SACRAMENTO, Calif.—This week, two bills authored by Sen. Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) cleared key policy committees and moved on to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.
Tuesday, SB 214 passed through the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on an 8-1 vote. The bill strengthens the capacity of the San Diego River Conservancy to protect and enhance historic, cultural, and natural resources within the watershed along the 52-mile San Diego River. SB 214 adds representation from the city of Santee and the Kumeyaay Diegeno Land Conservancy to the conservancy’s Board of Directors, and provides the conservancy with greater ability to engage in climate-change projects and environmental-justice programs and enter into joint power agreements.
Wednesday, SB 2, the Building Homes and Jobs Act, made it through the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on a 5-2 vote. The bill creates a permanent source of fund for affordable housing, through a small document recording fee on certain real-estate transactions, excluding residential and commercial property sales.
The Appropriations Committee is the last stop for legislation on the path to the Senate floor. Bills that pass the full Senate then move on to the state Assembly.
