By Joe W. Bowers Jr.
Contributing Writer
SACRAMENTO — The 12-member California Legislative Black Caucus introduced nearly 600 bills during the 2024 legislative session aimed at improving the lives of all Californians, many with a particular focus on addressing inequities faced by Black citizens.
Of those bills, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 230 into law and vetoed 50. The remaining bills either failed to pass out of committee, were rejected in one of the chambers or were withdrawn by their authors for possible re-introduction later.
Legislative victories for the caucus reflect the commitment to creating a more equitable California for Black residents across areas like education, health care, housing and criminal justice reform.
The following are some of the key bills taking effect on Jan. 1.
Education reform
Senate Bill 1348 by state Sen. Steven Bradford, D- Inglewood, designates California Black-serving institutions, a groundbreaking effort to provide additional resources and support to higher education institutions that primarily serve Black students. The bill will help ensure that Black students have access to culturally relevant and equitable educational opportunities.
Assembly Bill 51 by Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, makes sure that Black families from low-income communities have access to critical early childhood education.
AB 1113 by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D–Sacramento, expands the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System to include data on expanded learning opportunity programs. The bill improves the state’s ability to track student outcomes and offer targeted support to underrepresented students, including Black students, addressing systemic inequities in the education system.
Improving health outcomes
AB 2319 by Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, D– Suisun City, mandates implicit bias training for health care providers, addressing disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes, especially affecting Black women.
AB 3059 by Assemblywoman Akilah Weber, D–La Mesa, requires commercial health plans to cover medically necessary pasteurized donor human milk for infants in neonatal intensive care units. The bill also simplifies the process for hospitals to distribute donor milk by removing the need for a tissue bank license, ensuring that families, particularly in Black communities where infant mortality rates are disproportionately high, have access to life-saving nutrition for their newborn.
Tackling job security
Job security is a critical issue for Black Californians, and the Legislative Black Caucus introduced several bills addressing these challenges. SB 1089 by state Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, D–Los Angeles, requires grocery stores and pharmacies to provide advance notice to workers and the community before closures, addressing the issue of food deserts and limited access to essential services in vulnerable communities.
AB 647 by Assemblyman Chris Holden, D–Pasadena, strengthens grocery worker protections by preventing mass layoffs and ensuring that trained and skilled grocery store and pharmacy workers are rehired. The bill supports job security for workers in essential sectors and helps maintain consistency in food safety and pharmaceutical access in their communities.
Environmental justice
Bonta’s AB-2851 mandates air quality monitoring near metal shredding facilities, protecting the health of Black communities often located near industrial areas from harmful pollutants.
Bradford’s SB 1130 prevents low-income Black families from being left out of the Family Electric Rate Assistance program, which helps subsidize electricity costs. It would also require the state’s three largest investor-owned utilities to report on enrollment of customers in the Family Electric Rate Assistance program.
Criminal justice
Criminal justice reform remains a top priority for the Legislative Black Caucus, given the overrepresentation of Black individuals in California’s criminal justice system. AB 1986 by Assemblyman Issac Bryan, D–Culver City, bans certain books in state prisons, addressing concerns over materials that perpetuate racial stereotypes and divisive ideologies.
AB 3089 by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D–South Los Angeles, issues a formal apology for California’s role in chattel slavery, calls for systemic reforms and reparative justice for Black Californians. The bill was a key component of the reparations package introduced by the caucus.
AB 2975 by Assemblyman Mike Gipson, D–Gardena, known as the Secure Hospitals for All Act, focuses on increasing hospital safety by requiring the installation of weapon detection systems at key entrances, such as those for labor and delivery and emergency departments. The bill aims to reduce workplace violence in hospitals, which disproportionately affects health care workers, including many from Black communities
AB 672 by Assemblyman Corey Jackson, D-Moreno Valley, would ensure that Black Californians and other underrepresented communities are able to alert authorities in a timely way regarding alleged violations of civil rights. The bill enhances the state’s civil rights enforcement capability and provides service and support to affected constituents.
Economic justice
Economic justice is still a pressing issue, especially as Black Californians continue to face higher unemployment rates and economic disparities. Bradford’s SB 1177 ensures that minority-owned businesses, including Black-owned businesses, are prioritized for public utility contracts, helping to create more economic opportunities for Black entrepreneurs.
AB 1 by Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor, D-Inglewood, strengthens collective bargaining rights for workers in the California Legislature, protects Black employees and ensures they are given equal opportunities to advocate for fair treatment and wages.
Joe W. Bowers Jr. is an editor for California Black Media.
