The Legislative Session is Half Over Other News from Sen. Blakespear

Greetings!

We’ve reached the halfway point of the legislative session.

Today was the deadline to move this year’s legislation out of its first house. We spent the week on the floor of the Senate debating ideas and voting on bills. It was heady stuff!

I am excited to report that I have been able to pass 12 bills that are on their way to the Assembly! These bills represent important progress in many different areas. You can find out more below in my legislative update or on the Legislation page of my website‚ which lists all the legislation I have introduced this year and what has happened with it.

People write to me saying the Legislature passes too many laws‚ but at the same time‚ people write to me about all the problems that they face‚ or identify‚ and they want them fixed.

That’s the line I am constantly walking as your elected representative – focusing my attention on trying to fix the biggest problems but not passing laws that create new problems for you. As always‚ I welcome and value your input.
 

I am happy to report that my following bills have been passed by the Senate and sent to the Assembly for consideration.

Housing & Homelessness
 

SB 16 requires the state Department of Housing and Community Development to develop a plan to eliminate unsheltered homelessness in California within 10 years.

SB 92 would eliminate the possibility of using density bonus law to get waivers or concessions for commercial portions of a mixed-use development project. This bill was prompted by the exploitation of the state’s housing law by the Turquoise Street hotel project in Pacific Beach.

SB 569 requires Caltrans to set timelines for responding to requests to remove homeless encampments and clarifies the agency could contract with local governments‚ and reimburse them‚ to do it. Read the press release here.

Recycling & Protecting the Environment
 

SB 14 raises the recycled content required of plastic bottles purchased by state facilities and modernizes state agencies’ integrated waste management plans to lead the state’s charge toward zero-waste.

SB 427 extends the sunset date for The Habitat Conservation Fund‚ moving it from July 1‚ 2030‚ to July 1‚ 2035. The Habitat Conservation Fund 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. Read the press release here.

SB 633 improves transparency and holding beverage container manufacturers accountable by requiring them to report third-party verification of the country of origin and amount (in pounds) of post-consumer recycled plastic in plastic bottles.

State Enforcement
 

SB 329 requires the state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)‚ the department responsible‚ to assign complaints about sober living homes to staff within 10 days of receiving them and complete an investigation within 60 days.

SB 477 clarifies language in the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) so that the Civil Rights Department (CRD) can more effectively investigate and prosecute discrimination‚ harassment‚ hate incidents and other civil rights violations.

Medical Aid in Dying
 

To watch my Senate floor speech on SB 403‚ click on the image above.

SB 403 removes the Jan. 1‚ 2031‚ sunset date for the End of Life Option Act (EOLOA)‚ California’s medical-aid-in-dying (MAiD) law.

To see my full legislative package‚ go here.
 

As Chair of the subcommittee‚ I led last week’s hearing‚ in which Senators questioned two expert panels. Joining me on the dais are Senators Laura Richardson (far left) and Maria Elena Durazo (second from the right)‚ and Monique Limón (far right).

The Senate Transportation Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency held its first hearing of the year last week at Los Angeles Union Station. We were there to examine what’s being done to prepare the region to host soccer’s World Cup in 2026 and the Olympic Games in 2028.

We had two outstanding panel discussions‚ one focused on what the region is doing to support and expand rail service to handle the influx of visitors and one on the long-term challenges of the LOSSAN rail line‚ which runs 351 miles along the coast from San Diego to San Luis Obispo.

Over the past two years‚ this committee has worked hard to identify how to best support the rail line‚ strengthen its infrastructure and expand and enhance its service. It’s crucial that we strive to transform our rail network and create the modern‚ efficient and carbon-neutral transportation system California needs in the 21st century.

I remain committed to optimizing rail in our region.

You can view the hearing agenda and download the presentations made by going to the LOSSAN subcommittee’s web page.

To hear or see the hearing‚ go to the Senate Media Archive web page‚ select the committee hearing and click on the link to watch or listen.

Train Service through San Clemente Resumes Tomorrow!
 

Passenger rail service‚ including Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner‚ is scheduled to fully and safely resume through South Orange County on Saturday‚ June 7‚ following the planned completion of construction of the initial phase of emergency efforts to reinforce the most vulnerable areas along the rail line in San Clemente‚ the Orange County Transportation Authority announced. Find out more here.
 

California’s horribly polluted air was national news back in the 1960’s‚ before the state set high standards for vehicle emissions and clean air.

As Chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee‚ I take California’s environmental protection and clean air and water seriously. That’s why I was outraged by the U.S. Senate vote recently to overturn California’s vehicle emission standards.

