2022 Legislation

SB 1013 - Beverage Container Recycling: SB 1013 adds wine and distilled spirits bottles to California’s longtime bottle recycling program established by the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act in 1986. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 27, 2022

SB 1027 – San Diego River Conservancy: SB 1027 expands the jurisdictional boundary of the San Diego River Conservancy (SDRC) to include the entire watershed of the San Diego River. The bill also expands the SDRC’s governing board to include a member of the El Cajon City Council and amends the definition of tribal nation to directly reference the Kumeyaay Bands associated with the area. The SDRC’s responsibilities include protecting and enhancing extensive historic and cultural resources, managing water quality and natural flood conveyance within the watershed, encouraging recreational opportunities, and protecting local wildlife species and native habitat. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 19, 2022

SB 1034 – Sexually Violent Predators: SB 1034 strengthens the process for consideration of civil commitment of sexually violent predators and requires community stakeholders and local law enforcement to meet to provide assistance and consultation on the housing placement after a court has determined that the person can be safely released back into the community with intensive supervision. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 30, 2022

SB 1041 – Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Tax Relief Extension: SB 1041 makes permanent the sales tax exemption for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) and other qualifying organizations that provide financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Armed Forces of the United States, their family members, and survivors. The NMCRS is a non-profit, volunteer service organization that works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense to provide support services to members of the Naval Service and Marine Corps, eligible family members, and survivors. The NMCRS provides financial and education assistance, emergency travel, visiting nurses, disaster relief and other critical services. In 2013, Pro Tem Atkins authored AB 163, a 10-year extension of the tax exemption that was set to expire on January 1, 2024. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on August 29, 2022

SB 1127 - Workers’ Compensation: Delay & Denial; Penalties: SB 1127 reduces the timelines for the acceptance or denial of presumptive injury claims and adjusts penalties for employers, insurers, and third-party administrators that unreasonably deny claims by firefighters and public safety employees. It also removes the statute of limitations for cancer claims allowing up to 240 compensable weeks for those suffering from occupational cancer where that cancer has caused a temporary disability. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 29, 2022

SB 1375 – Nurse Practitioners: SB 1375 allows qualified nurse practitioners to provide first trimester abortions within the scope of their clinical and professional education and training without the supervision of a physician. The bill also removes barriers to accessing clinical abortion training for nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives, which will help bolster the state’s reproductive care workforce. SB 1375 is a follow up to legislation Pro Tem Atkins’ authored in 2013, AB 154, which allows qualifying advanced practice providers to provide first trimester abortions under the supervision of a physician. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 27, 2022

SCA 10 – Reproductive Freedom: SCA 10 makes explicit the fundamental constitutional right to abortion and to choose or refuse contraception. It adds to the State Constitution, “The state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives.” The Amendment was passed by the Legislature on June 27, 2022 and approved by voters on November 8, 2022

Additional Legislative Highlights:

SB 1020 - Clean Energy, Jobs, and Affordability Act of 2022 (Joint Author): SB 1020 established defined targets and accountability to ensure California reaches its goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy use by 2045. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 16, 2022

SB 1311 - Military & Veteran Consumer Protections: SB 1311 strengthens financial and legal protections against fraud and unfair business practices targeting active service members, veterans, and military families. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 27, 2022