Photo of Lena Gonzalez
D California Senate · District 33

Sen. Lena Gonzalez

Compare
Total votes
10,090
all sessions
Attendance
94%
482 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
291
bills & resolutions
Higher than 88% of chamber peers
Committees
10
assignments
291 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
291
Primary
84
Co-sponsor
207
This page
291
matching current filters
Primary SB 1279
Passed · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Speed safety systems.

Existing law authorizes, until January 1, 2032, the Cities of Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, and Long Beach, and the City and County of San Francisco to establish a program for speed enforcement that utilizes speed safety systems if the systems meet specified requirements, including limits on the number of speed safety systems operated by a participating city or city and county at any time based on population. Existing law requires the speed safety system, to the extent feasible, to be angled and focused so as to only capture photographs of speeding violations and prohibits the speed safety system from capturing identifying images of other drivers, vehicles, or pedestrians. Existing law prohibits speed safety systems in a participating city or city and county from being operated on any California state route, including all freeways and expressways, United States highways, interstate highways, or any public road in unincorporated areas of any county where the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol has full responsibility and primary jurisdiction for the administration and enforcement of the laws, and for the investigation of traffic accidents. This bill would require speed safety systems to blur any images that are unavoidably captured of other drivers, vehicles, or pedestrians who are not the subject of a notice of violation, and would require speed safety systems to blur these images, only to the extent feasible, for cameras that were installed before January 1, 2027. The bill would authorize, until January 1, 2032, the City of Long Beach to have 2 additional speed safety systems on the Pacific Coast Highway. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Long Beach.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Primary SB 1394
Passed · California Senate · Lead sponsor
State holidays: Cesar Chavez Day: Farmworkers Day.

Existing law designates specific days as holidays in this state. Existing law designates holidays on which community colleges and public schools are authorized to close pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the governing board and represented employees, including Cesar Chavez Day on March 31. Existing law entitles state employees, with specified exceptions, and authorizes certain community college and public school employees, to be given time off with pay for specified holidays, as specified. Existing law redesignates March 31 as Farmworkers Day instead of Cesar Chavez Day, and requires the Governor to annually proclaim March 31 as Farmworkers Day. This bill would remove the designation of March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day for purposes of holidays on which community colleges and public schools are authorized to close, and instead authorize community colleges and public schools to close on April 10, known as Farmworkers Day, as specified. The bill would revise the provisions related to state employees, certain community college employees, and public school employees to instead apply to Farmworkers Day, as specified. The bill would also make conforming changes to designate April 10 as Farmworkers Day, and require the Governor to annually proclaim April 10 as Farmworkers Day. Existing law designates August 26 as California Farmworker Day, and requires the Governor to annually proclaim August 26 as California Farmworker Day. This bill would repeal the provisions relating to California Farmworker Day. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Sections 45203, 79020, and 88203 of the Education Code proposed by AB 2017 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2017 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The bill also would incorporate additional changes to Section 6700 of the Government Code proposed by AB 2017 and AB 2294 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The bill further would incorporate additional changes to Sections 19853 and 19853.1 of the Government Code proposed by AB 1841 and AB 2017 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SB 1259
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Refineries: decommissioning and remediation: cost estimates.

