Two Different Bills Based On Access Move Forward

Broadband Bills Pass Out of California Legislature

SACRAMENTO —  On June 2, ^,the California Senate passed Senator Lena A. Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Senate Bill 4, the Broadband for All Act, that will help close the digital divide by securing funding for a broadband deployment state grant program administered by the California Public Utilities Commission. The bill would also ensure that broadband infrastructure deployment projects focus on unserved and underserved areas throughout the state to bring reliable, high-speed internet access to communities that lack connectivity the most. Similar efforts spearheaded by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry to improve broadband access were also successful today via the approval of Assembly Bill 14, the Internet for All Act. Now Senate Bill 4 and Assembly Bill 14 are advancing from their house of origin to the second house to be heard in their respective policy committees.

California Senate Passes the Abortion Accessibility Act

SACRAMENTO — On June 1 the California Senate passed Senator Lena A. Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Senate Bill (SB) 245 the Abortion Accessibility Act. The Abortion Accessibility Act will require all state-licensed health care service plans or disability insurance policies issued after 2022, to cover abortion services without a co-payment, deductible, or any type of cost-sharing requirement. This will finally remove high out-of-pocket costs that act as one of the most significant barriers to care for low-income individuals.

Sen. Lena Gonzalez said that California has long been a leader in protecting individuals’ right to access reproductive health care services. This constitutionally protected right, however, is now under attack across our nation. It is now more important than ever for California to keep fighting for the reproductive rights of all people, regardless of their status, privilege, or how much money is in their bank account. The bill now moves to the Assembly.