Press Releases

Sacramento, CA – Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D - Santa Monica) to end the use of wasteful take-out food containers in food facilities operated on state properties, including state parks and beaches, was signed into law today by Governor Jerry Brown.  SB 1335 would require that all food containers provided at food facilities in state-owned properties be recyclable or compostable by January 1, 2021.

Sacramento, CA –Two measures authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) were signed into law Thursday by Governor Jerry Brown at the Global Climate Summit on a cruise aboard the first plug-in hybrid electric ferry boat out in the middle of San Francisco Bay.

Sacramento, CA – Legislation to phase out the use of harmful, mile-long fishing nets that ensnare and often kill whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other marine life passed the legislature today.  Senate Bill (SB) 1017, authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), was sent to the governor with a vote of 36 - 1 in the state Senate.  It passed the state Assembly with a bipartisan, near unanimous vote of 78 – 0 yesterday.

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Today, SB 1017, a bill that would transition California away from the use of large-scale driftnets, successfully cleared the California Senate. The bill was approved 33-0 and will now head to the state Assembly.

SB 1017, authored by Senator Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, would:

Sacramento, CA – California recently became the first state in the nation to put in place a law, authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), that enables the state to block the sale or lease of federal land within its borders.  The Public Lands Protection Act prohibits County Recorders from completing a change of title on these federal lands unless the State Lands Commission has been given a first right of refusal to purchase the land, thereby ensuring their protection.

Sacramento, CA – Senator Ed Hernandez, O.D. (D-West Covina), chair of the Senate Health Committee, and Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), chair of the Senate Education Committee, will be holding an informational hearing to review health insurance coverage and access to care for college students who live away from home while attending school.

Sacramento, CA – Today a group of California State Senators and Assemblymembers sent a letter to FedEx Chief Executive Officer David Bronczek urging the company to end its discount program for National Rifle Association Members.  A copy of the letter is below.