Existing law establishes the State Water Resources Control Board in the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the California regional water quality control boards which prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. Existing law, the Petroleum Industry Information Reporting Act of 1980, requires refiners, as defined, to report monthly to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) , for each of their refineries, specified information, and requires that any confidential information pertinent to the responsibilities of the Energy Commission, as provided, which is obtained by another state agency be available to the Energy Commission and be treated in a confidential manner. This bill would require, no later than December 31, 2028, every refiner, as defined for purposes of the bill, to submit to CalEPA a retirement plan setting forth information concerning decommissioning and site remediation for every refinery it owns, operates, or controls, as provided. The bill would require the CalEPA, no later than 6 months following the submission of the retirement plan, to review the retirement plan for completeness and reasonableness and to make a determination as to whether the retirement plan complies with the requirements imposed by the bill. The bill would require CalEPA, if it determines that the retirement plan complies with the bill's requirements, to make the retirement plan available on CalEPA's internet website for public comments for not less than 45 days. The bill would authorize CalEPA to require further revisions to the retirement plan after the public comment period, as provided, before it is deemed final. The bill would require CalEPA, after CalEPA has determined that no further revisions are necessary, to promptly post the final retirement plan on its internet website. This bill would require a refiner who, on or after January 1, 2026, gives notice of intent to permanently shut down, shut down to reconfigure, or sell a refinery in a transaction that may result in a refinery shutting down or reconfiguring, as provided, to submit either the required retirement plan, or, if a final retirement plan has been released, an update of the retirement plan within a specified timeframe, as provided. The bill would require, on or before December 31, 2027, CalEPA to publicly provide an overview of the methods, costs, and timelines associated with soil and groundwater remediation that have been employed at refineries that have undergone decommissioning and remediation and to update the overview, as provided. This bill would make information filed pursuant to the above-described provisions confidential information, as provided. The bill would require a refiner to file the final retirement plan concurrently with the Energy Commission and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The bill would authorize CalEPA, the Energy Commission, and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to share the information with the Legislature, any governmental agency, or a local government, including an air pollution control district or an air quality management district, only if the Legislature, the governmental agency, or the local government that receives the information agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the information. The bill would further require any information that is, or may be, accessible by the public, as provided, by CalEPA, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, a certified unified program agency, or a local government, to be made publicly available even if that information is also contained in the retirement plan. This bill would require, on or before December 31, 2027, CalEPA, in coordination with the Energy Commission, to compile a survey of existing local, state, and federal statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to refiners concerning decommissioning, closure, financial assurance, and site remediation obligations, as provided, for a specified purpose. This bill would require CalEPA, no later than one year after the retirement plans are deemed final, to publish publicly on CalEPA's internet website a report assessing the total decommissioning and remediation liabilities for refineries in the state, and identify opportunities for greater transparency prior to the closure notice, as provided. 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.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1417
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Mutual water companies: assessments and water charges: notice.

Existing law authorizes any corporation organized for or engaged in the business of selling, distributing, supplying, or delivering water for irrigation purposes, and requires any corporation organized for or engaged in the business of selling, distributing, supplying, or delivering water for domestic use, to provide in its articles or bylaws that water shall be sold, distributed, supplied, or delivered only to owners of its shares and that those shares are appurtenant to certain lands, as specified. Under existing law, these corporations are known as mutual water companies. This bill would prohibit a mutual water company from charging, issuing a bill, or otherwise seeking to hold tenants of shareholders responsible for the costs of water or its delivery, except for specified tenants, and would require all notices of charges for water to be sent to the last known address of the shareholder or tenant, as applicable, or by electronic mail if the shareholder or tenant, as applicable, has provided and verified the use of an electronic mail address to the company within the last year. Existing law authorizes a mutual water company that is not a public utility to levy assessments upon its shares, except as provided. This bill would require a mutual water company that operates a public water system and that proposes to levy an assessment or to increase the charge for water to shareholders by more than 20% to comply with specified notice and public meeting requirements before it seeks to collect the assessment or increase the water charge. The bill would require the mutual water company to prepare a written proposal at least 45 days before a public meeting to adopt a proposal to collect an assessment or to increase a water charge, as specified, and to convene a public meeting regarding the proposal, as provided. The bill would require the mutual water company to provide or send a copy of the written proposal and the notice of the public meeting, at least 45 days beforehand, to specified persons, along with other information, and to also provide or send a copy of the written proposal and the notice to a newspaper of general circulation or another specified communication outlet. The bill would also require the company to post a copy of the written proposal and the notice, at least 45 days beforehand, on the company's internet websites or social media platforms, as applicable. The bill would require the individual votes of board members of the mutual water company on the assessment or the increase of the water charge to be recorded in the minutes of the board meeting. The bill would prohibit the mutual water company from beginning to collect an assessment or increase a water charge earlier than 30 days after the public meeting where the proposed assessment is adopted. Existing law requires a mutual water company that operates a public water system to make certain records promptly available upon written request to an eligible person, as defined, upon payment of fees covering direct costs of duplication, including, among other documents, agendas and minutes of board meetings and copies of the mutual water company's annual budget and accounting report. Existing law defines "eligible persons" for purposes of this requirement to include, among others, shareholders of the mutual water company, a person who is an occupant, pursuant to a lease or rental agreement, of commercial space or a dwelling unit to which the mutual water company sells, distributes, supplies, or delivers drinking water, and an elected official of a city or county who represents people who receive drinking water directly from the mutual water company, as specified. This bill would additionally require a mutual water company to make available to those eligible persons, upon request, a copy of a written proposal to levy an assessment or to increase a water charge. The bill would also include as an eligible person, for purposes of all of the above-described provisions, the chief administrative officer for each city, county, and government water agency in the mutual water company's service area, as specified. The bill would prohibit a mutual water company that provides the requested records in digital form from charging for any duplication costs, as provided.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 931
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Dolly Parton Day.

