Photo of Dave Cortese
D California Senate · District 15

Sen. Dave Cortese

Compare
Total votes
14,280
all sessions
Attendance
99%
108 missed
Near the chamber average
With party
99%
of cast votes
Near the chamber average
Bipartisan score
0%
crosses aisle rarely
Near the chamber average
Sponsored
463
bills & resolutions
Near the chamber average
Committees
12
assignments
463 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
463
Primary
143
Co-sponsor
320
This page
463
matching current filters
Co-sponsor AB 1690
In committee · California House · Co-sponsor
Personal Income Tax Law: young child tax credit.

The Personal Income Tax Law allows various credits against the taxes imposed by that law, including a young child tax credit to a qualified taxpayer in a specified amount multiplied by the earned income tax credit adjustment factor, as provided. That law also allows a payment from the continuously appropriated Tax Relief and Refund Account for an amount in excess of tax liability. Existing law defines "qualified taxpayer" for this purpose to include an eligible individual, as defined, who has a qualifying child, defined to be a child younger than 6 years of age as of the last day of the taxable year, and who meets other specified criteria. This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2038, would instead define a "qualifying child" to mean a child younger than the age limit from the prior taxable year plus one year, as described. The bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2038, would define "qualifying child" as being a child younger than 18 years of age, as described. By increasing the payments from the Tax Relief and Refund Account, a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. Existing law requires any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure to contain, among other things, specific goals that the tax expenditure will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements. This bill would include additional information required for any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure.

In committee May 14, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary SB 1215
In committee · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Electrical corporations: electric vehicle charging stations: multifamily housing properties.

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires each electrical corporation, not later than February 28, 2021, to file an advice letter for, and requires the commission, not later than June 30, 2021, to approve, a new tariff or rule that authorizes each electrical corporation to design and deploy all electrical distribution infrastructure on the utility side of the customer's meter for all customers installing separately metered infrastructure to support charging stations, other than those in single-family residences. Existing law requires the commission to establish strategies and quantifiable metrics to maximize the use of feasible and cost-effective electric vehicle grid integration, as defined, by January 1, 2030, as specified. This bill would require the commission, on or before March 1, 2027, to establish targets for each electrical corporation to install electric vehicle charging stations at multifamily housing properties. The bill would require the commission to ensure the targets reduce costs for all ratepayers, and to require electrical corporations to make annual progress reports and to provide to the commission corresponding maps that identify the proposed multifamily housing properties within its service territory where use will be highest based on distribution system planning and experience with electric vehicle charging station infrastructure. The bill would require the commission, in establishing the targets, to determine whether to impose certain requirements on an electrical corporation, including a requirement that an electrical corporation recover all costs, to the extent not covered by nonratepayer funding, for deploying the electric vehicle charging stations, including the costs for administration and implementation, as operations and maintenance costs rather than as capital costs. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because the provisions of the bill would be a part of the act and therefore a violation of the bill's requirements, or a violation of a commission action implementing the bill's requirements, would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

In committee May 14, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Primary SB 870
In committee · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Fuel-burning portable devices.

Existing law prohibits a person from selling, offering for sale, or distributing cigarette lighters that do not comply with standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal with respect to safety features that prevent operation of the lighters by children 5 years of age or younger. This bill would prohibit, on and after January 1, 2027, a person from selling, offering for sale, or distributing in commerce in this state a fuel-burning portable device, as defined, manufactured on and after January 1, 2027, that does not comply with a specified safety standard of the American Society for Testing Materials. The bill would provide that a violation of this prohibition constitutes unfair competition and would subject a violation of this prohibition to enforcement under specified provisions of the Business and Professions Code.

In committee May 14, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SCR 149
Signed into law · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Relative to World Autism Awareness Day.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 2, 2026, as World Autism Awareness Day within the state of California. It directly affects state agencies and the general public by officially recognizing this specific date for awareness activities. The primary mechanism is a simple legislative declaration that adds this observance to the state calendar without creating new laws or funding requirements. Once enacted, the resolution serves as a formal record of the state's acknowledgment of the global observance.

Signed into law May 11, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary SR 106
Passed · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Relative to Black April Memorial Month.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 106 designates April 2026 as Black April Memorial Month to honor the lives lost during the Vietnam War and the Fall of Saigon. This resolution directly affects the Vietnamese American community in California and the general public by encouraging a moment of silence on April 30 to remember veterans, service members, and civilians who died in the conflict. The bill highlights the historical tragedy of the war, the refugee exodus, and the ongoing contributions of Vietnamese Americans to California society. It also calls for a renewed commitment to principles such as human rights, democracy, and freedom of expression.

Passed May 7, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Primary SR 96
Passed · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Relative to National County Government Month.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 96 designates April 2026 as National County Government Month to recognize the essential services provided by California's 58 counties. This proclamation encourages residents to celebrate the work of county governments, which manage public health, safety, infrastructure, and disaster response. The resolution highlights the historical significance of counties, noting that 2026 marks the 176th anniversary of California's original counties and the state's founding. It also acknowledges the advocacy efforts of the California State Association of Counties in supporting local decision-making and resource allocation.

Passed Apr 30, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor AB 1900
In committee · California House · Co-sponsor
Guaranteed Health Care for All.