It’s shameful that Republicans in Congress have decided to prevent California from doing its part to make our air cleaner. It’s in our country’s best interest to protect the environment and the health and safety of its residents with these entirely reasonable and attainable vehicle emission standards that have been the law for 50 years.

This will come at a cost – to human life. As the California Air Resources Board noted‚ California’s vehicle-emission requirements would prevent more than 1‚200 premature deaths and provide $13 billion in public health benefits by 2040 by eliminating 69‚885 tons of smog-forming emissions.

Republicans in Congress now appear eager to end California’s ability to set environmental standards higher than in the rest of the nation‚ a practice for the past 50 years that has driven industry innovation and improvements in clean air‚ environmental protection and public health‚ not just in California but in states across the nation that have followed our lead.

This is a giant step backward that is the wrong direction for California and the wrong direction for the nation.
 

I am pleased to announce that $236‚309 in state funding has been awarded to the City of Encinitas for rapid rehousing‚ street outreach and supportive case management services.

The award comes from the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) program‚ which pays for housing-related projects and programs that assist in addressing the unmet housing needs of their local communities.

As the former Mayor of Encinitas‚ I know how valuable funding like this can be. I know this will be a big help!
 

The facilities at Moonlight State Beach‚ in Encinitas.

This year’s State Parks Week runs June 11-15 and features more than 170 events designed to highlight the people‚ places and programs that make California’s 280 state parks truly unique. To find out about the events and register for them‚ go here.

I’m a member of the Senate budget subcommittee that oversees state parks and believe tremendously in the work being done to provide opportunities for people to be outside camping‚ hiking and re-wilding themselves. I’ve advocated for the state parks to be spared proposed budget cuts in order to accomplish their vital mission.

We are blessed with many state parks in San Diego and Orange counties. San Diego County parks include the Cardiff‚ Carlsbad‚ Leucadia‚ Moonlight‚ San Elijo and Torrey Pines state beaches‚ as well as Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Orange County parks include the Bolsa Chica‚ Corona del Mark‚ Crystal Cove‚ Doheny‚ Huntington‚ San Clemente and San Onofre state beaches.

I hope you’ll take advantage of this week‚ and enjoy the beauty of California’s state beaches and parks.
 

It was scary to be in the same room as an alligator! SeaWorld San Diego is in my Senate District 38 and brought some of their rescue animals to the state Capitol. I had the opportunity to pet an alligator‚ while my staff connected with a red-tailed boa constrictor. Much thanks to SeaWorld for all it does to rescue animals and for its research‚ conservation and education efforts.
 

I was honored to be recognized as the “Player of the Match” in the 8th annual Capitol Cup soccer game‚ a fundraising event held in Sacramento in which Northern and Southern California legislators square off for a game of soccer. Photo above left: After the game with staff who came out to cheer me on. Photo above right: The event check being presented.

I am proud that we were able to raise $70‚000 for the California Fire Foundation with this event‚ to assist hard-working firefighters across the state.

I am holding the trophy in the photo‚ because I am glad to report that the Southern California legislators won this match‚ 2-1. What fun‚ and for a good cause.
 

Do you enjoy being outdoors and picking fruit? Do you like to volunteer to help those in need?

Here’s a great opportunity for you: Sign up to glean with ProduceGood. Go to the ProduceGood website here to sign up for an upcoming event. ProduceGood is a nonprofit that organizes gleaning events across San Diego County to harvest fruit that otherwise would go to waste and provide it to San Diego’s food insecure families.

ProduceGood has been fighting hunger in San Diego County since 2014. It recruits backyard growers‚ farmers markets and grocery retailers to create an outlet for surplus produce that feeds individuals and families struggling with hunger. To date‚ the organization has harvested 2.1 million pounds of produce!

ProduceGood is one of many great organizations that work with local food banks to augment the work of state programs like Sun Bucks‚ which is California’s Summer EBT program. This food program provides families with $40 per month in June‚ July and August.

Picking is fun and easy‚ and usually only lasts a few hours. I love participating‚ not only because it’s healthy exercise but because it’s a great way to improve our sustainability efforts and reduce wasted food.
 

Happy Pride Month! I value California’s openness‚ uniqueness and diversity. There is strength and beauty in living authentically. We should embrace this‚ during Pride Month and every month of the year.

Thank you for your support. I am honored to serve you.

In partnership‚

Email me at Senator.Blakespear@Senate.ca.gov
Call my Encinitas district office at (760) 642-0809
Call my Laguna Hills district office at (949) 598-5850
Call my Capitol office in Sacramento at (916) 651-4038