Dear Neighbor‚
We had some substantial successes in 2023‚ and I want to thank you for your dedication and commitment by providing input to help shape policies in Sacramento. Whether you submitted a bill idea‚ expressed opposition to a measure‚ or made a suggestion‚ I appreciate hearing from you. A major victory (which many voices from the district helped to secure) was the passage of Senate Bill 14-making trafficking of a minor a felony. Other highlights from 2023 included bills I authored that were signed into law‚ opening a district office in Chico‚ $45 million in funding for water projects‚ hosting meet-and-greet events‚ and choosing a woman of the year and nonprofit of the year from the district. We had quite a year!
Not to mention there were noteworthy budget items we successfully requested to benefit California’s 1st Senate District:
- The Nickels Soil Lab in Colusa County received an allocation to further its work making California farms more productive.
- Williams Fire Protection Authority will receive funding to help build a new fire station.
- Individuals who received a settlement from PG&E as a result of the Zogg Fire will not have to pay state income taxes on those settlements.
- Nevada County will be constructing a new state-of-the-art courthouse.
- California State University‚ Chico will be developing a new Human Identification Laboratory to help law enforcement solve crimes and bring closure to families.
- Millions of dollars through the Lake Tahoe Conservancy and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy will conserve and protect the North State’s natural resources.
Legislative Action Items:
- Requested Early Action to Address State’s $68 Billion Deficit
- Urged Governor to Convene Special Session to Suspend Gas Tax
- Proposed Measure to Lower the Price of Gas by $1/Gallon
- Senator Dahle Stands Up for Small Businesses
- Dahle Urges Immediate Action on Homeowners’ Insurance Crisis
The Legislature reconvenes on January 3rd and there are serious challenges ahead with a massive budget shortfall. I am eager to be back in session to address this fiscal crisis. I’m proud of the work we accomplished this year and look forward to another successful legislative year.
I am honored to serve as your State Senator. Wishing you a prosperous & healthy New Year!
Senator Brian Dahle
P.S. Below are a few recent “Dahle in the News” clippings.
The Sacramento Bee: California Regulators Approve PG&E Rate Hike For Next Year. Here’s What You’ll Likely Pay Sen. Brian Dahle‚ R-Bieber‚ who is vice chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Energy‚ Utilities and Communications‚ said in a statement that a rate increase hurts not just households but also businesses‚ which must pass on increased costs to their customers. “Californians face challenging times right now‚ and Democratic policymakers and their bureaucratic buddies should focus on solutions that reduce the cost of living‚ not let companies like PG&E continue to bankrupt their ratepayers‚” Dahle said.
YAHOO! NEWS: At Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit In San Francisco‚ A Lot Of The Politics Was Local Sen. Brian Dahle‚ R-Bieber‚ observed that while San Francisco for years has struggled with homelessness‚ the city somehow found a way to deal with the issue when international eyes fell upon the city. “For years the governor has been making never-ending excuses as to why San Francisco and other communities have not been able to move or clean up homeless encampments for regular‚ every day hardworking residents‚” Dahle said in a statement. “But when the ‛international elitists’ come into San Francisco and the world will be watching‚ the city literally was cleaned up in just days. What a slap in the face to the residents who have been waiting for this for years.”
CalMatters: ‛A Christmas Without Lights?’ Families Struggle To Pay Bills As California Regulators Consider Electric Rate Increases Sen. Brian Dahle‚ vice chairperson of the Energy‚ Utilities and Communications Committee‚ said his office receives many calls from people complaining about electric bills. “People that are barely making it‚ people on disability‚ you name it‚” Dahle told CalMatters. “We get those calls and they’re like‚ ‛We can’t afford to stay‚’ and it’s heartbreaking. The more money PG&E spends‚ the more they make and that’s not right. We need to make sure that we’re holding them accountable‚ that we are getting the projects completed with the minimum amount of cost.”
FOX News: California To Pay Millions To Clear Homeless Camps; State Senator Says Residents Being Gaslighted California state Sen. Brian Dahle‚ pushed back on statements by Newsom that he cleared more than 5‚600 homeless encampments across the state. “The governor didn’t clear these homeless encampments; they just moved them down the street‚” he said. “California spends more tax dollars per homeless person than we do on our students. The homeless crisis is a national embarrassment. This governor needs to focus on real results instead of chasing presidential aspirations and gaslighting Californians.”