Existing law requires the Governor to proclaim various days as days of remembrance or recognition. This bill would require the Governor to annually proclaim September 25 as Dolly Parton Day. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary SB 423
Passed · California Senate · Lead sponsor
California Public Records Act: private detention facilities.

Existing law, the California Public Records Act, requires each state or local agency, upon a request for a copy of records that reasonably describes an identifiable record or records, to make the records promptly available to any person upon payment of fees covering direct costs of duplication, or a statutory fee if applicable, except with respect to public records exempt from disclosure by express provisions of law. Existing law requires, upon request, an exact copy to be provided unless it is impracticable to do so. This bill would specify that a recording of a call or a written communication that is maintained by a state or local agency that reports or describes an incident, as defined, occurring at a private detention facility, and specified records relating to that call or communication in the possession of a law enforcement agency, are not confidential, and would require an agency to disclose those records upon request to any member of the public. By requiring agencies to disclose certain records to the public, the bill would increase the duties of local officials and create a state-mandated local program. Existing law specifies that, except as provided, the act does not require the disclosure of records of complaints to, or investigations conducted by, or records of intelligence information or security procedures of, the office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice, the Office of Emergency Services and any state or local police agency, or any investigatory or security files 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. This bill would also except the above-described requirements relating to records relating to private detention facilities from that provision, but would specify that those requirements do not apply to the office of the Attorney General, the Department of Justice, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or any state entity within the Department of Consumer Affairs, as specified. The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. 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.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SR 140
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Relative to California Wildlife Day.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution that proclaims September 4, 2026, as California Wildlife Day in honor of Jackie, a famous bald eagle who recently passed away. The text highlights the ecological diversity of California and the public's emotional connection to Jackie, whose life was broadcast via webcam for years. It encourages residents across the state to celebrate the day by reflecting on wildlife conservation and the importance of protecting natural heritage.

Passed Aug 28, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary SB 1349
Passed · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Taxation: tax expenditures: Legislative Analyst's Office: assessment, report, and recommendation.

Existing law, including, but not limited to, property tax law, the Sales and Use Tax Law, the Personal Income Tax Law, the Corporation Tax Law, the Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law, the law governing the taxation of insurers, the Use Fuel Tax Law, and the Diesel Fuel Tax Law, provides for tax expenditures, including exemptions, deductions, exclusions, and credits against the taxes imposed by those laws. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) to comprehensively assess the major tax expenditures, as defined, of the state, write and publish a report on each major tax expenditure, and make a recommendation to the Legislature based on each report. In this regard, the bill would require LAO, as part of the comprehensive assessments, to identify any savings that the Legislature can realize by reducing or limiting the major tax expenditures, and require them to consider certain criteria when finalizing each report, including the extent to which the major tax expenditure is a cost-effective use of resources compared to other options to address the same purpose, intent, or goal. The bill would require LAO to complete and publish on its internet website its first report on a major tax expenditure by January 1, 2028, and to complete and publish on its internet website each subsequent report on a major tax expenditure annually in a sequence determined by the office thereafter until the fifth and final report is submitted on January 1, 2032. The bill would require the Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation and the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation, to hold a joint public hearing on these reports by each August 15 of the second year of the legislative session, as specified. To the extent that LAO needs access to taxpayer data and information, the bill would require the Franchise Tax Board, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, and the Employment Development Department to ensure that relevant anonymized taxpayer data is made available and ensure that appropriate levels of data security and privacy protections are in place for transferred or sensitive data. The bill would repeal its provisions on January 1, 2033. The bill would make findings and declarations relating to these provisions.

