Press Releases

Three Atkins Bills Advance in the Senate

April 6, 2017

This week, three bills authored by Sen. Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) cleared key policy committees.

Senate Health Committee to hold special hearing in San Diego

March 21, 2017

Dear friends and neighbors,

I am pleased to announce that the California Senate Health Committee will be holding a special hearing this Friday, March 24, in San Diego, focusing on the impacts that the proposed American Health Care Act are likely to have on our state.

The hearing will take place from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Fowler Family Ballroom, in the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center, at San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive.

Atkins’ Affordable-Housing Bill Clears Second Senate Committee

March 15, 2017

The Senate Governance and Finance Committee today voted 5-2 to pass SB 2 – the Building Homes and Jobs Act – legislation authored by Senator Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) that will create a permanent source of funding for affordable housing.

The bill was previously endorsed by the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee and now moves on to the Senate Appropriations Committee, the last step before consideration by the full Senate.

Atkins’ affordable-housing bill clears Senate Transportation and Housing Committee

February 28, 2017

The Senate Transportation and Housing Committee today voted 9-3 to pass SB 2 – the Building Homes and Jobs Act – legislation authored by Senator Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) that will create a permanent source of funding for affordable housing.

Californians for a Healthy California Act Seeks One Plan, More Choice for Residents

February 23, 2017

Today Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Sen. Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) introduced the Californians for a Healthy California Act (SB 562).

“Healthy California gives everyone insurance, because everyone has a right to health care. Trump and the Republicans don’t get to pick the health care winners and losers, and we’ll never get to 100% health care in California unless we lead.” – Senator Ricardo Lara

Atkins Introduces Legislation to Require Hotels to Train Employees on Human-Trafficking Prevention

February 9, 2017

Senator Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) this week introduced SB 270, a bill that requires California hotels and motels to train employees on how to recognize the signs of human trafficking and how to report those signs to law enforcement.

Atkins Introduces Legislation to Protect the Environment, Improve Healthcare, and Help Prosecute Human Traffickers

February 3, 2017

Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) this week introduced new bills that will strengthen the San Diego River Conservancy (SB 214), bolster language-assistance services in medical care (SB 223), and help prosecute human traffickers (SB 230).

Atkins, Wiener Announce SB 179 to Create New Gender Marker and Ease Process for Gender Change in Court Orders and on State Documents

January 26, 2017

~~With help from Equality California and the Transgender Law Center, Senators Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) today announced the introduction of legislation, SB 179 – The Gender Recognition Act of 2017, that will enable more transgender, intersex and nonbinary people to obtain state-issued identity documents that accurately reflect their gender.

Senator Atkins Issues Statement on President’s Executive Orders

January 25, 2017

Senator Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) today issued the following statement on President Trump’s planned executive orders on immigration:

“After listening to Donald Trump on the campaign trail, we shouldn’t be surprised that he is pursuing these irrational, mean-spirited and misguided executive orders. But that doesn’t make them any easier to accept.

Senator Atkins Issues Statement on Governor’s State of the State Address

January 24, 2017

Senator Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) today issued the following statement regarding Gov. Jerry Brown’s State of the State address:

“Governor Brown made it clear that California will not turn its back on the immigrants who contribute so richly to our culture and our economy; nor will we turn away from reproductive healthcare and climate science. Our state will continue to lead the way forward on these issues.