August 2022 - District Report
A Message from Bill Dodd
Dear Neighbor,
Students return to school this month as we in the Capitol make a final push on legislative proposals to protect our electoral system, prevent wildfires and help families struggling to pay water utility bills.
In this Issue:
Please feel free to reach out to me with your suggestions or concerns. 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. Also, follow me on Facebook and Twitter.
Sincerely,
Bill Dodd
Senator, 3rd District
Wildfire & Safety Preparedness
We know the geography, weather patterns and number of communities bordering wildlands in California make us vulnerable to devastating wildfire. As catastrophic wildfires continue to increase each year in California, make sure to protect yourself and your family.
Cal Fire, our statewide firefighting agency, urges everyone to be familiar with its Ready, Set, Go! guidelines:
Be ready: Create and maintain defensible space and harden your home against flying embers.
Get set: Prepare your family and home ahead of time for the possibility of having to evacuate. Ensure you have a plan of what to take and where to go – evacuation plans will be different this year due to COVID-19. Ask friends or relatives outside your area if you would be able to stay with them, should the need arise. If you do need to evacuate and plan to stay with friends or relatives, ask first if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have people in their home at higher risk for serious illness. If that is the case, make other arrangements. Check with hotels, motels and campgrounds to learn if they are open. Also get set by learning about your community’s response plan for each disaster and determine if these plans have been adapted because of COVID-19.
Go: When wildfire strikes, go early for your safety. Take the evacuation steps necessary to give your family and home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.
More information: https://www.readyforwildfire.org/
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week
To bring attention to Delta and its central role in California’s water story, I am designating the last week of September as Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta Week.
Those interested in learning about the Delta and helping to preserve the precious resource will have an opportunity to participate in numerous clean-up events. They will follow by about a week the annual California Coastal Clean-Up Week on Sept. 17.
Learn more as the week approaches: http://deltaconservancy.ca.gov/updates-events/
Legislative Update
As the 2022 legislative season enters the home stretch, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to pass laws that are important to you. Most of my bills have now been approved by the Senate and Assembly, and are awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. A handful of my bills have already been signed.
I will continue to push forward strong public policy that will leave our state a better place for future generations. This year’s highlights:
Senate Bill 20 College Student Nutrition
This bill will secure Cal Fresh benefits for an estimated 100,000 community college students who qualify, addressing food insecurity.
SB 103 Faithless Electors
Responding to threats to the nation’s free election process, this bill will ensure the state’s presidential electors cast ballots for candidates who win the popular vote and do not instead switch candidates or abstain from voting.
SB 222 Water Access and Affordability
Access to safe, clean drinking water is a human right, and this bill ensures families who are struggling to pay water bills get help through creation of a water bill assistance fund.
SB 561 Surplus Property for Housing
This requires the state to review its surplus property and identify which land is available for construction of low-income housing.
SB 717 Broadband
To meet the demand for internet connectivity in the age of remote school and work, this bill calls for creation of a study to determine where broadband is needed while identifying barriers to expansion.
SB 852 Climate Resilience Financing Districts
Allows for creation of special districts so local agencies can raise funds for climate resilience projects.
SB 856 Wild Pigs
Classifies wild pigs as game animals for hunting to reduce the population of this invasive and damaging species.
SB 872 Mobile Pharmacy Vans
Authorizes the use of mobile pharmacy vans in hard-to-reach areas with high homeless populations.
SB 896 Defensible Space Inspections
Requires data on defensible space compliance be reported to Cal Fire to determine where more wildfire prevention work is needed.
SB 926 Prescribed Fire
Operationalizes $20 million fund to encourage more use of prescribed fires as a tool to help wildfire prevention
SB 1107 Automobile Liability Insurance
Updates minimum mandatory liability insurance limits to protect people from being underinsured.
In the News
Here is some of the latest news coverage that may be of interest to you:
- Opinion: Bill would provide broadband access throughout California
- Trio of Sonoma heroes who saved friend’s life recognized at state Capitol
- Assembly approves Sen. Dodd’s climate resilience finance bill
- The buzz: Dodd picks Esparto beekeeper as small business of the year
- Californians still want clean, safe water a decade after the state declared it a human right
- Talks on Highway 37’s future underway as sea-level threat looms