Press Releases

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.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblymember Connolly was joined by a number of pesticide-free advocates and integrated pest management specialists at a press conference to discuss the statewide importance of Assembly Bill (AB) 99, which would require the California Department of Transportation to develop and adopt a statewide policy that uses integrated pest management that does not include the use of pesticides except in specified circumstances in cities and counties that have restricted their use of pesticides locally.  AB 99 also requires Caltrans to make publicly available their pesticide use as well as notification of when they intend to spray pesticides 24 hours in advance.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Over the past week, several of Assemblymember Damon Connolly’s (D-San Rafael) bills were successfully voted out of the Assembly and are now on their way to be heard in various Senate committees. This was the first time Asm. Connolly has presented legislation on the Assembly floor since being elected in November. These bills cover a range of issue areas, including organic farming, wildfire mitigation, and public health and safety. They are:

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblymember Connolly (D-San Rafael) announced that Sausalito-based Bridge the Gap was selected as Assembly District (AD) 12’s 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year. The mission of Bridge the Gap is to provide comprehensive educational, social and emotional resources to underserved students in Marin City and Southern Marin. Their goal is to ensure that all students graduate high school, and achieve their greatest potential through college completion or other pathways to economic sustainability and independence. Their vision is for all students to achieve their greatest potential with equitable access, opportunities, and choice. Research continues to demonstrate that the most powerful way for under-resourced and first-generation students to achieve a lifetime of increased opportunity and earnings is through higher education. It can be a game changer.