SACRAMENTO, CA – This weekend, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 272, authored by State Senator John Laird (D – Santa Cruz), to ensure coastal communities are prepared to mitigate the effects of s
SACRAMENTO – This past weekend, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the signing of Senate Bill 862 authored by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), which will allow Santa Cruz voters to decide if the County of Santa Cruz should raise the transaction and use tax above the combined tax rate limit to support the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District’s (METRO) long-term financial health and operational goals.
SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the signing of Senate Bill 857 authored by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz). This new law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene an LGBTQ+ advisory task force to identify needs and make recommendations to create a safe and supportive learning environment for LGBTQ+ students.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Governor Newsom has signed Senate Bill 544, authored by State Senator John Laird (D – Santa Cruz), which updates the Bagley-Keene Act provisions for state boards and commissions.
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Laird (D – Santa Cruz) announced that the joint Cabrillo College – UC Santa Cruz student housing project, selected in the 2023-2024 round of the Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program will be fully supported, and was included in a budget bill passed by the Senate and recently sent to the Governor. This is one of three joint student housing projects between the University of California and Community College – the first such partnership between these segments in the state’s history.
SACRAMENTO – State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) announced over $20 million has been secured in the 2023-2024 state budget in the 17th District. This important funding for Central Coast communities addresses disaster recovery efforts, services for underserved populations, advances climate change priorities, and more.
SACRAMENTO – State Senator John Laird (D- Santa Cruz) recognized Housing Matters as the 17th Senate District’s 2023 Nonprofit of the Year for their mission and work to make homelessness in Santa Cruz County rare, brief, and non-recurring. Housing Matters runs a three-facility, 160-bed campus that supports those facing homelessness in the surrounding Santa Cruz community. With a budget of over $11.7 million, they are the largest local non-profit working exclusively on homelessness.
SACRAMENTO – Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) released the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revision:
SACRAMENTO — Senator John Laird (D - Santa Cruz) released the following statement in response to the State of California’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration: