Meetings included support for sanctuary state bill, protections for survivors, and free public transit passes
SACRAMENTO, CA – UCSB Lobby Corps has begun the year before the Fall Session arrives, with the first ever Summer State Advocacy Trip. A group of 10 students traveled to Sacramento on August 29th and 30th to meet with over two dozen California Assemblymembers and Senators. The goal of the trip was to gain support for a number of bills that affect student needs and interests, before deadlines for bill passage hit in September.
The group identified five bills to prioritize that cover a wide variety of topics. At the time of publishing, each of these bills is pending approval from the Assembly or Senate Appropriations Committee, the final step before a full vote of the chambers. Students met with legislators that sit on these committees, as well as those from their hometowns.
Supported Legislation:
AB 17 – from Assm. Chris Holden
This bill would create a pilot program to provide free public transit passes to students.
AB 216 – from Assm. Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher
This bill would ensure that no one has to pay for postage in order to vote by mail.
AB 1178 – from Assm. Ian Calderon
This bill would require UC to send students a yearly letter breaking down how much in student loans they have borrowed, and what their estimated monthly payments would be at graduation.
AB 169 – from our very own, Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson
This bill would ensure that current Title IX protections for survivors of sexual violence would be kept in place, regardless of what the presidential administration does to change them.
SB 54 – from Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León
This bill would build a wall of separation between local law enforcement and ICE, and ensure that our undocumented community can contact law enforcement without fear of deportation.
UCSB students in front of the California State Capitol building.
