Senate Leader Toni Atkins looks ahead to her last year in the legislature
State Senator Toni G. Atkins, representative of the 39th Senate District, is set to finish her 14-year term in the Legislature in 2024. During her tenure, she led the Senate as President pro Tempore and oversaw substantial legislative gains in climate, health care, LGBTQ+ equality, labor, public safety, human services, transportation, housing, and homelessness. Four of her priority bills were passed, including Senate Bill 385 which facilitated aspiration abortion training for physician assistants, Senate Bill 447 which lifted the travel ban to states with anti-LGBTQ+ policies, Senate Bill 487 which protected healthcare providers performing abortion or gender-affirming care services, and Senate Bill 519 which increased transparency in local detention facilities. Her focus for 2024 will likely include affordable housing, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and healthcare access. Despite an estimated $68 billion deficit for the 2024-25 fiscal year, Atkins affirmed California’s preparedness to endure the budget challenges with its record reserves and budgeting tools.
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