District Report -- March 2023
A Message from Senator Bill Dodd
Dear Neighbor,
I hope this update finds you and your family well.
In the Capitol, I am working on legislation to help with the things you value most including beefing up consumer protection, caring for our seniors and wildfire safety.
As I have over the past few years, I will continue to host periodic, virtual town halls so you can share your thoughts with me. If you missed my March 21 virtual town hall on artificial intelligence, you can watch a recording.
In this Issue:
- Women’s History Month & Women of the Year
- Free Tax Help/Earned Income Tax Credit
- California Grants Portal
- In the News
As always, my office is available to help you with a state agency or answer any questions you might have. You can contact me by visiting my website.
Sincerely,
Senator, 3rd District
Women’s History Month & Women of the Year
March is National Women’s History Month, an ideal time for us to collectively acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of women who have shaped our nation.
It’s also when we honor women of the North Bay who made outstanding contributions. The following are my Women of the Year for 2023:
Senate District 3 Woman of the Year -- Linda Cantey, a Napa Valley aerospace engineer and community leader who has devoted years of volunteer service to advancing essential initiatives such as wildfire prevention, land conservation and supporting disadvantaged students.
Solano County – Nikila Gibson, a Solano County Black business advocate and president of the Tri-City NAACP, has been a champion of social equity and racial justice, while promoting holistic child development and environmental sustainability.
Contra Costa County -- After her son died in a gut-wrenching case of college hazing, Debbie Smith MM became a leading voice for reform, helping to pass Matt’s Law – named after her son – which increases penalties for those who participate in such violent initiations, and forming a nationally known nonprofit to raise awareness of the dangerous rituals.
Yolo County -- Joy Cohan, who has demonstrated leadership in addressing food insecurity and senior nutrition in roles with the Yolo Food Bank and most recently, as executive director of Meals on Wheels Yolo County
Sacramento County -- In her nearly three decades in this Delta community, Sandra Waterhouse has been a champion of disadvantaged youth, working countless hours as a recruiter for the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps, where she has helped provide education and job skills to hundreds of young adults working on climate-related projects.
Sonoma County -- Kaeti Bailie of Sonoma is an artist and open-water swimmer who is chair of the sister city committee for Kaniv, Ukraine and has been instrumental in raising money for residents of the war-torn region.
Free Tax Help/Earned Income Tax Credit
Tax Day is fast approaching. You may qualify for tax credits or free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs, which are supported by the Franchise Tax Board.
You may qualify for tax credits. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program will benefit millions of low income working families and can result in thousands of dollars for qualifying families. I helped champion the creation of California's EITC, which provides even more money to working families. Each year millions of dollars in tax credits go unclaimed, so see if you’re eligible.
For a list of upcoming workshops, please click here. I urge you to call the contact numbers listed to verify your eligibility, make appointments, and to learn what documentation may be required.
The State Library has enhanced its offering for grantmakers on the California Grants Portal. These updates are intended to improve the accuracy of data and the grantseeker experience. And after receiving feedback, the library has added a new category: Animal Services.
The library has also removed the “uncategorized” option, and is no longer allowing grantmakers to select “other” applicant type. All grants will now have at least one specific category and applicant type. The hope is that this makes it easier for people to search for and identify grants that best meet their needs.
The agency has also collected some tips and other resources to help you on your search for funding and support.
Please contact the State Library with any questions or email CAGrantsPortal@library.ca.gov
- Free from fees? California bill to combat junk fees
- Editorial: California shouldn’t wait for Washington to tackle hidden fees
- As attention on AI increases, California ramps up oversight
- Capitol Alert: Bills to watch -- TikTok ban for state workers
- Bill would cap campaign donations to local school board candidates
- Dodd introduces bill to combat sexual harassment at Cal State colleges
- Dodd, McGuire reappointed to Senate select wine committee
- Legislation aims to boost consumer protection with contractors