Passed Aug 28, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SB 1167
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Vehicles: electric bicycles.

Existing law defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts of power. Existing law classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions for various purposes, and requires, among other things, a class 3 electric bicycle to be equipped with a speedometer. Existing law prohibits certain vehicles that do not meet the definition of an electric bicycle from being advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as an electric bicycle, as specified. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. This bill would amend the type of vehicles that are prohibited from being advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as electric bicycles, including, among others, motor-driven cycles and mopeds. By expanding the application of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law defines a motor-driven cycle as any motorcycle with a motor that displaces less than 150 cubic centimeters. This bill would revise the definition of motor-driven cycle to mean any motorcycle propelled by an internal combustion engine that displaces less than 150 cubic centimeters, or by an electric motor that produces 5 gross brake horsepower (3,750 watts) or less, and is designed for highway use, complies with all applicable federal motor safety standards, has a 17-digit vehicle identification number and a safety certification label, and meets all of the equipment requirements of the Vehicle Code. Existing law defines a motorized bicycle or moped as a two-wheeled or three-wheeled device having fully operative pedals for propulsion by human power, or having no pedals if powered solely by electrical energy, and an automatic transmission and a motor that produces less than 4 gross brake horsepower, and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on level ground. This bill would delete references to motorized bicycle in the Vehicle Code and replace the term with "moped." The bill would revise the definition of a moped to mean a two-wheeled or three-wheeled device that has an electric motor or an internal combustion engine that produces less than 4 gross brake horsepower (3,000 watts) , is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on level ground, is designed for highway use, complies with all applicable federal motor safety standards, has a 17-digit vehicle identification number and a safety certification label, and meets all of the equipment requirements of the Vehicle Code. The bill would specify that a moped may be equipped with operable pedals for propulsion by human power. Existing law requires every manufacturer of a motorized bicycle or moped to provide a specified disclosure to buyers. This bill would instead require every manufacturer, importer, or seller of a motor-driven cycle, moped, or off-highway electric motorcycle that is powered by an electric motor to provide a specified disclosure to all potential buyers in any advertising, including any online advertising on internet websites or social media. By expanding the application of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles to apply a label that is permanently affixed, in a prominent location, to each electric bicycle. Existing law requires the label to contain the classification number, top assisted speed, and motor wattage of the electric bicycle, as specified. For electric bicycles, this bill would additionally require the inclusion of the brand name of the electric bicycle and the manufacturer, importer, or distributor. This bill would require manufacturers and distributors of mopeds and motor-driven cycles to affix a certification label, as specified, on or to the permanent member of the vehicle, as specified. The bill would make it unlawful for a person to sell an electric bicycle, moped, or motor-driven cycle in violation of the labeling and disclosure requirements mentioned above. By expanding the application of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would prohibit a person from selling or installing an electric bicycle classification label unless the classification label is sold and installed in a physical retailer or bicycle repair shop. The bill would require a retailer and bicycle repair shop of electric bicycles to verify that the classification label matches the electric bicycle class before installing the classification label on an electric bicycle. By expanding the application of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require any incident report filed by a peace officer for an injury or crash involving an electric bicycle, moped, and motor-driven cycle to include specified information or to indicate that a marking or label was not available. By increasing duties on local law enforcement, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law prohibits a person from distributing, selling, or leasing a powered mobility device unless the battery for the powered mobility device has been tested by an accredited testing laboratory for compliance with ANSI/CAN/UL 2272. Existing law requires a charging system advertised, distributed, sold, or leased for use with a particular device, including a powered mobility device, to be certified for use with that device. For these purposes, existing law defines a "powered mobility device" as including, among other devices, a motorized bicycle or moped or an off-highway motorcycle. This bill would remove a motorized bicycle or moped or an off-highway electric motorcycle from the definition of a powered mobility device. The bill would prohibit the distribution, sale, or