Legislation
Senator Newman's 2023-24 Bill Package
Elections
Ensures that statewide and legislative recalls in California are democratic, fair and free from political manipulation by removing the second question from the recall ballot so that only one question appears, asking a voter to decide whether or not an elected official should be recalled from office.
SB 248: Disqualifying Unscrupulous and Pathological Electeds (or DUPE) Act
Requires candidates running for office in California to submit their prior education, military experience and work history to the Secretary of State at the time of filing.
Prohibits any full-time, salaried elected official in California from employing any other elected official with common constituents as a member of their paid staff.
SB 386: Elections Code Updates
SB 386 updates the elections code by (1) extending the signature verification period for state petitions and recall petitions to 60 days or for county, city, and special district initiative and referendum petitions to 90 days, (2) mandating that certain notifications about electoral guidelines are afforded to candidates seeking to run for office, and (3) removing antiquated instructions that appear on the ballot.
SB 409: Authentic and Unassisted Candidate Ballot Statements
Provides voters with a more authentic and accurate basis for assessment of candidates on their ballots by: (1) requiring candidates for public office who are submitting ballot statements to present themselves in person at a county elections office or at the Secretary of State’s office and record those statements in person; and (2) establishes a pilot program whereby voters will also be able to view video versions of the ballot statements submitted by candidates.
Transportation
SB 425: Hydrogen Pickup Truck Incentives
Expands consumer rebates for light and medium-duty hydrogen fuel cell pickup trucks, and allows consumers to claim both a consumer rebate and an HOV-lane decal.
SB 501: LCFS Hydrogen Station Accountability Mechanism
Creates a data collection regime for retail hydrogen refueling stations to track reliability, uptime, and service quality. SB 501 also modifies how Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits are awarded to station operators by introducing a financial accountability mechanism based on quality performance.
SB 617: PDB for Transportation Agencies
Allows transportation agencies to contract with entities that utilize the Progressive Design-Build method in the development of capital projects.
Education
Ensures all K-8 pupils in California have access to a minimum standard of recess while prohibiting the withholding of recess as a form of punishment or discipline.
SB 444: Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Programs
Encourages California Community Colleges to establish Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) Programs and creates a set of regulations that programs must follow to receive state funding.
SB 494: School District Governing Board Meetings
Requires district governing boards to use the regular meeting process, rather than holding a special or emergency meeting, when taking action to terminate the district superintendent and/or assistant superintendent without cause. SB 494 also creates a “cooling off” period after a school board election before the governing board may terminate the district superintendent or assistant superintendent without cause.
SB 760: All-Gender Bathroom Access
Requires all K-12 schools in California to provide appropriate and equitable access to all-gender restrooms for students to use during school hours.
Environment
SB 568: Responsible Electronic Waste Exportation
Requires that entities demonstrate that the capacity to safely and responsibly recycle electronic waste (e-waste) within California does not exist before exporting the product abroad.
SB 707: Textile Recycling and Repair Program
Creates a statewide collection and recycling program for textiles in which producers of clothing and other textiles will be required to implement and fund an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program that will enhance recycling and increase reuse in this important sector.
Other
SB 484: Escrow Agents Work from Home Flexibility
Allows escrow agents to work remotely.
SB 592: Labor Translations & Good Faith Compliance Protections
Requires the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement to translate its entire website, as well as all materials published on it, into California's next four most commonly spoken languages. SB 592 also provides individuals, entities, and employers a good faith compliance defense in the event they complied with Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DSLE) guidance that was subsequently invalidated by a judicial authority.
