For Immediate Release: September 30, 2022
Contact: Milena Paez, milena.paez@nextgenpolicy.org

NextGen Policy Celebrates the Governor’s Commitment to Equity, Justice, and Progress 

SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Newsom signed several of NextGen Policy’s progressive bill priorities into law, placing our Golden State more firmly on the path to a more equitable and prosperous future for all Californians. 

“Over the past year, the team at NextGen Policy has been advocating for and working on a list of priority measures and we applaud the Governor, the Legislature, and our partner groups for their continued commitment to equity, justice, community, and progress on behalf of all Californians.” said Arnold Sowell Jr., Executive Director, NextGen Policy  

Following the September 30th deadline to sign or veto legislation, Governor Newsom has signed eleven of NGP’s key bills into law, including the following NGP priority bills which were part of our 2022 legislative package: SB 907, which addresses food insecurity; AB 2750, which addresses digital equity; and AB 256, which addresses racial justice in our courtrooms. 

Additionally, this year, California once again clearly positioned itself as the national and global leader in the area of combating climate change. The enactment of a $54 billion, fully climate-aligned budget and its accompanying, groundbreaking legislative bill package was an unprecedented investment in Climate Action.

Notably, one of NextGen Policy’s priority bills, SB 17 (Pan), which would have established an Office of Racial Equity within state government did not make it to the Governor’s desk; however, aspects of the bill became part of an Executive Order issued by the Governor which centers equity at the core of state policies and programs – a major win for racial equity in California. 

NextGen Policy Bills Signed Into Law include:

• Food Insecurity – SB 907 (Pan): Provides Local Equitable Access to Food (LEAF) for all Californians by expanding EBT payment access for low-income shoppers at farmers’ markets. 
• Digital Equity – AB 2750 (Bonta): Creates a State Digital Equity Plan to ensure all Californians have access to affordable, high-quality broadband service. 
• Racial Justice Actions 
  • AB 256 (Kalra): Addresses racism in the courtroom by creating a process to correct the wrongs of racist convictions – extending the relief process to those who have previously been harmed.
  • AB 1655 (Jones-Sawyer): Declares June 19th or ‘Juneteenth’ as a state holiday which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
• Climate Action Package: Going Big on Climate will help California become more resilient, equitable, and prosperous, while also positioning the state as a model for other states and as a global leader. Learn more at Climate100.
  • SB 1137 (Gonzalez): Establishes a 3,200 ft. health and safety buffer zone between oil wells and schools, homes, and medical facilities; 
  • AB 1279 (Muratsuchi): Sets a climate pollution reduction target of 85% below 1990 levels to achieve carbon neutrality statewide by 2045; 
  • SB 1020 (Laird): Accelerates the transition to 100% clean energy by setting a target of 90% by 2035;  
  • AB 2097 (Friedman): Reduces housing costs and promotes clean transportation by prohibiting municipalities imposing excessive parking requirements for new housing near public transit.
• Gender Equity – 1162 (Limón): Requires the disclosure of salary ranges on job listings and expands pay data reporting requirements to contract workers to better identify gender and race-based pay disparities.
• Supporting Veterans – AB 325 (Irwin): Establishes the Veteran’s Military Discharge Upgrade Grant program to help veterans who were less than honorably discharged due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), or for their sexual orientation under DADT. Veteran service providers will help educate veterans about the discharge upgrade process and assist eligible veterans to access earned benefits. 

 

NextGen Policy looks forward to continuing to collaborate with Governor Newsom, State Legislators, and our partners as we look to the year ahead, knowing that there is more work to be done to ensure that our state is more equitable, inclusive, and prosperous. Visit NextGen’s website to review our entire 2022 legislative bill package.

 

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 The mission of NextGen Policy is to fight for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, gender, and economic inequities in California through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement.