Key California bills clear major hurdle in race to floor vote

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — California Democrats continued their legislative assault on President Donald Trump’s agenda, passing a host of bills Thursday — a key deadline for legislation this year.

Bills had to get past their respective chambers’ appropriations committees this week or die. Many high-profile bills pushing back against Trump’s immigration enforcement actions cleared the hurdle and now advance to a floor vote that must occur by May 29.

Senate Bill 1004 — written by state Senator Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat — is a keystone of the Democratic response to Trump. It would add California law enforcement to a list of agencies the No Secret Police Act prohibits from wearing masks while carrying out their duties.

The bill is a response to a federal judge blocking the act in February, finding fault in it not applying equally to all law enforcement.

A bill that would prohibit federal authorities from commandeering local law enforcement in actions that violate state law or people’s rights also passed. Written by Democratic state Senator Sasha Renée Pérez of Pasadena, Senate Bill 1105 would bar local officers from helping federal agents to racially profile people or use unauthorized military weapons against California residents.

Senate Bill 937 — written by state Senator Lena Gonzalez, a Long Beach Democrat — expands existing restrictions on weapons officers can use. Law enforcement already can’t use certain chemical agents without proper training or before deescalation techniques are employed. Her bill would add flashbang grenades to the list, and prohibits their use entirely near schools or parks.

The Assembly has bills that also focus on law enforcement. Assembly Bill 1537 — by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, a Los Angeles Democrat — would prohibit local law enforcement officers from working for or volunteering with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or its contractors. An officer could face decertification as a peace officer for violating the provision.

Called the GTFO Act, Assembly Bill 1896 — by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, also a Los Angeles Democrat — would prohibit someone from being a peace officer in the state if they performed immigration enforcement during Trump’s second term.

While immigration-related bills have taken much of the legislative spotlight this year, the appropriations committees passed many other potential policy changers.

Assembly Bill 1644, by Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi of Torrance, would prohibit the use of smartphones by students in transitional kindergarten through 8th grade. High school students wouldn’t face the same ban — a change from an earlier version of the bill.

A bill to ban the use of long-lasting chemical pesticides also passed Thursday’s hurdle.

Written by Assemblymember Nick Schultz, a Democrat from Burbank, Assembly Bill 1603 would ban the use, sale and manufacture of PFAS pesticides in California beginning in 2035. More than 20 of the chemicals already banned in the European Union would be prohibited earlier, starting in 2030.

The bill would also halt state approvals of PFAS pesticides and require public disclosure.

A bill intended to help a struggling media industry also passed the key committee.

Assembly Bill 2222 — by Assemblymember Chris Ward, a San Diego Democrat — would provide tax credits to qualifying media outlets, as a method for those organizations to hire and keep reporters. The bill would provide tax credits to qualifying taxpayers from 2027 through 2032. Organizations could claim $20,000 for each of their first five journalists and $15,000 for each additional journalist.

They could also receive a $15,000 credit for each new journalism position created.

Many bills failed to make it out of committee on Thursday, signaling a death knell for them.

Senate Bill 1197. Written by state Senator Roger Niello, a Fair Oaks Republican, it would have instituted year-round standard time.

Speaking to Courthouse News, Niello quipped that Dr. Seuss inspired his statement: “Almost everyone wants to ditch the switch, we just can’t agree on which switch to ditch.”

Two bills about journalists by Assemblymember Maggy Krell, a Sacramento Democrat, also failed to make the cut.

Assembly Bill 1538 would have made it illegal for an elected or appointed official to retaliate against someone for using a constitutionally protected right. Assembly Bill 1545 added stronger protections for members of the press who face targeted attacks.

A bill that would have created the California Street Prostitution Issues and Options Task Force also was held in committee. Written by state Senator Tony Strickland, a Huntington Beach Republican, the legislation would have gathered data on street prostitution, searched for methods of enforcing prostitution laws and evaluated how changes to such laws have affected prostitution.

“Street prostitution has spiraled out of control over the past few years,” he told Courthouse News, adding: “Let’s get the data from the experts.”

Another prostitution-related bill by Schultz and Krell also was held. Assembly Bill 2582 would have required the option of a diversion program for someone facing their first or second prostitution violation.