Photo of Josh Newman
D California Senate · District 29

Sen. Josh Newman

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Total votes
11,475
all sessions
Attendance
96%
413 missed
Lower than 97% of chamber peers
With party
99%
of cast votes
Bipartisan score
0%
crosses aisle rarely
Sponsored
448
bills & resolutions
Near the chamber average
Committees
0
assignments
448 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
448
Primary
134
Co-sponsor
314
This page
448
matching current filters
Co-sponsor SB 493
Vetoed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Air pollution: alternative vehicles and electric and hydrogen infrastructure.

Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to undertake various actions in furtherance of meeting the state's clean energy and pollution reduction objectives, including actions related to electric vehicles. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board (state board) and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) , to prepare a statewide assessment of fuel cell electric vehicle fueling infrastructure and fuel production needed to support the adoption of zero-emission trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles at levels necessary for the state to meet the goals and requirements of Executive Order No. N-79-20 and any state board regulatory action that requires or allows zero-emission vehicles in the heavy-duty vehicle and off-road sectors. Existing law also requires the Energy Commission, working with the state board and the PUC, to prepare a statewide assessment of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure needed to support the levels of electric vehicle adoption required for the state to meet its goals of putting at least 5,000,000 zero-emission vehicles on California roads by 2030, and of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. This bill would require the assessment of the fuel cell electric vehicle fueling infrastructure and fuel production to additionally include an assessment of storage and transport facilities, and the assessment of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure to additionally include electric system infrastructure and electric generation. The bill would expand the scope of the latter assessment to include the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, electric system infrastructure, and electric generation needed for the state to meet the goals of Executive Order No. N-79-20 and any state board regulatory action that requires or allows zero-emission vehicles in the heavy-duty vehicle and off-road sectors. The bill would require both assessments to identify any barriers to the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure and any barriers to the deployment of electric infrastructure, respectively, for medium- and heavy-duty fleets and recommendations for addressing those barriers. The bill would require the Energy Commission to publish a determination regarding the adequacy of completed or planned charging or fueling sites for the 5 years following the completion of the initial statewide assessment and the findings of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure assessment, as provided. The bill would also require the Energy Commission to identify any charging or fueling site deficiencies and categorize those deficiencies by refueling speed and by type of facility, as either a public facility or a private facility. The bill would require the Energy Commission to update the electric vehicle charging infrastructure assessment and the determination at least once every 2 years. The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the state board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. Existing law requires the state board, at least every 5 years, as provided, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, the Energy Commission, and the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to update the state board's 2016 mobile source strategy to include a comprehensive strategy for the deployment of medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles in the state for the purpose of bringing the state into compliance with federal ambient air quality standards and reducing motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions from the medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicle sector. Existing law requires the state board to recommend reasonable and achievable goals for reducing emissions from medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles by 2030 and 2050, respectively, as part of the comprehensive strategy based on factors that include specified goals. This bill would require those goals to include the goals established in Executive Order No. N-79-20 for the transition of medium- and heavy-duty fleets to zero-emission vehicles. The bill would also require the state board's updates to the mobile source strategy to include a strategic plan to meet the deadlines in Executive Order No. N-79-20 and would also require the state board, in developing the comprehensive strategy, to incorporate the findings of the above-described assessments.

Vetoed Jan 25, 2024 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 58
Vetoed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Controlled substances: decriminalization of certain hallucinogenic substances.

