Press Releases

Sen. Dodd: Budget Funds Wildfire Safety, Tax Relief, Teacher Training & Atmospheric River Plans

Friday, June 28, 2019

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today about the 2019-20 budget approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature:

“We passed a bold yet responsible plan that invests wisely in education and wildfire prevention while building our reserves,” Sen. Dodd said. “While there’s always room for improvement, it’s a well-crafted financial roadmap for California. I appreciate Gov. Newsom’s partnership, and I think his first budget sets a solid foundation to build on in future years.”

Highlights of the $214.8 billion budget include:

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Sen. Dodd, Asm. Gray Introduce Sports Betting Legislation

Thursday, June 27, 2019

SACRAMENTO – Working collaboratively, Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and Assemblymember Adam Gray, D-Merced, introduced legislation today that would amend the California constitution to authorize and regulate sports wagering.

 “I look forward to working with stakeholders in a collaborative effort to help bring this out of the shadows,” Sen. Dodd said. “By legalizing sports wagering we can avoid some of the problems associated with an underground market such as fraud and tax evasion while investing in problem gambling education.”

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Governor Signs Sen. Dodd’s Elder Abandonment Bill in to Law

Thursday, June 27, 2019

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed elder abuse prevention legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that was inspired by the abandonment of seniors at two Santa Rosa assisted living centers during the 2017 wildfires.

“This new law stands for the principle that we must always meet our obligations to seniors, especially in times of emergencies,” Sen. Dodd said. “Simply leaving them to fend for themselves in the face of disaster is unacceptable. I thank Gov. Newsom for supporting this  measure which will encourage caretakers to do the right thing.”

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Sen. Dodd’s Wildfire Bills Move Ahead

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

SACRAMENTO – A trio of wildfire safety bills advanced today from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that will increase the state’s ability to prevent, prepare and respond to the growing threat of wildfires across California.

“The arrival of fire season underscores the need for immediate action,” Sen. Dodd said. “We can’t sit back and watch our state burn. Getting a handle on the destructive fires we’ve seen across our state over the past few years is an absolute priority.”

The following bills were voted out of committee and moved a step closer to clearing the Legislature:

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Sen. Dodd’s Disaster Insurance Bill Advances

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

SACRAMENTO – California could take out an insurance policy to protect itself from emergency response costs arising from wildfires and other unexpected disasters under legislation that cleared a key Assembly committee today co-authored by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Treasurer Fiona Ma.

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Legislature Approves Sen. Dodd’s Horse Racing Safety Bill

Monday, June 24, 2019

SACRAMENTO – Horse-racing safety legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that is prompted by deaths of horses at Santa Anita Park was approved by the Legislature today with unanimous support and heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom for a signature.

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Sen. Dodd Responds to Gov. Newsom’s Wildfire Fund

Friday, June 21, 2019

SACRAMENTO –Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s draft wildfire recovery outline:

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D.S. Powell Construction Co. is Small Business of the Year

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

SACRAMENTO – Davis-based D.S. Powell Construction Co., a family-owned residential and commercial developer serving for more than four decades in Sacramento, Solano and Yolo counties, was recognized today by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, as 2019 Small Business of the Year.

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Sen. Dodd’s College Student Food Insecurity Bill Advances

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

SACRAMENTO – Low-income college students would have reliable access to nutritious food through the Cal Fresh program under a bill from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that cleared the Assembly’s Human Services committee today.

“Students shouldn’t have to starve in order to get an education,”  Sen. Dodd said. “Hunger is a serious problem on California college campuses today. My bill will ensure students of modest means don’t go hungry by making it easier for them to receive public assistance.”

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Lawmakers Approve Sen. Dodd’s Plan to Improve Water Management

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

SACRAMENTO –Legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would help California manage its water, protecting the precious resource for people and the environment, cleared a key committee today.

“This bill is an important step toward managing our water for the long run,” Sen. Dodd said. “‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Stream gages provide important information in this era of droughts and flooding, driven in part by climate change.”

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