Existing federal law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) , requires each state to establish an American Health Benefit Exchange to facilitate the purchase of qualified health benefit plans by qualified individuals and qualified small employers. PPACA defines a "qualified health plan" as a plan that, among other requirements, provides an essential health benefits package. Existing state law creates the California Health Benefit Exchange, also known as Covered California, to facilitate the enrollment of qualified individuals and qualified small employers in qualified health plans as required under PPACA. Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Knox-Keene) , provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. This bill, the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act, would create the California Guaranteed Health Care for All program, or CalCare, to provide comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage and a health care cost control system for the benefit of all residents of the state. Under the bill, CalCare would be a health care service plan subject to Knox-Keene. The bill, among other things, would provide that CalCare cover a wide range of medical benefits and other services and would incorporate the health care benefits and standards of other existing federal and state provisions, including the federal Children's Health Insurance Program, Medi-Cal, ancillary health care or social services covered by regional centers for persons with developmental disabilities, Knox-Keene, and the federal Medicare Program. The bill would make specified persons eligible to enroll as CalCare members during the implementation period, and would provide for automatic enrollment. The bill would require the board to seek all necessary waivers, approvals, and agreements to allow various existing federal health care payments to be paid to CalCare, which would then assume responsibility for all benefits and services previously paid for with those funds. This bill would create the CalCare Board to govern CalCare, made up of 9 voting members with demonstrated and acknowledged expertise in health care, and appointed as provided, plus the Secretary of California Health and Human Services or their designee as a nonvoting, ex officio member. The bill would provide the board with all the powers and duties necessary to establish CalCare, including determining when individuals may start enrolling into CalCare, employing necessary staff, negotiating pricing for covered pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, establishing a prescription drug formulary, and negotiating and entering into necessary contracts. The bill would require the board, on or before July 1 of an unspecified year, to conduct and deliver a fiscal analysis to determine whether or not CalCare may be implemented and if revenue is more likely than not to pay for program costs, as specified. The bill would establish an Advisory Committee on Long-Term Services and Supports to advise the board on matters of policy related to long-term services and supports. The bill would require the board to convene a CalCare Public Advisory Commission to advise the board on all matters of policy for CalCare, an Advisory Committee on Public Employees' Retirement System Health Benefits to provide recommendations related to public employee retiree health benefits, and a CalCare Health Workforce Working Group to provide the board with input on issues related to health care workforce education, recruitment, and retention. The bill would establish an Office of Health Equity within CalCare and under the direction of the Director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information to ensure health equity under the program and other health programs of the California Health and Human Services Agency and to support the board through specified actions. This bill would provide for the participation of health care providers in CalCare, including the requirements of a participation agreement between a health care provider and the board, provide for payment for health care items and services, and specify program participation standards. The bill would prohibit a participating provider from discriminating against a person by, among other things, reducing or denying a person's benefits under CalCare because of a specified characteristic, status, or condition of the person. This bill would prohibit a participating provider from billing or entering into a private contract with an individual eligible for CalCare benefits regarding a covered benefit, but would authorize contracting for a health care item or service that is not a covered benefit if specified criteria are met. The bill would authorize health care providers to collectively negotiate fee-for-service rates of payment for health care items and services using a 3rd-party representative, as provided. The bill would require the board to annually determine an institutional provider's global budget, to be used to cover operating expenses related to covered health care items and services for that fiscal year, and would authorize payments under the global budget. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would develop a revenue plan, taking into consideration anticipated federal revenue available for CalCare. The bill would create the CalCare Trust Fund in the State Treasury, as a continuously appropriated fund, consisting of any federal and state moneys received for the purposes of the act. The bill would specify uses for moneys in the CalCare budget, including special projects for which not-for-profit or governmental entities may apply. Because the bill would create a continuously appropriated fund, it would make an appropriation. This bill would prohibit specified provisions of this act from becoming operative until the Secretary of California Health and Human Services gives written notice to the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the Assembly that the CalCare Trust Fund has the revenues to fund the costs of implementing the act. The California Health and Human Services Agency would be required to publish a copy of the notice on its internet website. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

In committee Apr 20, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary SR 93
Passed · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Relative to Jim Plunkett.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges the Pro Football Hall of Fame to induct legendary quarterback Jim Plunkett into its hall for the Class of 2027. The bill highlights Plunkett's historic achievements, including winning two Super Bowls as the only Latino player to do so and being the first Latino selected first overall in the NFL Draft. It notes that despite his accolades and previous nominations, he has not yet been inducted and requires 80 percent of the votes from the selection committee to be honored. The resolution formally requests the Hall of Fame to consider his induction as a matter of pride for California residents.

Passed Apr 20, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SR 87
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Relative to the Armenian Genocide.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution formally acknowledges the Armenian Genocide, a systematic campaign of mass killing and deportation that occurred between 1915 and 1923 against Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire and later Turkey. The document details historical events, including the deaths of over 1.5 million people, the seizure of their property, and the subsequent denial of these atrocities by the modern Republic of Turkey. By reciting these facts, the resolution aims to preserve the historical record and honor the survivors and victims of this event.

Passed Apr 20, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SCR 134
Signed into law · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Relative to Nowroz.

This measure would recognize March 21, 2026, as the beginning of the International Day of Nowroz and extend best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous Nowroz to all Californians.

Signed into law Apr 17, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Showing 71 to 80 of 463 bills
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