Press Releases

Gov. Brown signs five #EquityAndJustice bills to promote prevention, rehabilitation, family cohesion

October 11, 2017

Includes juvenile justice bills to end fees for the innocent, update Miranda rights, and allow parole for youthful offenders

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Brown today signed the five remaining bills in the #EquityAndJustice package, continuing bipartisan reform of California’s juvenile and adult justice systems.

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Governor Brown Signs SB 563 for Wood Smoke Reduction Program to Help Californians Make the Leap to Cleaner, Healthier Heating

October 11, 2017

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 563, authored by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), which formally establishes a Wood Smoke Reduction Program at the Air Resources Board and helps Californians transition from wood-burning devices to cleaner, healthier alternatives.

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Governor Brown signs 3 laws by Senator Ricardo Lara for immigrants and students

October 05, 2017

Today Governor Brown signed three bills authored by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) to protect the rights and expand opportunities of immigrants and students. Read more below about Senate Bill 29 (moratorium on for-profit immigration detention), Senate Bill 68 (in-state tuition), and Senate Bill 257 (exiled students).

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Governor Brown Signs Law to Protect Education of California Students Exiled by Forced Departure of a Parent

October 05, 2017

Students who leave state because of deportation or inmate transfer can fall years behind in school

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 257, authored by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), which protects the education of California students exiled out of state because of the forced departure of a parent.

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Governor Brown Signs Bill to Block Expansion of For-Profit Immigrant Detention in California

October 05, 2017

Senate Bill 29 expands public oversight of private companies profiting from immigrants


SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 29, the Dignity Not Detention bill authored by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), to block the expansion of for-profit detention of immigrants in California.

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Governor Brown Signs Bill to Expand Landmark AB540 In-State Tuition Law for Nontraditional Students

October 05, 2017

Responding to stories of community college and nontraditional students who fell through the cracks


SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 68, authored by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), which expands the state’s landmark AB 540 (2001) to make undocumented students at community college and other programs eligible for in-state tuition and financial aid.

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Governor Brown Signs Law to Expand Access to Insurance Licenses

October 04, 2017

Senate Bill 788 opens the state’s second-most-enrolled profession and creates economic opportunity


SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 788, authored by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), which removes barriers to access the insurance agent and insurance broker licenses, the second most enrolled profession in California.

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Governor Brown Signs ‘Prime Time Primary’ Law Moving California’s 2020 Presidential Vote from Last to First Tier

September 27, 2017

SACRAMENTO – Governor Brown has approved a plan to move California’s primary election from one of the last, to one of the first in the nation. Senate Bill 568, The Prime Time Primary Act received bipartisan support in the State Legislature.

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California Legislature Sends Nation’s First Transgender Rights Training to Governor Brown

September 15, 2017

SACRAMENTO, CA – Responding to high unemployment among transgender workers, Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) introduced the Transgender Work Opportunity Act (Senate Bill 396). Senate Bill 396 combats discrimination and encourages greater inclusion of transgender Californians in the work force.

The Transgender Work Opportunity Act will make California the first in the nation to require training about gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.

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California Legislature Approves Juvenile Justice Bills to Update Miranda Rights, Allow Parole for Youthful Offenders

September 15, 2017

Sending six #EquityAndJustice bills to Governor Brown

SACRAMENTO – Just weeks after the artist and musician Common held a free concert outside the State Capitol for 25,000 people and met with legislators to push for common sense justice reform, the California Legislature approved two long-overdue juvenile justice bills.

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