Press Release

SACRAMENTO – A bill from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to improve public safety during power outages by requiring newly sold or installed garage door motors to be equipped with backup batteries was approved by the full Senate Thursday in a unanimous, bipartisan vote.

“This is an important safety measure that will provide a quicker and safer evacuation when electric power is lost,” Senator Dodd said. “For seniors, disabled people and those who are unable to manually lift a door, a backup battery in an emergency situation could be the difference between life and death.”

SACRAMENTO – A bill from Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would help reduce the risk of devastating wildfires by requiring electric utility companies to upgrade infrastructure, hardening the grid to be more resistant to extreme weather and bringing it into compliance with new safety standards, was approved by the Senate Wednesday in a bipartisan vote.

SACRAMENTO -- A bill from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would protect consumers from the kinds of data breaches that have exposed the personal financial information of hundreds of millions of people nationwide was approved Wednesday by the Senate despite intense industry lobbying.

“This is a common sense measure to help protect consumers from future data breaches and punish companies that fail to properly protect data,” Senator Dodd said. “It will give consumers recourse and provide a strong incentive for firms to act responsibly with our data.”

SACRAMENTO -- A bill from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that will help wildfire victims recover losses from insurance companies was approved Tuesday by the full Senate over intense industry lobbying.

“Tragic and destructive wildfires over the past few years have revealed shortcomings in the law that have allowed insurance companies to take advantage of people,” Senator Dodd said. “This bill will put an end to the abuses, providing needed relief for victims struggling desperately to put their lives back together.”

SACRAMENTO – Legislation from Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would protect low-income families from getting their water service disconnected was approved by the full Senate Tuesday.

“We simply cannot cut off water service to poor families simply because they have fallen on hard times,” Senator Dodd said. “My bill creates a sustainable and equitable delivery system that will protect this vulnerable population including seniors, children and those with illness or disability.”

SACRAMENTO – The California Senate today passed a bipartisan resolution from Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa, proclaiming the month of June as Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Awareness month.

“Too often, this most-vulnerable population falls victim to physical, financial and emotional mistreatment,” Senator Dodd said. “We as a society need to be more mindful of this heart-wrenching pattern of abuse. This resolution will bring statewide attention to the problem while encouraging advocates to continue working collaboratively to stop it.”

SACRAMENTO – Eight bills from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, cleared the Senate Appropriations committee Friday and head to the full Senate next week for a vote.

“I’m proud to bring this legislation addressing a range of issues and concerns, both locally and statewide,” Senator Dodd said. “And I thank my fellow senators for advancing it after careful consideration.”

The following bills were taken off suspense Friday:

SB 830: The proposal adds media literacy education to school curriculums and ensures students have the tools to succeed in the digital age.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued this statement Friday in response to Gov. Jerry Brown’s May budget revision, released Friday:

SACRAMENTO – Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced a resolution Wednesday supporting federal legislation from U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, to transfer the Mare Island Naval Cemetery to the Department of Veterans Affairs for repair and maintenance.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, made the following comments today in a joint press conference at the Capitol calling for a $184 million budget allocation to improve the state’s mutual aid system and to support Cal Fire as it battles a rising number of wildfires: