Press Releases

Senate Leader Atkins’ Bill to Expand Abortion, Reproductive Care Access Passes Senate

May 25, 2022

SACRAMENTO – SB 1375, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins’ (D-San Diego) legislation to increase access to affordable, quality abortion and reproductive care in California, was passed today by the California State Senate, moving the opportunity for more trained and qualified nurse practitioners to provide abortions without the supervision of a doctor one step closer to becoming law.

Senate Leader Atkins’ Bills to Protect San Diego River Watershed, Military Families Pass Senate

May 24, 2022

SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate has passed two bills authored by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) that will strengthen the San Diego region – SB 1027 to augment protection of the San Diego River watershed, and SB 1041, which would help military service members and families by making permanent a sales tax exemption for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

Senate Leader Atkins Issues Statement on Ruling Regarding Women on Corporate Boards Law

May 16, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) released the following statement about the court ruling in regard to California’s historic SB 826, which Pro Tem Atkins jointly authored with former Senator Hannah Beth Jackson in 2018:

Senate Leader Atkins, Budget Chair Skinner Issue Statement on Governor’s Revised 2022-23 Budget Proposal

May 13, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Chair of the Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee, released the following statement today on Governor Gavin’s Newsom’s revised 2022-23 budget proposal:

Senate Leader Atkins, Senator Skinner Issue Statement Regarding Early Highlights of May Budget Revision

May 12, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) released the following statement regarding early highlights of Governor Gavin Newsom’s May budget revision:

Senate Leader Atkins’ ‘California Dream for All’ Program to Help First-Time Homebuyers, Address Housing Affordability

May 11, 2022

SACRAMENTO – An innovative new program aimed at helping first-time homebuyers achieve the dream of homeownership will be heard in Senate Budget Subcommittee 4 on State Administration and General Government today, marking the first time that details about the California Dream for All program, led by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), have been unveiled.

Following Draft SCOTUS Opinion, Legislative Leaders and Governor Newsom Announce Constitutional Amendment to Enshrine the Right to Choose in California

May 2, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) and Governor Gavin Newsom released the below statement following news reports detailing a preliminary U.S. Supreme Court majority draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade and end federal constitutional protections for the right to abortion: 

Senate Budget Priorities Harness California’s Wealth to Bolster Families, Businesses, and Invest in Major Issues

April 28, 2022

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Senate Budget & Fiscal Committee Chair Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) announced today the second phase of the Senate’s “Putting Wealth to Work” budget proposal, which would continue to prioritize a more equitable economy to benefit struggling and middle class families and build  historic levels of reserves.

Senator Shannon Grove, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins Champion Legislation to Bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program to All of California

April 27, 2022

Sacramento—Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) announced today their bipartisan legislation in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to establish California’s first Statewide Imagination Library Program unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee today.

Senate Democrats Introduce Legislation to Enhance Zero Carbon Goals, Meet Needs of Working Californians

April 19, 2022

SACRAMENTO – After months of work to determine solutions that would enhance the state’s ability to meet the challenges of climate change, adaptation, and resiliency through an equitable lens, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), State Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced), and State Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) announced today that they have introduced the Clean Energy, Jobs, and Affordability Act of 2022.