Press Releases

SACRAMENTO, CA –  Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) successfully passed Assembly Bill (AB) 92 out of the State Legislature. This bill will now head to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, where it will be considered to be officially signed into law. Should this bill be approved by the Governor, AB 92 will strengthen restrictions on purchases of body armor to ensure any individual who is already prohibited by California statute to possess a firearm cannot purchase or possess body armor. In recent years, violent criminals and perpetrators of mass shootings have increasingly used body armor, such as steel-plated bullet proof vests, to prolong violent rampages and gain an advantage on law enforcement. AB 92 serves to protect peace officers, emergency personnel, first responders, and community members who could become an innocuous bystander to an act of violence.

SACRAMENTO, CA –  Assemblymember Damon Connolly’s (D-San Rafael) Assembly Bill (AB) 935, which authorizes the California Department of Health and the Attorney General to better enforce the flavored tobacco ban pursuant to the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement (STAKE) Act, has passed successfully through the State Legislature. The bill is now headed to the governor for approval. Senate Bill (SB) 793, which went into effect December of 2022, prohibits tobacco retailers from selling most flavored tobacco products. However, this law lacks sufficient enforcement to effectively enact the ban. Despite overwhelming support from voters for SB 793, flavored tobacco products continue to be sold in many stores across the state. As a result, teenagers in our community continue to have access to these dangerous products in spite of current regulations.

SACRAMENTO, CA –  Assemblymember Damon Connolly’s (D-San Rafael) bill requesting a reevaluation of the reporting requirements for organic farmers has passed successfully through the State Legislature, and is now headed to Governor Gavin Newsom for approval. If signed into law, Assembly Bill (AB) 404 will streamline the federal and state agencies to whom organic farmers must report, shifting the burden of reporting requirements away from individual businesses. This bill was drafted in response to duplicative reporting requirements that need to be evaluated for efficiency.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblymember Damon Connolly’s (D-San Rafael) successfully passed his first two bills out of the State Legislature - Assembly Bill (AB) 319 and Assembly Bill (AB) 1109. These bills will now head to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for his consideration to be officially signed into law. If approved by the Governor, AB 319 will create protections for mobile home residents by strengthening conflict-of-interest practices for mobile home inspectors. AB 1109 addresses the tragic issue of teen-suicide by restricting the sale of sodium nitrite to minors, who have increasingly been purchasing this dangerous chemical online and using it to take their own lives.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblymember Damon Connolly issued a statement in response to the decision of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s to block the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 99, a vital bill that would have protected public health and local ecosystems by restricting the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and their widespread program of spraying harmful pesticides alongside highways in counties that adopted official resolutions restricting the deployment of such chemicals. AB 99 was referred to the Senate’s Appropriations Committee, where it was made a “two-year-bill,” a stalling tactic that blocks its passage until the next legislative session, despite the bill garnering strong support in both houses and already passing through five committees and the Assembly Floor. There was no explanation from the Committee regarding this decision.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Speaker Robert Rivas has appointed Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) to serve as Chair of the esteemed Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification. Assemblymember Connolly's appointment reflects his dedication to preserving California's rich agricultural traditions, promoting education, and enhancing community benefits across the state.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) extends his warmest congratulations to Assemblymember Robert Rivas on being sworn in as the new Speaker of the Assembly. The appointment of Speaker Rivas marks a significant milestone in his distinguished political career and recognizes his unwavering commitment to serving the people of California.