Bills Catherine authored

Legislation

 

2026

  • SB 866 – Emergency Shelter and Interim Housing
    • Status: Introduced on January 5, 2026
    • SB 866 is a measure on housing. More information to come by April.
  • SB 936 – Banning Nitrous Oxide Containers
    • Status: Introduced on January 29, 2026
    • SB 936 would prohibit the sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than 8 grams, with exceptions for legitimate uses in the medical, dental, culinary and automotive industries. This is aimed at preventing its widespread use as a recreational drug that can harm health and driving abilities.
    • Press Release
  • SB 954 – CEQA Exemptions
    • Status: Introduced on February 2, 2026
    • SB 954 is a measure concerning protecting the environment. More information to come by April.
  • SB 955 – Recycling Beverage Containers
    • Status: Introduced on February 2, 2026
    • SB 955 would update California’s beverage recycling program and requirements of stores to participate to eliminate areas known as recycling “dead zones” where consumers have few or no options for returning cans and bottles and collecting the California Redemption Value (CRV) for them. The legislation will create more locations for recyclable beverage containers.    
    • Press Release
  • SB 965 – Library Cards for Youth
    • Status: Introduced on February 3, 2026
    • SB 965 would expand access to library cards without parental consent for youths age 16 and older.  
  • SB 967- RHNA Credit for Interim Housing
    • Status: Introduced on February 3, 2026
    • SB 967 would incentive the building of interim housing to provide shelter for people who are living on the streets.
  • SB 989 – CARE Court
    • Status: Introduced on February 5, 2026
    • SB 989 is a measure concerning CARE Court. More information to come by April.
  • SB 1016 – Housing Bond
    • Status: Introduced on February 10, 2026
    • SB 1016 is a measure to put a housing bond on the state November ballot to raise money for building more interim housing. More information to come by April.
  • SB 1031 – Compostable Plastic Market
    • Status: Introduced on February 10, 2026
    • SB 1031 is a measure on compostable plastics. More information to come by April.
  • SB 1046 – Tijuana River Valley Worker Protections
    • Status: Introduced on February 11, 2026
    • SB 1046 is a measure to require protections for workers forced to be exposed to Tijuana River Valley pollution. More information to come by April.
  • SB 1088 – End-of-Life Care Protections
    • Status: Introduced on February 13, 2026
    • SB 1088 would improve clarity and consistency among the three types of forms that can be used to legally document the type of care and medical treatment a person wants should they become seriously ill or injured and unable to articulate their wishes.
    • Press Release
  • SB 1135 – Human and Wildlife Coexistence
    • Status: Introduced on February 17, 2026
    • SB 1135 is a measure to reestablish the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s human-wildlife conflict program, which aims to educate the public about wildlife and minimize human animal confrontations.
  • SB 1136 – Transit Service for Large Events
    • Status: Introduced on February 17, 2026
    • SB 1136 aims to break down obstacles for passengers using rail for heavily attended, regional public events. Even though rail is ideal for moving large numbers of people, it is often not easy for passengers to purchase tickets between transit networks, plan departures and arrivals with ease, or even find schedules to plan their trip around.
    • Press Release
  • SB 1167 – E-bike Market
    • Status: Introduced on February 18, 2026
    • SB 1167 expressly states that misrepresenting faster electric vehicles as e-bikes is false advertising that can be prosecuted. In addition, sellers of faster or more powerful vehicles would be required to inform consumers that they don’t meet the definition of an e-bike and therefore require vehicle registrations and licenses to operate.
    • Press Release
  • SB 1237 – Pay Equity
    • Status: Introduced on February 19, 2026
    • SB 1237 would strengthen enforcement of California’s pay equity reporting law to ensure the state’s regulators have adequate data to take effective action against wage discrimination.
  • SB 1259 – Asset Retirement Obligations
    • Status: Introduced on February 19, 2026
    • SB 1259 would direct the State Water Board to develop guidelines for estimating the costs and timelines for oil refinery decommissioning and remediation. The bill would then require oil refiners to submit reports to the state identifying the costs and obligations expected, should they close.
    • Press Release
  • SB 1354 – LOSSAN Rail Corridor Governance Reform
    • Status: Introduced on February 20, 2026
    • SB 1354 is measure on transportation governance requirements for the LOSSAN Rail Corridor. More information to come by April. 
       
