Thank You CA Senators for Climate Action!

In 2024, environmental leaders in the Senate took bold action by authoring, championing or supporting laws that will reduce global warming pollution and protect the environment. Learn more about the contributions of key senators in securing this important climate action!

Senator Mike McGuire

Acting Gov. McGuire signs AB 863, sending climate bond to California voters in November.Photo by Staff | TPIN

As Pro Tem, Sen. McGuire led the charge in the Senate to ensure that key climate and environmental bills passed this year. Thanks to his leadership, bills to reduce pollution and accelerate renewable energy crossed the finish line! McGuire was Acting Governor on the last day to get ballot measures on the November ballot and signed the California Climate Bond, sending Prop 4 to voters. 

Senator Ben Allen

Sen. Ben Allen with environmental advocatesPhoto by Staff | TPIN

Sen. Allen led the charge to craft a bond bill, SB 867, for voters to consider in November. If voters approve Prop 4 on November 5th, it will authorize a $10 billion bond to prevent wildfires, support clean and reliable drinking water, protect our iconic natural landscapes, and support more clean energy.

Senator Toni Atkins

Sen. Atkins with supporters of SB 54 to reduce plastic pollutionPhoto by Staff | TPIN

Sen. Atkins was a leader this year in the Senate as the Pro Tem Emerita, playing a key role in shaping and passing environmental and climate bills. Thanks to her leadership and support, bills were introduced and passed to promote clean energy growth, protect Californians from oil and gas pollution, and protect our iconic natural spaces.

Senator Josh Becker

Environment California’s Dan Jacobson and partners celebrate SB 1374 passing the CA Assembly with 2/3 support along with Sen. BeckerPhoto by Staff | TPIN

Sen. Becker authored SB 1374, spearheading the legislature’s effort to boost solar capacity at schools and apartment buildings by allowing these properties to use all the solar energy they generate from their solar panels. We need a lot more solar panels on rooftops and parking lots for a quicker clean energy transition. Disappointingly, Gov. Newsom vetoed this bill, citing utility arguments. Sen. Becker also played a leading role in defending California’s climate and clean air budget as chair of the Senate’s climate budget subcommittee.

Senator Catherine Blakespear

Sen. Blakespear speaking at California Ocean Day in support of banning plastic bagsPhoto by Marc Olivier LeBlanc | Used by permission

Sen. Blakespear stood up as a top environmental champ in 2024. She authored SB 1053, to reduce unnecessary plastic waste by banning plastic bags at grocery store checkout counters.  Reducing plastic pollution is essential for our climate and our environment: besides being made of fossil fuels, plastic bags pollute our ocean and choke waterways.

Senator Lena Gonzalez

Sen. Gonzalez defended AB 1137, her bill to create public health buffer zones around oil and gas wells in California, until the bill finally became law earlier this year. Oil companies had challenged the law to require a referendum, but Sen. Gonzalez fiercely defended the law with a public campaign that convinced oil companies to pull the ballot measure. She also authored a smart bill to prohibit pension funds for state workers in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) from being invested in fossil fuel companies. Although that bill didn’t pass yet, her work has made it much more likely to happen sooner than later. 

Senator John Laird

Sen. Laird with Environment California and other TPIN staffPhoto by Marc Olivier LeBlanc | Used by permission

As former Sec. of Natural Resources, Sen. Laird understands better than most the challenges facing the environment in California. In 2024 he stood up for ocean and coastal protections, brought together key stakeholders to discuss new marine protected areas in Santa Cruz County, supported the new Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary,  promoted investments in renewable energy, and authored a bill to require propane cylinders to be recyclable. We are so grateful for Sen. Laird’s environmental leadership.

Senator Monique Limón

Laura Deehan with California legislators at the White HousePhoto by Staff | TPIN

Sen. Limón is a leader on environmental issues, including protecting Californians and their environment from oil and gas drilling pollution. Her bill to ensure a comprehensive environmental analysis that lets local communities voice concerns about how their drinking water may be impacted by oil and gas pollution, SB 1304, will help address the toxic effects of oil drilling on Californians.

Senator Caroline Menjivar

Supporters at a rally for Sen. Menjivar’s SB 1497Photo by staff | TPIN

2023-2024 was Sen. Menjivar’s first session in the California state legislature and she made it count, with a consistently strong record on the environment. She launched a new effort to hold polluters accountable by authoring a bill for a ‘SuperFund’ for climate pollution damages, to make polluters pay for global warming impacts on Californians. We’re excited to work with Sen. Menjivar in upcoming years in the senate. 

Senator Dave Min

Sen. Min has been a leader in protecting Californians from the dangers of offshore oil drilling, which pollutes our oceans and leads to oil spills. As chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, he led efforts to protect California’s iconic coastline from development and to protect more of our oceans for a healthier future. Thank you, Sen. Min, for also championing clean transportation solutions like e-bikes!

Senator Josh Newman

Sen. Newman in committeePhoto by Public Domain | Public Domain

Sen. Newman led on environmental issues including reducing waste from the clothing industry with the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, which requires clothing companies to create and fund a program to repurpose and recycle clothes, keeping them out of landfills.

Senator Steve Padilla

Environment California’s Dan Jacobson with Sen. Steve Padilla and other SB 1006 supportersPhoto by Dan Jacobson | TPIN

Sen. Padilla led the charge on Environment California sponsored bill, SB 1006, advancing climate solutions that speed up the deployment of renewable energy resources by increasing the capacity and efficiency of the state’s power lines. This bill will help “unlock the grid” by getting more capacity out of existing infrastructure. He also authored bills to address pollution from the Tijuana river and stop a polluting landfill from being built.

Senator Nancy Skinner

Sen. Skinner and Laura Deehan after passage of SB 59Photo by Staff | TPIN

Sen. Skinner has been an environmental leader for her entire career, since she passed the first ban on polystyrene in Berkeley in 1988. Over her time in office she has supported renewable energy, clean transportation, and reduced plastic pollution. In her final year as state senator, she continued to lead by authoring SB 59, which gives state agencies the ability to require automakers to include software so that electric vehicle batteries can provide power to homes, turning every electric vehicle of the future into a backup home battery, and increasing the reliability and resilience of our energy system.

Senator Scott Wiener

Sen Wiener after passage of SB379 to get rid of red tape for solarPhoto by Staff | TPIN

Sen. Wiener was named one of the top 50 climate leaders in Time magazine in 2024 for his action on climate. In 2024, he became budget chair and worked hard to defend climate investments from being cut.  This session he also led the charge on SB 960, which creates safer streets that prioritize improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders. Encouraging more travel by these modes cuts down air pollution and global warming pollution from cars, leading to healthier, safer communities.

Learn more about the legislation passed in 2024.