Senator Newman's 2022 Legislation
SCA 6 – Recall Reform: Remove, Then Replace
Ensures that statewide and legislative recalls in California are democratic, fair and free from to political manipulation by removing the second question from the recall ballot so that only one question appears, asking a voter to decide whether or not an elected official should be recalled from office
SB 835 – Health Benefit Parity for Families of Deceased Legislative Employees
Allows for the family of a legislative employee to remain on the Legislature’s health plan for up to 120 days after their death (in loving honor of my former Chief of Staff, Marc Hanson)
SB 855 – Childhood Drowning Data Collection Pilot Program
Develops a statewide system for capturing data on childhood drownings through a three-year pilot program to be administered by the Department of Public Health
SB 873 – Enhancing Transparency on CA Transportation Improvement Projects
Assures that the State's limited transportation funds are used effectively and efficiently
SB 921 – Digital Advertisement Transparency and Accountability (DATA) Act
Creates an easy-to-access online archive of all digital political ads used by a candidate or committee in an effort to improve oversight
SB 942 – Transit Ridership
Ensures the long-term viability and benefits of free and reduced-fare transit programs that expand access to public transportation and build lifelong riders
SB 971 – Pet-Inclusive Low-Income Housing Incentive
Expands access to affordable, pet-inclusive housing for low-income Californians
SB 991 – Progressive Design-Build for Local Water Agencies
Allows Local Water Agencies (LWA) to contract with entities that utilize the Progressive Design-Build method in the execution of a public works project
SB 1036 – California Ocean Corps
Establishes the California Ocean Corps, an independent workforce corps that will focus on restoration and climate resiliency along the California Coast
SB 1064 – Pest Control Worker Safety
Ensures pest control worker safety and protects workers from financial liability for injuries and death on the job
SB 1131 – Extending “Safe At Home” to California’s Election Workers
Provides protection from harassment and peace of mind to election workers by allowing them to keep their home addresses confidential
SB 1193 – DMV Modernization: Paperless Notifications and Renewals
Enhances customer experience and efficiency at DMV offices
SB 1215 – the Responsible Battery Recycling Act
Creates a statewide collection and recycling program for consumer batteries and battery-embedded products
SB 1237 – Professional License Renewal and Fee Waiver for Deployed Military Personnel
Waives burdensome licensure fees for active duty service members
SB 1329 – Clean Transportation Infrastructure
Bolsters California’s clean transportation infrastructure to improve the customer experience for hydrogen and battery-electric car drivers
SB 1377 – Ending Unfair Taxation of Awards in Consumer Protection Cases
Relieves consumers of unjustified fees while reinforcing the right for Californians to sue for defective products or illegal business practices
SB 1418 – North Orange County Public Safety Collaborative Expansion
Codifies and expands the successful North Orange County Public Safety Collaborative to ensure reliable funding and establish a pilot in a Northern California region
Senator Newman's 2021 Legislation
SB 242 – Reimbursements for PPE and Other Critical Supplies
Requires health care service plans and insurers to reimburse health care providers for PPE and other critical supplies during future public health emergencies
Status: Signed into law on October 5, 2021
SB 266 – Chino Hills State Park Expansion
Preserves open space and protects wildlife and biodiversity by directing the California Department of Parks and Recreation to incorporate 1,500 acres into Chino Hills State Park.
Status: Signed into law on October 9, 2021
SB 362 – Prioritizing Patients over Quotas
Prohibits pharmacies from imposing quotas on licensed pharmacists who fill prescriptions or provide other services. Instead, pharmacists will retain sole discretion to determine the appropriate amount of time required to fill each prescription and provide conscientious care to their patients.
Status: Signed into law on September 27, 2021
SB 442 – Modernizing School District Elections
Ensures that all school districts may smoothly transition from at-large elections to district-based elections.
Status: Signed into law on July 23, 2021
SB 660 – Protecting Election Integrity
Prohibits payment to signature gatherers on a per-signature or “bounty” basis for initiatives, referendums or recall efforts.
Status: Vetoed by Governor
SB 289 – Better Battery Recycling and Fire Risk Reduction
Requires the installation of battery collection bins at large retailers across the state so that consumers may dispose of batteries safely rather than discard them into the garbage.
Status: Held in Senate Appropriations
Senator Newman's 2021 State Budget Wins
Senator Josh Newman secured state funding for various district priorities in the 2021-22 State Budget, including:
- $29.5 million for the preservation of West Coyote Hills.
- $17.9 million to expand and modernize the ALERTWildfire Fire Camera Mapping System.
- $7.8 million for the North Orange County Public Safety Task Force.
- $2.75 million to complete the Hunt Library Revitalization Project in the City of Fullerton.
- $2 million for a coordinated data-sharing platform to share information across Orange County’s five different systems of care and program, including health care, behavioral health, and housing.
- $350,000 for the City of West Covina Fire Department to improve wildfire response.
- $80,000 for the Tres Hermanos Conservation Authority to perform wildfire prevention services in the City of Chino Hills.