(1) Existing law categorizes certain drugs and other substances as controlled substances and prohibits various actions related to those substances, including their manufacture, transportation, sale, possession, and ingestion. This bill would, on and after January 1, 2025, make lawful the possession, preparation, obtaining, or transportation of, specified quantities of psilocybin, psilocyn, dimethyltryptamine (DMT) , and mescaline, for personal use, as defined, by and with persons 21 years of age or older. The bill would provide penalties for possession of these substances on school grounds, or possession by, or transferring to, persons under 21 years of age. The bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to convene a workgroup to study and make recommendations on the establishment of a framework governing the therapeutic use, including facilitated or supported use, of those substances. The bill would require that workgroup to send a report to the Legislature containing those recommendations on or before January 1, 2025. (2) Existing law prohibits the cultivation, transfer, or transportation, as specified, of any spores or mycelium capable of producing mushrooms or other materials that contain psilocybin or psilocyn. This bill would, on and after January 1, 2025, make lawful the cultivation or transportation of specified quantities of spores or mycelium capable of producing mushrooms or other materials that contain psilocybin or psilocyn for personal use, as defined, by and with persons 21 years of age or older. (3) Existing law prohibits the possession of drug paraphernalia, as defined. This bill would exempt from this prohibition, paraphernalia related, as specified, to these specific substances. The bill would also exempt from the prohibition items used for the testing and analysis of controlled substances. (4) Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that the messages and information provided by various state drug and alcohol programs promote no unlawful use of any drugs or alcohol. This bill would repeal those provisions. (5) By eliminating and changing the elements of existing crimes and creating new offenses, and by requiring new duties of local prosecutors, 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. (6) This bill would state that its provisions are severable.

Vetoed Jan 25, 2024 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 686
Vetoed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Domestic workers: occupational safety.

Existing law establishes within the Department of Industrial Relations the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, with duties and powers, as prescribed. Existing law, the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973, requires employers to comply with certain standards ensuring healthy and safe working conditions, as specified. The act charges the Division of Occupational Safety and Health with enforcement of the act, subject to oversight by the Chief of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The act excludes household domestic service from the definition of "employment." The act requires the chief, or a representative of the chief, to convene an advisory committee for the purposes of creating voluntary guidance and making recommendations to the department and the Legislature on policies the state may adopt to protect the health and safety of privately funded household domestic service employees, except publicly funded household domestic service and family daycare homes, as specified. The act requires the advisory committee to develop voluntary industry-specific occupational health and safety guidance relating to workplace hazards and the prevention or minimization of work-related injuries and illnesses. The act requires the advisory committee to make recommendations, as specified, on additional policies to protect the health and safety of household domestic service employees. Under specified circumstances, a violation of the act is a crime. Existing law requires the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, upon appropriation of funding for this purpose, to establish and maintain an outreach and education program for the purpose of promoting awareness of, and compliance with, labor protections that affect the domestic work industry and fair and dignified labor standards in this industry and other low-wage industries. Existing law requires the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement to issue a competitive request to community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide education and outreach services in this connection and prescribes requirements for these organizations. Existing law makes CBOs responsible for developing and consulting with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement regarding the core education and outreach materials, as specified. Existing law requires the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and CBOs to meet at least biannually to coordinate efforts around outreach, education, and enforcement, including sharing information, in accordance with applicable privacy and confidentiality laws, that will shape and inform the overall enforcement strategy of the division regarding low-wage industries, including the domestic work industry. Existing law prohibits the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement from expending more than 5% of the budget allocation on the administration of the program. This bill would make CBOs responsible for developing and consulting with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health regarding the core education and outreach materials regarding health and safety standards, retaliation, and the division's workplace safety complaint and retaliation process, including specific issues that affect the domestic work industry differently. The bill would make CBOs responsible for all costs related to the development, printing, advertising, or distribution of the education and outreach materials. The bill would require the chief, representatives of the consultation services and enforcement branches of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, and CBOs to meet periodically, as specified, to coordinate efforts around outreach, education, and enforcement. The bill would prohibit the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health from expending more than 5% of the budget allocation on the administration of the program. This bill, for purposes of the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973, commencing January 1, 2025, would narrow the exclusion of household domestic service from the definition of "employment" to exclude only publicly funded household domestic service and family daycare homes, as specified. The bill would require the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, by January 1, 2025, to adopt industry guidance to assist household domestic service employers on their legal obligations under existing occupational safety and health laws and regulations that apply to the work activity of household domestic service employees. The bill would require the guidance to be consistent with the voluntary industry guidelines established by the advisory committee. The bill would require a household domestic services employer, by January 1, 2025, to comply with, and adhere to, all applicable occupational safety and health regulations. The bill would require the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, if the division determines that additional industry-specific regulations are necessary, to propose those regulations to the standards board for its review, and would require the standards board to adopt regulations by January 1, 2026. By expanding the application of criminal penalties under the act to household domestic service employers, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make related legislative findings and declarations. 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.

