"The good, the bad, and the ugly"
Last updated 11/21/2023 at 1:32pm
The Legislature adjourned September 14th, and the Governor had until October 14th to sign or veto all legislation. Of the 2,668 bills introduced, 1,046 made it to his desk. He signed 890 and vetoed 156. Many of the bills he signed will have significant impacts, though they received little public attention.
Among these is a bill aimed at reducing the epidemic of catalytic converter thefts. AB 641 will allow prosecution of thieves found in possession of multiple stolen converters. Another bill, SB 55, requires automobile dealerships to offer customers the option of having the vehicle’s VIN etched onto their new vehicle’s catalytic converter.
In an attempt to help California’s Small Business entrepreneurs, AB 258 requires the Office of Small Business Advocate to post funding opportunities for small businesses on a new online portal. And to assist active duty military personnel transitioning to civilian careers, AB 883 will require California’s licensing boards to expedite/assist licensing for active duty military applying for professional licenses.
AB 1283 authorizes public and private schools to administer albuterol inhalers to students suffering respiratory distress. AB 1651 requires EpiPen auto-injectors to be stored by school agencies in accessible locations for emergency use. And my bill, AB 1233, requires outreach to tribal governments about the availability of opioid overdose reversal medication. These bills will save lives.
On the downside, in a costly imposition on local school districts, AB 579 requires all new school buses to be zero-emission by 2035, without providing a funding source to pay for the new buses. And in a major imposition on large business enterprises, SB 253 requires businesses that operate in California and generate over $1 billion in revenue – even those located in other states, to report global greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions from their supply chains. Violators can be fined up to $500,000 per year.
These are just a few of the bills signed into law this year. More information on all legislation is available at: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/
Marie Waldron
– State Assemblymember, 75th District
