(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Legislature passed a bill authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, that will help thousands of aspiring college students receive a Cal Grant by simplifying the aid application process.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2160 passed the State Assembly with a 75-0 vote following a 31-2 vote in the State Senate earlier this week.  It now heads to Governor Jerry Brown for his signature or veto.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Legislature passed a bill authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to help increase the supply of affordable housing in California by making surplus local government lands available for affordable housing construction.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2135 passed the State Assembly today with a 50-23 vote following a 22-10 vote in the State Senate last week.  The bill now heads to Governor Jerry Brown who must sign or veto the measure by September 30.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Legislature passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to protect the rights of Californians with limited English proficiency by strengthening how they can report language barrier problems with state government.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2253 passed the State Senate today with a 36-0 vote, following a 68-8 State Assembly vote in May of this year.  The bill now goes to Governor Jerry Brown who must act on the measure by September 30.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The State Legislature passed a bill authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) to help prevent syringe sharing, a leading cause for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, by expanding sterile syringe access.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1743 passed the Assembly today with a 53-20 vote, following a 36-0 Senate vote last week.  These are unprecedented votes in support of syringe access.  Governor Jerry Brown has 12 days to act on the bill upon receipt.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The State Legislature approved a bill authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to help expand the availability of electric vehicle recharging equipment in California.

In a letter urging Governor Jerry Brown to sign the measure, Ting said, “Electric vehicle charging stations in state-owned parking facilities increase the availability and awareness of electric vehicle charging, which serve as an important part of replacing greenhouse gas-emitting cars and trucks with clean electric vehicles.”

(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, called on Fox News to fire television news host Bob Beckel after racist comments uttered on air when referring to Chinese people last week.

“Racism has no place in our society.  Unfortunately, last week’s incident on Fox News is just the latest slur uttered by Bob Beckel when referring to Chinese people.  No apologies will do.  We’ve already gotten empty apologies from Beckel in the past.  He once laughed on the air mid-apology while saying that the term ‘Chinamen’ is not a racial slur.  It’s time for Beckel to go.  There should be no place for a serial racist on television.”

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California State Legislature unanimously passed a resolution authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to honor the memory of Hanren Chang with a commemorative plaque on Sloat Boulevard, in San Francisco, near where she was hit and killed by a drunk driver while crossing the street on her seventeenth birthday last year.

"Losing Hanren was a wakeup call," said Ting. "We must do more to improve pedestrian safety and I salute the Chang family for its courageous leadership to ensure that we act. Today's vote builds our momentum for change and enables our community to commemorate Hanren's life with a meaningful memorial."

From left to right in the photo, we have Assemblymember Ting with Matt Cohen (owner and founder) and Alex Welch (market director) at Off the Grid

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Off the Grid was honored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) as Small Business of the Year during a gathering of entrepreneurs and elected state leaders observing California Small Business Day.

“San Franciscans changed how the nation eats but Off the Grid has revolutionized how the City eats,” said Ting.  “Food trucks brought food to locations where options were limited.  By bringing food trucks together, Off the Grid has brought people together and created hot spots in our community.  The company’s growth has helped launch a new generation of talented chefs and fueled even more food diversity in our state’s culinary capitol.”