 

2025

Legislation Signed by the Governor
  • SB 92 – Density Bonus Realignment
    • Signed into law: October 10, 2025
    • Takes effect: January 1, 2026
    • SB 92 prevents the density bonus law from being used to build large commercial projects that far exceed local zoning law and city ordinances. Specifically, the legislation would limit developers to increasing the commercial floor space included in their projects to no more than 2.5 times what is allowed by local zoning.
    • Press Release
  • SB 403 – Medical Aid in Dying
    • Signed into law: October 3, 2025
    • Takes effect: January 1, 2026
    • SB 403 removes the January 1, 2031, sunset date for the End of Life Option Act (EOLOA), California’s medical-aid-in-dying (MAiD) law.
    • Press Release
  • SB 427 Habitat Conservation fund
    • Signed into law: October 3, 2025
    • Takes effect: January 1, 2026
    • SB 427 extends the sunset date for the program, moving it from July 1, 2030, to July 1, 2035. The Habitat Conservation Fund (HCF) was established under Proposition 117, the California Wildlife Protection Act passed by voters in June 1990. The fund pays to acquire, restore and enhance wildlife habitats across the state.
    • Press Release
  • SB 477 – Civil Rights Protections
    • Signed into law: October 3, 2025
    • Takes effect: January 1, 2026
    • SB 427 clarifies language in the California Fair Employment and Housing Act so that the Civil Rights Department can more effectively investigate and prosecute discrimination, harassment, hate incidents, and other civil rights violations.
    • Press Release
  • SB 710 Solar Tax Exclusion
    • Signed into law: October 3, 2025
    • Takes effect: January 1, 2026
    • SB 710 ensures active solar energy systems built before Jan. 1, 2027, remain exempt from property tax until ownership changes, supporting California’s clean energy goals.
    • Press Release

 

Two-Year Bills
  • SB 16 – Interim Supportive Housing
    • Status: Passed the Senate, in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee
    • SB 16 would require HHAP Round 7 applicants to set annual goals toward “functional zero” homelessness and enter city-county agreements that set clear responsibilities between city and county agencies for the housing development, operations, and supportive services necessary to rehabilitate homeless people.
  • SB 329 – Sober Living Complaints
    • Status: Passed the Senate, in the Assembly Appropriations Committee
    • SB 329 would require the state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the department responsible, to assign complaints about alcohol or drug treatment facilities to staff within 10 days of receiving them and complete an investigation within 60 days.
    • Press Release
  • SB 561 Marine Flares
    • Status: Passed the Senate, in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee
    • SB 561 would create an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for marine flares that requires a Manufacturer Responsibility Organization to develop a plan for consumer education, collection, and safe end-of-life management of marine flares, and bans marine flares that contain perchlorate.
    • Press Release
  • SB 569 Caltrans Homeless Encampments
    • Status: Passed the Senate, in the Assembly Transportation Committee
    • SB 569 would require Caltrans to set timelines for responding to requests to remove encampments by state roads and clarifies the agency could contract with local governments, and reimburse them, to do it.
    • Press Release
  • SB 633 Plastics Recycling Transparency
    • Status: Passed the Senate, in the Assembly Appropriations Committee
    • In order to improve transparency and hold beverage container manufacturers accountable, SB 633 would require them to report third-party verification of the country of origin and amount (in pounds) of post-consumer recycled plastic to the state.
  • SB 741 E-Permit in Coastal Zone
    • Status: Passed the Senate, in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee
    • SB 741 would extend a limited, narrow Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for state highways to the LOSSAN rail corridor. The exemption would apply to emergency projects within the LOSSAN rail corridor right-of-way.

 

Senate Resolutions
 

 

2024

Legislation Signed by the Governor

Environmental Protection

  • SB 1053 – Plastic Bag Ban
    • Signed into law: September 22, 2024
    • Takes effect: January 1, 2026
    • SB 1053 halts the distribution of plastic bags at grocery store checkouts beginning in 2026. Instead of being asked “Do you want paper or plastic?”, consumers will simply be asked if they want a paper bag. This easy change eliminates plastic bags from the point of sale and helps California significantly reduce plastic waste that is contaminating our environment and waters.
    • Press Release


Gun Violence Prevention

  • SB 1002 – Firearm Relinquishments & Mental Health
    • Signed into law: September 24, 2024
    • Takes effect: September 1, 2025
    • SB 1002 improves the implementation of a law aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of people experiencing mental health crises. Current law mandates that anyone placed on a 72-hour mental health hold must refrain from possessing a firearm, but many with guns never turn them in.
    • Press Release
  • SB 1019 – Destruction of Unwanted Firearms
    • Signed into law: September 24, 2024
    • Took effect: January 1, 2025
    • SB 1019 requires that firearms turned in as part of gun-buyback programs or confiscated by law enforcement during investigations are completely destroyed. In some cases, parts of guns collected in such programs end up being resold online as part of gun kits that can easily be turned into “ghost” guns.
    • Press Release


Transportation and Mobility


Housing and Homelessness


Women and Children


Elections

  • SB 1476 – State Bar Accountability
    • Signed into law: September 22, 2024
    • Took effect: January 1, 2025
    • SB 1476 makes the board of trustees and designated employees of the State Bar of California subject to conflict-of-interest provisions of the Political Reform Act.
  • SB 1493 – State Voter Guides
    • Signed into law: September 27, 2024
    • Took effect: January 1, 2025
    • SB 1493 reduces the number of copies of the state voter information guide that the Secretary of State is required to mail to specified individuals and educational institutions. In the age of digital information, multiple copies are not needed.