lease of a moped or off-highway electric motorcycle unless the battery complies with a certain safety standard. The bill would also require a charging system advertised, distributed, sold, or leased for use with a moped or off-highway electric motorcycle to comply with this standard. By expanding the application of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law prohibits a person from renting a powered mobility device or its charging system unless the device or charging system has been tested for compliance with ANSI/CAN/UL 2272, as specified. This bill would prohibit a person from renting a moped or off-highway electric motorcycle or its charging system unless the battery for the moped or off-highway electric motorcycle or the charging system complies with a certain safety standard. By expanding the application of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law defines an off-highway motor vehicle as a motor vehicle that operates on lands, other than a highway, that are open and accessible to the public, as specified. Existing law establishes rules for the operation of an off-highway vehicle. Existing law requires every off-highway motor vehicle that is not registered under the Vehicle Code to display an identification plate or device issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, except as specified. This bill would specify that mopeds are subject to identification as off-highway motor vehicles. The bill would also prohibit the use, allowing to use, or operation of an off-highway electric motorcycle, motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or moped powered by an electric motor on any forest-covered land, brush-covered land, or grass-covered land unless the vehicle complies with standards for mopeds and off-highway electric motorcycles, as specified. By creating new crimes related to the operation of off-highway vehicles, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or retailer of an electric bicycle, powered mobility device, charging system, or storage battery subject to certain testing to provide, upon request, a true and accurate copy of the test report for the product issued by the accredited testing laboratory. This bill would require a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or retailer of a moped, off-highway electric motorcycle, charging system, or storage battery used on a moped or off-highway electric motorcycle to retain documentation and information supporting compliance with any standard required, as specified. By expanding the application of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law authorizes a peace officer to remove a vehicle that (1) has fewer than 4 wheels, but that does not meet the definition of an electric bicycle, if that vehicle is powered by an electric motor capable of exclusively propelling the vehicle in excess of 20 miles per hour on a highway and is being operated by an operator without a current license to operate the vehicle, or (2) is a class 3 electric bicycle being operated by a person under 16 years of age. This bill would additionally prohibit a person from operating a 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled device powered by an electric motor that is capable of propelling the device at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour on level ground on a highway or public right-of-way when powered solely by the motor unless the device meets the definition of a device that is explicitly defined in, and authorized for use on a highway or public right-of-way by, the Vehicle Code. The bill would authorize a peace officer to remove the vehicle if the vehicle is a 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled unauthorized device being operated by a person on a highway or public right-of-way. Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make other clarifying and conforming changes. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 4442 of the Public Resources Code proposed by AB 2075 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2075 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 12804.9 of the Vehicle Code proposed by AB 1913 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1913 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. 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. This bill would make certain provisions described above operative only if AB 2346 is enacted.

Passed Aug 28, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1255
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Postsecondary education: Designation of California Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education, as defined, as 4 segments of postsecondary education in the state. This bill, upon appropriation, would establish the Designation of California Hispanic-Serving Institutions to recognize campuses of those segments of postsecondary education that excel at providing academic resources to Latino students. The bill, upon appropriation, would establish a Designation of California Hispanic-Serving Institutions governing board to designate colleges and universities as California Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The bill, upon appropriation, would designate the office of the Chancellor of the California State University as the managing entity and would require it to, among other duties, develop the application processes and to process and present initial and renewal applications to receive this designation to the governing board, as specified, and would make an initial and renewal designation valid for 5 years.

Passed Aug 28, 2026 1 co-sponsor
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