Bills Signed Into Law (2023-2024):

Preventing Mass Shootings - AB 92: Mass shootings are a growing epidemic in the United States, and shooters are increasingly using body armor to prolong their rampages. AB 92 prescribes that any person prohibited under California law from owning a firearm is also prohibited from purchasing or possessing body armor.

Fairer Mobile Home Inspections - AB 319: Mobile homeowners are subject to inspections in home parks despite potential conflicts of interest. AB 319 addresses inadequacies within the conflict-of-interest code that regulates mobile home inspectors by codifying the State Auditor's recommendations for greater transparency and strengthened ethics.

Preventing Teen Nicotine Addiction - AB 935: While the sale of most flavored tobacco products was prohibited in SB 793, these dangerous products continue to be available to teenagers in retail locations across the state. AB 935 strengthens enforcement of the flavored tobacco ban.

Preventing Teen Suicides - AB 1109: Sodium nitrite is a chemical compound used in teen suicide, a leading cause of death for America's youth. AB 1109 prohibits online retailers from selling sodium nitrite to minors and places quantity restrictions on adult purchases.

Making Home and Business Solar More Affordable - AB 1132: Permit fees for residential and commercial solar energy systems are limited, but these provisions will be repealed on the first of January 2025. AB 1132, joint authored with Assemblymember Laura Friedman, extends the repeal of these provisions to the first of January 2034.

Preventing Dangerous Collisions - AB 1778: Authorizes a pilot program in Marin County prohibiting kids under sixteen years of age from riding a class 2 e-bike and requiring helmet use.

Strengthening Sexual Assault Laws - AB 1790: Requires the California State University system to strengthen protections against sexual harassment and update their policies on sexual harassment complaints and allegations. This bill was part of the “A Call to Action” bill package, which aims to address and prevent sex discrimination and sexual harassment at California’s public higher education institutions.

Cleaner Air in Schools - AB 1864: Children attending public schools and daycares in California are supposed to be protected by a regulation that restricts the most drift-prone agricultural pesticide applications during the school day, but this regulation is often unenforceable. AB 1864 improves the regulation and extends these protections to students, teachers, and staff in private schools. 

Expanding Fairground Access - AB 2143: Cleans up and consolidates code sections related to the state fairgrounds to make California law easier to access for the public and fairground operators.

Restoring Beaver Population - AB 2196: Makes the beaver restoration program permanent in California statute, ensuring non-lethal relocations and coexistence efforts with the North American beaver continue. This bill is sponsored by the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. 

Removing Barriers to High School Graduation - AB 2251: Authorizes school districts to exempt high school students with absences related to their mental or physical health from additional graduation requirements to prevent penalization of struggling students. 

Expanding Community Land Trusts - AB 2897: Expands the definition of a community land trust in state law to include non-residential purposes, so that a community land trust can effectively adapt to the needs of its community and serve as a garden, nonprofit office space, small business retail, or provide other vital community services. AB 2897 is sponsored by the California Community Land Trust Network.

Improving Fire Safety in Schools - AB 2968: Ensures that schools in "high" or "very high" fire hazard severity zones have wildfire evacuation plans in their comprehensive school safety plans. This bill was the winner of our "There Ought to be a Law" contest!

Climate Bond (Proposition 4)

As a member of the Climate Bond Working Group, Assemblymember Connolly helped craft Proposition 4, the Climate Bond, which is the largest climate investment in California history. Passed by voters last November, the climate bond will invest:

• $3.8 billion For Safe Drinking Water, Drought, Flood, and Water Resilience.
• $1.5 billion for Wildfire and Forest Resilience.
• $1.2 billion for Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Resilience.
• $450 million for Extreme Heat Mitigation.
• $1.2 billion for Protecting Biodiversity and Promoting Natural Solutions.
• $135 million for Home Hardening.
• $300 million for Climate Resilient Farms, Ranches and Working Lands.
• $700 million for Parks and Outdoor Access.
• $850 million for Cleaner Air through Reliable Clean Energy Solution.

$5 Million Secured for the North Bay

$2,000,000 in partnership with the Sonoma County Community Development Commission (SCCDC), to build the Tierra de Rosas project, an affordable housing development in Santa Rosa. 

$1,000,000 for major upgrades to the Golden Gate Village Playground in Marin City.

$1,000,000 for the Marin Community College District’s Science Field Station, located in Bolinas.

$530,000 to purchase critically needed emergency medical equipment at the four volunteer fire stations operating in West Marin.

Supporting Local Priorities (2024)

Active Transportation Funding

The Active Transportation Program (ATP) is the state’s primary funding source of local projects that encourage increased use of active modes of transportation, such as walking and biking. The Governor’s budget proposal cut ATP by $559 million. Three projects in the North Bay were at risk of losing funding under this cut, including: the San Rafael Canal Crossing Project, Central Marin Regional Pathways Gap Closure Project in Corte Madera, and the Canal Neighborhood Active Transportation Enhancements Project. Assemblymember Connolly helped reject this proposal and preserve funding for ATP and its projects.

Developmental Service Provider Rate Reform

The final phase of the Developmental Services Provider Rate Reform was on track to increase rates on July 1, 2024 for providers who deliver care to adults and children with developmental disabilities. These rate reforms were secured in the Budget Act of 2021 to address the widespread workforce shortage of direct care staff. The Governor’s May Revise budget proposal would have delayed increasing compensation for these vital service providers, which could have disrupted care for thousands of California’s most vulnerable residents. Through his role on the Budget Committee, Assemblymember Connolly helped prevent this delay in support for service providers caring for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Marine Mammal Center

The Marine Mammal Center has received an annual allocation of $2 million from the Legislature, which it uses to fund twelve marine mammal rescue organizations up and down the California Coast that rescues and rehabilitates stranded and injured marine mammals. In the state’s initial budget proposal, this funding was eliminated completely. Championing the Marine Mammal Center and its great work, Assemblymember Connolly helped pass a final budget in the Legislature that preserved this funding.