Health Care

  • SB 1257 – Medi-Cal Improvements
    • Signed into law: July 15, 2024
    • Took effect: January 1, 2025
    • SB 1257 modernizes San Diego County’s Medi-Cal advisory board program to help it improve health outcomes for vulnerable people, reduce Medi-Cal system costs and reduce homelessness.


Senate Resolutions

  • SR 82 – World Press Freedom Day
    • Adopted by the Senate on May 2, 2024
    • The Senate commends and honors journalists across the state for their invaluable contributions to society and recognizes May 3, 2024, as World Press Freedom Day in California.
    • Video
  • SR 87 – Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week
    • Adopted by the Senate on May 30, 2024
    • The Senate proclaims the week of May 6, 2024, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week in California, and commends the observance of the week to all residents of the state.
  • SR 99 – Independence Day
    • Adopted by the Senate on July 3, 2024
    • The Legislature recognizes the significance of July 4 as Independence Day, and Californians are encouraged to celebrate Independence Day on July 4, 2024, with reverence, reflection, and gratitude for the blessings of freedom and democracy bestowed upon us.
    • Video
  • SR 111 – California Life Sciences Month
    • Adopted by the Senate on August 15, 2024
    • The Senate proclaims the month of August 2024 as California Life Sciences Month in appreciation for the vast contributions the life sciences have made to public health, the economy, and innovation in environmental sustainability in California, the nation, and the world.
    • Video
 

2023

Legislation Signed by the Governor
  • SB 360 – California Coastal Commission
    • Signed into law: July 21, 2023
    • Took effect: January 1, 2024
    • SB 360 expands the range of local agencies that a Coastal Commission member can jointly serve on, now including a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) or Joint Powers Authority (JPA).
    • Press Release
  • SB 417 – Gun Store Notices
    • Signed into law: September 26, 2023
    • Took effect: January 1, 2024
    • SB 417 requires gun sellers to post the following notice: “WARNING: If you or a loved one is experiencing distress or depression or is contemplating suicide, please call 988 (The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Access to a firearm in the home significantly increases the risk of suicide, death, and injury during domestic violence disputes, and the unintentional death and traumatic injury to children, household members, and guests.”
    • Press Release
  • SB 428 – Employee Harassment
    • Signed into law: September 30, 2023
    • Took effect: January 1, 2025
    • SB 428 provides public employers with the ability to seek a temporary civil restraining order on behalf of an employee who is being harassed at work by a member of the public, beginning in 2025. Under current law, it’s up to the individual workers themselves to seek such restraining orders, often at their own time and expense, even though the harassment occurs while they are on the job.
    • Press Release
  • SB 452 – Microstamping
    • Signed into law: September 26, 2023
    • Takes effect: January 1, 2028
    • SB 452 prohibits the sale or transfer of a semiautomatic pistol made after Jan. 1, 2028, unless it has been verified as a microstamping-enabled pistol. By using microstamping, the handguns would etch unique identifiers on expended cartridges, providing law enforcement with valuable information to help identify shooters.
    • Press Release
  • SB 482 – Multifamily Housing Program
    • Signed into law: October 11, 2023
    • Took effect: January 1, 2024
    • SB 482 encourages the development of housing units that serve unhoused individuals with little or no income and the greatest needs. It does this by requiring the state Department of Housing and Community Development to offer capitalized operating subsidy reserves (COSRs) to special needs units funded through the Multifamily Housing Program. COSRs are important because if granted, they set aside upfront money to cover 15-20 years’ worth of deficits in annual operating revenues for housing developments, making it easier for the developments to get financed and built.
    • Press Release
  • SB 677 – Rail Planning for Climate Change
    • Signed into law: October 7, 2023
    • Took effect: April 1, 2024
    • SB 677 directs the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, which oversees the corridor in coordination with rail owners, operators and planning agencies, to include an assessment of the impacts of climate change in its annual business plan that outlines the agency’s major goals and objectives. The assessment must also identify projects to increase climate resiliency and funding options for those projects. This bill complements work that has been moving through my Senate Transportation Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resilience.
    • Press Release