Dear Neighbor‚
I hope you’re enjoying the crisp mornings and beautiful fall colors showcasing their beauty across the district. While traditionally this time of year slows down a bit for legislators‚ we have been busy in Sacramento and I’d like to give you a few updates.
First the good news: After a difficult push through a Legislature that often cares more about criminals than victims‚ we were able to pass several bills to better protect victims of sex crimes‚ including those who are underage.
Senate Bill 1414 was signed into law making it a felony to solicit prostitution from a minor.
Senate Bill 268 makes it a felony to rape an unconscious person.
I was proud to co-author both of these significant measures.
As a small-business owner‚ I know firsthand the heartache of doing business in a state that overregulates. There were some especially bad bills that were stopped‚ as well as some legislative wins for businesses in California. Click here to see a recent list by the California Chamber of Commerce highlighting those measures.
Although the Legislature adjourned in August‚ both houses have been meeting due to the governor calling for a special session of the Legislature and sponsoring a bill‚ ABX2-1, which authorizes the California Energy Commission to develop and impose requirements for refiners to maintain minimum levels of inventories of gasoline. I served as vice chair of the Senate Special Committee on Fuel Supply and Price Spikes‚ and I believe the governor’s plan will not succeed in lowering prices at the pump. You can read more about that here: Vice-Chair Dahle warns new legislation passed out of Special Committee on Fuel would hike gas prices.
As an alternative‚ my Senate Republican colleagues and I proposed a plan to suspend the gas tax. Read about our efforts here.
On the final day the bill was being heard in the Senate‚ I again urged my legislative colleagues to oppose this terrible bill that will drive up costs for consumers: VIDEO: Sen. Dahle says Big Government is getting rich off fuel taxes in California and new legislation will hike fuel prices and electricity prices.
It’s worth noting that this bill is so disastrous that the governors of Arizona and Nevada sent a letter urging Newsom not to sign the bill‚ warning it would raise prices in their states too. Sadly‚ he ignored their requests and signed the measure into law. Surprise! Within days of that law being signed‚ Phillips 66‚ a refiner in California‚ announced it is closing a Southern California refinery‚ which currently produces 8 percent of the state’s fuel.
On top of this‚ the California Air Resources Board is set to vote on changes to the Low-Carbon Fuel Standard that could raise gas prices by 65 to 85 cents per gallon as soon as next year.
This vote‚ scheduled just two days after the November election‚ could push the cost of gas even higher without fully disclosing the impact on consumers. CARB initially released estimates for a 47-cent increase but later pulled back the numbers. Since then‚ they’ve refused to provide updated figures to the public.
You deserve to know how much more you’ll be paying at the pump before any decision is made. That’s why I am urging CARB to postpone their vote until they disclose the real costs. I sent a letter, including 24 other Republican legislators‚ to CARB demanding accountability and transparency.
I will never stop fighting for a safer‚ more affordable California.
It’s an honor to serve as your State Senator‚
Senator Brian Dahle
FYI |
Grant Funding Opportunity: CAL FIRE recently announced their Forest Health Research Program is open for proposals and are due on Nov. 14‚ 2024. Click here for grant guidelines and here to apply.
Not registered for November’s election? Don’t worry - eligible citizens can use Conditional Voter Registration up to Election Day. Click the link for more information: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg.
In the District |
The Dahle Team was on hand for the groundbreaking of the new Agriculture Education Center being built at the Chico State Farm. The center will be an exciting new addition to offer classes‚ events and feature a store that will sell products sourced from the farm.
Staff were honored to attend the memorial service for Chief James “Jim” Hamblin in Taylorsville. Chief Hamblin retired from the Indian Valley Fire Department at the age of 88 as the longest serving firefighter in the nation with 70 years of service to the department and his community. He passed peacefully in August at the age of 94.