Vetoed Jan 25, 2024 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SCR 59
Signed into law · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Relative to the Senator Bob Dutton Memorial Overcrossing.

This measure would designate the overcrossing on State Route 210 at Archibald Avenue in the City of Rancho Cucamonga as the Senator Bob Dutton Memorial Overcrossing. The measure would request that the Department of Transportation determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, erect those signs.

Signed into law Jan 18, 2024 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor AB 15
Failed · California Assembly · Co-sponsor
Public records: parole calculations and inmate release credits.

Existing law, the California Public Records Act, requires state and local agencies to make their records available for inspection by the public, subject to specified criteria and with specified exceptions. Existing law exempts from disclosure any investigatory or security file compiled by any other state or local police agency, or any investigatory or security files compiled by any other state or local agency for correctional, law enforcement, or licensing purposes. Under existing law, criminal offenders sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison are sentenced for either a determinate term or an indeterminate life sentence, and a person sentenced to an indeterminate life sentence is held until release by the Board of Parole Hearings. Under existing law, a person sentenced to a determinate sentence is released after serving the term of their sentence, minus any credits earned, and is required to serve a period of time after release under parole supervision. Existing constitutional provisions, enacted by Proposition 57 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, make an inmate sentenced to state prison for a conviction of a nonviolent felony offense eligible for early parole consideration after completing the full term for their primary offense, as defined. This bill would provide that Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records pertaining to an inmate's release date and their early release credits are public records and are subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act, with specified exceptions. The bill would state that the provisions relative to the California Public Records Act are declaratory of existing law.

Failed Jan 10, 2024 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 44
died · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Controlled substances.

Existing law makes it a crime to possess for sale or purchase for purpose of sale, transport, import, sell, furnish, administer, give away, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, derive, process, or prepare various controlled substances, including, among others, fentanyl, peyote, and various other opiates and narcotics. This bill, Alexandra's Law, would require the court to advise a person who is convicted of, or who pleads guilty or no contest to, the above crimes, as specified, of the danger of selling or administering illicit drugs and counterfeit pills and that, if a person dies as a result of that action, the defendant can be charged with homicide. The bill would require the court to read the advisory statement in a case in which the defendant exchanged a controlled substance containing fentanyl or its analogs for anything else of value, as specified. The bill would require the advisory statement to be included in a plea form, if used, and specified on the record. The bill would require that the fact the advisory was given be recorded in the abstract of conviction and would prohibit the advisement from being used as evidence in the prosecution of a minor in juvenile court.

died Nov 29, 2023 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 669
Signed into law · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Veterinarians: veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, establishes the Veterinary Medical Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs for the licensure and regulation of veterinarians and the practice of veterinary medicine. Existing law makes a violation of the act a crime. The act prohibits any person from practicing veterinary medicine, as defined, without a license. This bill would authorize a veterinarian to allow a registered veterinary technician to act as an agent of the veterinarian for the purpose of establishing the veterinarian-client-patient relationship to administer preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites by satisfying specified criteria. Because a violation of the bill's provisions would be a crime under the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, the 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.

Signed into law Oct 13, 2023 1 co-sponsor
Primary SB 494
Signed into law · California Senate · Lead sponsor
School district governing boards: meetings: school district superintendents and assistant superintendents: termination.

