SACRAMENTO, August 24, 2023 – – Today, Senate Bill 385 passed out of the California State Assembly on a 58-15 vote, marking its final approval by the Legislature. The bill, authored by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), would expand and modernize reproductive care training for physician assistants, increasing and reinforcing the […]
Office of Toni G. Atkins, President Pro Tempore
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Senate Leader Atkins Hails Passage of Constitutional Amendment to Protect Abortion Rights, Commits to Continued Legislative Action
SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) released the following statement regarding the apparent victory of Proposition 1, which will enshrine the right to abortion and contraceptives in the California State Constitution, and further legislative efforts to protect reproductive rights: “California sent a signal to the nation today, and the message […]
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Senate Leader Toni Atkins, Senator Shannon Grove’s Legislation to Bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program to All of California Has Been Signed by Governor Newsom
Sacramento –Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) announced that Senate Bill 1183, their bipartisan legislation in partnership with The Dollywood Foundation to establish the Imagination Library of California Statewide Program, has been signed by Governor Newsom. The Imagination Library of California statewide program will work with local […]
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Senate Leader Atkins, Senator Grove’s Legislation to Bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program to All of California Passes Legislature
Sacramento — Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) announced that their bipartisan legislation in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to establish California’s first Statewide Imagination Library Program unanimously passed the Senate Floor today and is headed to the Governor’s desk for signing. SB 1183, which would […]
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Legislative Leaders Applaud Passage of 2022-23 Budget Bill
SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) released the following statement following the Legislature’s passage of the 2022-23 state budget bill: “Today, the Senate and the Assembly passed a budget that puts California’s wealth to work for individuals, families, and businesses throughout our state. Our […]
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Senators Grove and Atkins Champion Legislation to Bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program to All of California
Sacramento, April 27, 2022—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. SB 1183, which would establish the statewide program under the direction of […]
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Governor Newsom, Legislative Leaders Announce Eviction Moratorium Extension, Increased Compensation for Rent Relief
SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders of both the Senate and the Assembly today announced a proposed extension of California’s statewide evictions moratorium, and an increase in compensation for California’s rent relief program. The three-party agreement on AB 832 – which extends the current eviction moratorium through September 30, 2021 – will ensure that California quickly […]
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Senate Leader Atkins, Speaker Rendon Applaud Passage of 2021-22 Budget Bill
SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), have released the following statement today following the Legislature’s passage of the 2021-22 state budget bill: “The budget we’re sending to Governor Newsom reflects responsible budgeting as the Legislature’s top priority and makes vital investments in California’s future. Over the […]
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Legislative Leaders Respond to Expected Cost of Recall
SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) issued the following statement about the expected costs of the upcoming recall election of Governor Gavin Newsom: “Our local communities don’t deserve to be saddled with unnecessary recall costs as they work to recover from the pandemic. The […]
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Senate Unveils Budget Proposal to Help California, Working Families ‘Build Back Boldly’
SACRAMENTO, April 14, 2021 – Today, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), along with Senate Budget Chair Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Senate Budget Subcommittee Chairs Anna M. Caballero (D-Salinas), María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton), John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), and Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), announced the Senate’s budget proposal to […]
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Natural Resources Committee Passes Atkins’ Bill to Protect California from Sea Level Rise
SACRAMENTO, March 16, 2021 – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) today presented SB 1, a landmark bill to help California address the impacts of sea level rise, to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, which approved the bill in a 7-2 vote. “Climate change is acutely affecting California’s coast […]
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Senate Launches ‘Blueprint for a Fire Safe California’
SACRAMENTO, March 4, 2021 – With another hot and dry fire season on the horizon and potential drought settling in over California, preparedness efforts throughout the state are underway. In anticipation of this, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and the Senate’s Wildfire Working Group have released a plan and introduced a budget […]
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Senate Confirms Dr. Shirley Weber as California’s Secretary of State
SACRAMENTO January 28, 2021 – The California State Senate confirmed Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) as the state’s Secretary of State in a 29-0 floor vote on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The Senate Rules Committee confirmed Dr. Weber’s nomination during a hearing on Wednesday. Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) characterized Dr. […]
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Senate Leader Atkins Issues Statement Regarding Quarantine of Senators, Session
SACRAMENTO August 27, 2020 – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) released the following statement regarding the remainder of Senate session and remote voting: “The Senate has worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the Capitol safe for the public, Senators, and staff. That effort includes adhering to strict science-based protocols to […]
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Legislative Leaders Announce Hearings Focusing on California’s COVID-19 Response
SACRAMENTO, April 9, 2020 – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) issued the following statement to announce COVID-19 hearings next week: “As we remain on legislative recess to do our part to help flatten the COVID-19 curve and work from our districts to help our constituents […]
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Senate Leader Atkins Urges Healthy, Eligible Californians to Donate Blood
SACRAMENTO March 23, 2020 – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D – San Diego) is calling on all healthy and eligible Californians to donate blood to help offset the severe supply shortage occurring due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Senator Atkins donated blood today at the San Diego Blood Bank. “One thing is undeniably […]
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California Senate Unveils Action Plan to Combat Wildfires and Climate Change
SACRAMENTO February 12, 2020 – Today, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) announced a series of hearings to develop a comprehensive Wildfire and Climate Action Plan. Two hearings were held in November and January by the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications, and the next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. […]
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Senate pro Tem: San Mateo Superior Court Decision Exempting Charter Cities from the Housing Affordability Act Ignores California’s Need for Affordable Housing
SACRAMENTO December 4, 2019 – California Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) issued the following statement regarding a San Mateo County Superior Court ruling exempting charter cities from the Housing Affordability Act: “The San Mateo trial court’s ruling exempting charter cities from a key component of our housing laws is disappointing and patently ignores […]
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Senate Leader Atkins Creates Special Working Group to Tackle Public Safety Power Shut Offs
SACRAMENTO, Oct. 25, 2019 – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) announced the creation of a working group to study the issue of Public Safety Power Shut Offs (PSPS). The working group will include the following Senators: Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), Bill Dodd (D-Napa), Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), Ben […]
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Atkins, Senate Leaders Praise Signing of $15 Billion Education Construction Bond
SACRAMENTO, Oct. 7, 2019 – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa), Senate Select Committee on Student Success, Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino), Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and Senator Richard Roth (D-Riverside) today applauded the Governor signing Assembly Bill 48, which the Legislature passed to place a […]