Press Releases

Thursday, September 29 2022

Sacramento, CA - Senate Bill 1116, a measure introduced by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) which seeks to create a payroll fund to support small nonprofit performing arts venues (SNPAOs), was signed into law today by Governor Newsom.  The effort comes at a time when small community theatres are struggling in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Thursday, September 29 2022

Sacramento, CA - Senate Bill 932, authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) to prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety, was signed into law by Governor Newsom.  The bill requires all California cities to take concrete steps to reduce traffic collisions and fatalities and has garnered an impressive list of supporters, including Streets For All, ActiveSGV, CalBike, and Streets Are For Everyone.   

Thursday, September 29 2022

Sacramento, CA – Senate Bill 941, authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) seeks to address California’s teacher shortages and to improve student learning environments, was signed by Governor Newsom.  SB 974 would authorize school districts to locally determine inter-district collaboration for courses related to STEM and dual language immersion.  The bill was inspired by comments the Senator received from parents in the Pasadena Unified School District during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thursday, September 29 2022

Sacramento, CA – Governor Newsom has signed Senate Bill 230, an environmental protection measure authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) that will improve drinking water by investigating contaminants known as Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs).

Wednesday, September 28 2022

Sacramento, CA - Senate Bill 959, authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank), was signed into law today by Governor Newsom.  With the SR 710 freeway gap between Alhambra and Pasadena no longer on the table, the City of Pasadena expressed a need for legislative changes to the current property sales process. In response, Senator Portantino authored SB 959, a bill that would allow the City of Pasadena to purchase, rehabilitate, maintain, and create more affordable housing.  The bill follows up on the Senator’s SB 7, which authorized the City to negotiate with Caltrans for the relinquishment of the 710 Freeway stub.  The City of Pasadena recently capitalized on that authority and now has control over the land.