Existing law requires the governing board of any school district to fix the time and place for its regular meetings with proper notice to all members of the governing board of the regular meetings. Existing law authorizes the presiding officer of the governing board of a school district, or a majority of the members of the governing board of a school district, to call a special meeting of the governing board of the school district at any time if specified notice requirements are met. This bill would prohibit the governing board of a school district from taking action to terminate a superintendent or assistant superintendent of the school district, or both, without cause, at a special or emergency meeting of the governing board or within 30 days after the first convening of the governing board after an election at which one or more members of the governing board are elected or recalled, as provided. For the purpose of terminating a superintendent or assistant superintendent, or both, without cause, the bill would authorize the governing board of a school district to hold a regular meeting, as specified, during any month in which a regular meeting of the governing board is not scheduled.

Signed into law Oct 13, 2023 0 co-sponsors
Primary SB 291
Signed into law · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Pupil rights: recess.

Existing law requires the State Department of Education to encourage school districts to provide daily recess periods for elementary school pupils. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to adopt reasonable rules and regulations to authorize a teacher to restrict for disciplinary purposes the time a pupil is allowed for recess. This bill would delete the latter provision. The bill would require, commencing with the 2024–25 school year, recess, as defined, that is provided by a public school operated by a school district or county office of education, or that is a charter school, to be at least 30 minutes on regular instructional days and at least 15 minutes on early release days, as provided. The bill would prohibit school staff members from restricting a pupil's recess unless there is an immediate threat to the physical safety of the pupil or the physical safety of one or more of the pupil's peers, as provided.

Signed into law Oct 13, 2023 0 co-sponsors
Primary SB 386
Signed into law · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Elections.

(1) Existing law establishes procedures for the filing of a state initiative or referendum petition with county elections officials and for county elections officials and the Secretary of State to determine the validity and numerical sufficiency of the signatures submitted with the petition. Under existing law, if the number of signatures filed with all county elections officials is 100% or more of the number of signatures required, the Secretary of State is required to immediately notify county elections officials, who must then preliminarily determine the number of qualified voters who signed the petition, including by use of random sampling if the number of signatures exceeds 500. Thereafter, if the random sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is within 95 to 110% of the requisite number of qualified voters, the Secretary of State must order the examination and verification of the signatures filed, and within 30 days of this order, as specified, the elections official must determine the number of qualified voters who signed the petition. Existing law also permits an elections official to use a random sampling method to determine the number of qualified voters who signed a county, city, or special district initiative or referendum petition, or a local recall petition, if the number of signatures on the petition exceeds 500. If an elections official uses this method and if a specified percentage of valid signatures is demonstrated, the elections official must complete the determination of the number of qualified voters, in the case of a county, city, or special district petition, within 60 days of the date the petition was filed, as specified, and in the case of a local recall petition, within 30 days of the date the petition was filed, as specified. This bill would, with respect to an elections official using the random sampling method to verify signatures for any of the above petitions, extend by 30 days the period within which the official must complete their determination of the number of qualified voters, except when this extension could cause a recall election to be ineligible for consolidation with the next regularly scheduled election, as specified. (2) Existing law requires a person, to be included on the ballot as a candidate for municipal office, to obtain nomination papers from a city elections official and submit the nomination papers, with a requisite number of signatures, by no later than the 88th day before the election. This bill would require a city elections official to post or publish specified election information no later than 3 days before the deadline for the submission of nomination papers, as specified. The information required to be posted or published includes the list of open offices; whether the city elections official has provided nomination papers to incumbents to those offices; if, due to redistricting, there is no incumbent for an open office; the location where nomination papers may be obtained; and the location, dates, and hours of operation of the location where the nomination papers may be filed. (3) Existing law prescribes the required content of ballots. Existing law requires ballots to contain specified instructions for voters in presidential elections. This bill would repeal that requirement. (4) By increasing the duties of local elections officials, the 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Signed into law Oct 13, 2023 0 co-sponsors
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