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:
SACRAMENTO – State Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) made the following statement today after the release of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s draft 2023-24 state budget:
SACRAMENTO – Senator John Laird (D – Santa Cruz) has introduced Senate Bill 38 with the intent to enact future legislation to enhance worker safety at battery storage facilities.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s final bill consideration actions of the 2022 legislative session, State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) issued the following statement:
SACRAMENTO, CA- Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 489 authored by Senator John Laird (D – Santa Cruz) to authorize the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to advance funds to the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project to protect the communities of Watsonville and Pajaro. These communities have faced repeated floods due to inadequate levels of flood protection along the Pajaro River system.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 1020, the Clean Energy, Jobs, and Affordability Act of 2022 authored by State Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz). The bill is a product of months of collaboration between members of the Senate Climate Working Group, established by Senate Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, and advocates committed to forging a path for a greener future for all Californians. Additionally, the bill will give greater accountability to California’s electric sector climate commitments.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 895, authored by State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz). SB 895 ensures Grey Bears, a nonprofit recycling facility in Santa Cruz, has access to funds necessary to defray operating and infrastructure costs. With the passage of SB 895, Grey Bears can now meet the needs of the currently underserved communities of Santa Cruz, Capitola, and unincorporated mid-Santa Cruz County.