Thank you Pivot Charter School for the informative tour. Pivot Charter is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades 6-12‚ offering significant special education services‚ and the flexibility to “pivot” between Pivot Charter and other schools within the district. Pivot offers Advanced Placement and honors courses‚ supports students who need to recover credits to graduate on time through online courses and workshops‚ and the online schedule accommodates students who are involved in competitive sports‚ performing arts‚ or who balance work and family responsibilities. Pivot also provides opportunities for students to concurrently enroll in college courses.
Modoc County Cattlewomen graciously invited Team Dahle to attend a recent meeting where staff presented a Certificate of Recognition to Beverley Palmer-Brown‚ who was named Modoc County Cattlewoman of the Year. A truly wonderful organization that is dedicated to sustaining and promoting the beef industry.
Staff had the pleasure of attending the 30th Anniversary celebration of the Glenn County Office of Education Adult Program and the 10th Anniversary of Success One! Charter. The event featured guest speakers‚ recognition of retiring staff members and their achievements‚ certificate presentations‚ video highlights‚ and discussions about the future.
The Sycamore Park Design Kickoff Celebration showcased exciting plans for park and pool improvements‚ including: pool rehabilitation‚ new fencing around the pools‚ a shade structure‚ new curb ramps and sidewalks‚ solar-powered lighting throughout the park‚ resurfacing of the tennis courts and repurposing some tennis courts to add pickleball courts. With these enhancements‚ the City of Willows is well on its way to providing an even more vibrant‚ accessible‚ and enjoyable recreational experience for residents and visitors alike.
My District Director‚ Bruce Ross‚ presented a Resolution from the Legislature on behalf of Assemblywoman Megan Dahle and me to the Good News Rescue Mission‚ honoring its 60th anniversary of serving the neediest in the Redding area‚ at the Mission’s October Harvest of Hope banquet. I deeply appreciate the work the Mission has done and its commitment to evolving to meet new needs.
Sabrina Jurisich‚ of the Upstate California Film Commission‚ speaks at an October event marking Film Shasta’s first decade of working to make Shasta County a competitive location for television and movie production. I appreciate the work connecting the North State to Hollywood.
Doreen Bradshaw‚ longtime executive director of the Health Alliance of Northern California‚ speaks at her October retirement party. Bradshaw has worked for two decades on a number of vital initiatives to improve health care in the rural North State. I am grateful to recognize her dedication to rural communities.
The Nevada County Teachers of the Year Awards at Miners Foundry was an eventful evening highlighting dedicated professionals. The event celebrated exemplary teachers from across Nevada County‚ each recognized as Teacher of the Year by their respective school districts. Congratulations to the award recipients and to Thomas McAtee‚ Union Hill School District Teacher of the Year‚ who was also named Nevada County Teacher of the Year.
Team Dahle enjoyed a tour of the new Tahoe Forest Products sawmill in Carson City. The sawmill produces green products and are looking to act as a drop-off location for preventative forest thinning as well as after-fire log clean-up. They aim to aid in that effort by providing a market-based solution to incentivize thinning and taking old logs out of the forests.
Staff took part in a walking tour of the Tahoe East Shore Recreational Trail. The trail provides safe access to the lake‚ as well as helps to curb poor traffic habits. One major nuisance was individuals parking their cars on the side of the road (if not in the road itself). The trail provides a barrier from this behavior‚ as well as an official means of accessing the lake and enjoying a beautiful trail.
My District Director‚ Bruce Ross‚ enjoyed the opportunity to talk with current and future Tehama County supervisors and learn about their plans and the community’s needs at Tehama Tomorrow’s reception celebrating the county’s incoming and outgoing supervisors. As a former county supervisor myself‚ I understand the hard‚ hands-on work of local government and appreciate all the leaders who step up for their communities. (Left to right: Supervisor-elect Tom Walker‚ Supervisor Matt Hansen‚ Supervisor John Leach‚ Supervisor Candy Carlson‚ Carol Parsons of Tehama Tomorrow‚ Bruce Ross‚ District Director for Sen. Dahle.)
Shasta Trinity National Forest staff and industry leaders provided an informative update and briefing on fire reduction efforts and resiliency. I appreciate their work to keep our forests healthy and communities safer.