in a potential shortfall range from $38 billion to $53 billion.
Appointment to California Senate Majority Leader: Gonzalez was appointed to the role of Senate Majority Leader on Feb. 8. Her new responsibilities will include keeping the rest of the democratic caucus abreast of legislative tasks for each day, as well as scheduling business on the senate floor.
Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez introduced a bill this week that would require the state to create a master plan for climate resilient schools. SB 1182, The Climate Resilient Schools Act, would coordinate state-wide action to provide schools with clear information, direction and support to adapt and modernize their facilities and operations in alignment with the state’s climate adaptation, decarbonization, and extreme heat goals, while also ensuring the state is positioned to utilize new federal incentives resulting from the Inflation Reduction Act for clean energy upgrades.
“The Climate Resilient Schools Act will help protect our students and frontline communities from the adverse impacts of the climate crisis while simultaneously addressing the crisis itself,” said Majority Leader Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). “It is a timely opportunity we simply cannot miss, especially as our state benefits from federal funds that can be utilized to construct sustainable schools, minimize pollution, and ensure our students remain healthy and safe as they learn, despite the challenges posed by climate change. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature as the bill progresses through the legislative process and into committee hearings in the upcoming weeks.”
