California Senate advances wide package of bills; partisan fight over Law Day resolution

The California State Senate completed a lengthy floor session that produced dozens of approvals on a wide range of measures — from consumer protection and health coverage to housing and infrastructure — and confirmed multiple governor appointments. Lawmakers also engaged in a heated, floor-long debate over Senate Concurrent Resolution 66, a Law Day measure that drew sharp partisan disagreement about whether the measure singled out a particular president for attack or legitimately defended the rule of law.

Why it matters: The session advanced items that affect everyday Californians — including bills addressing online pricing practices, data-breach notification timelines, pharmacy benefit manager oversight, school-meal access and emergency permitting for transportation and housing projects — while exposing deep partisan fault lines on symbolic but politically charged matters such as SCR 66.

What the Senate did and how members debated - Votes at a glance (selected items from the daily file): • SCR 66 (Law Day, Sen. Umberg) — Adopted (roll-call: Ayes 27, Nos 8). The resolution drew extended debate from members across the aisle who argued both that the measure defends rule-of-law principles and that it was partisan in tone (see body below for details). • SB 259 (Wahab) — Fair Online Pricing Act (limits operators from using certain device data to set consumer prices): passed (vote tally not specified on the floor transcript excerpt). • SB 445 (Wiener) — Amendments to streamline third-party permitting timelines for sustainable transportation projects; sponsor said the measure was…