Assemblymember Marc Berman proudly authored the following legislation in 2021:
AB 37 - Elections: vote by mail ballots.
AB 37 requires elections officials to mail every active registered voter a ballot for all future elections and ensures that all California voters can continue to track their vote-by-mail ballot as it moves through the mail system and is processed by elections officials.
This bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 27, 2021. Chapter 312, Statutes of 2021.
AB 236 - Elections - LLC Dark Money Ban Act
AB 235 would require a political committee that receives campaign contributions from a limited liability company (LLC) to disclose the name of each individual who owns or controls the LLC and the name of each individual who controls the contributions or expenditures of the LLC, and establishes conditions under which an LLC is required to disclose the true sources of money that it uses to make campaign contributions and expenditures in California.
Two year bill.
AB 390 - Online Subscription Cancellation
AB 390 strengthens California's Auto Renewal Law by ensuring that consumers can cancel their subscriptions online without delay or having to jump through hoops. The bill also ensures that more consumers are aware of when and how much they will be charged for their subscriptions.
This bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on November 4, 2021. Chapter 450, Statutes of 2021.
AB 541 - Tobacco Assessment
AB 541 requires substance use disorder treatment facilities to assess patients for tobacco use and offer or refer them to treatment to quit tobacco.
This bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on August 31, 2021. Chapter 150, Statutes of 2021.
AB 563 - Office of School-Based Health Programs
AB 563 would have established an Office of School-Based Health Programs within the California Department of Education to ensure greater access to health care services at schools and draw down more federal funds.
The creation of the Office of School-Based Health Programs within the California Department of Education was included in the 2021-22 Budget. Subsequently, the bill did not continue through the legislative process.
AB 775 - Contribution requirements: recurring contributions.
Two year bill.
AB 796 - Voter registration: California New Motor Voter Program.
AB 796 makes further improvements and refinements to the California New Motor Voter program to ensure its continued success and effectiveness.
This bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 27, 2021. Chapter 314, Statutes of 2021.
AB 928 - The Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021
The transfer process between community college and a four-year institution remains unnecessarily complex, confusing, and difficult for the vast majority of students to navigate. AB 928 reimagines the transfer process from the student perspective by creating an Intersegmental Implementation Committee to provide a entity to facilitate intersegmental coordination and greater state-level accountability for implementation of the Associate Degree for Transfer, setting a target date to establish a singular lower division general education pathway that meets transfer admission to both CSU and UC, and requiring community college students be placed on an Associate Degree for Transfer pathway, only if students declare a goal of transfer and such a pathway exists for their major while providing an opt-out for students.
This bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on November 6, 2021. Chapter 566, Statutes of 2021.
AB 972 - Elections: deceptive audio or visual media
AB 972 would extend, until January 1, 2027, the applicability of a law that prohibits a person, within 60 days of an election, from knowingly or recklessly distributing deceptive audio or visual media (i.e. a deepfake) of a candidate with the intent to injure the candidate’s reputation or deceive a voter into voting for or against the candidate.
Two year bill.
AB 1010 - Architects: continuing education
Recognizing the need for a holistic approach to addressing climate change, AB 1010 requires that architects licensed by the State of California complete continuing education coursework on zero net carbon design.
This bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 16, 2021. Chapter 176, Statutes of 2021.
AB 1073 - Community colleges: students enrolled in early childhood education or child development courses: fee waivers
AB 1073 would have establish the Early Childhood Education Workforce Waiver to provide a fee waiver for specified courses for community college students with declared majors related to early childhood education and child development.
This bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 1091 - Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority: board of directors
AB 1091 would reduce the size of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors and replace the elected Board of Directors with appointed members of the public.
Two year bill.
AB 1111 - Common Course Numbering
AB 1111 creates a student facing common course numbering system at California Community Colleges, meaning comparable courses would have the same course number at all community colleges. Having the same course number would reduce unnecessary confusion, ease advising, reduce excess unit accumulation, and make it easier for community college students to transfer and earn their degree, saving students time and money.
This bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 16, 2021. Chapter 568, Statutes of 2021.
AB 1143 - Harassment Restraining Orders: Service of Process
In the event that the address of the respondent is unknown when a court is considering the issuance of a temporary restraining order and notice of hearing in civil harassment restraining order cases, AB 1143 authorizes the court to order service on the defendant other than by personal service. This measure would protect harassment victims from potentially arbitrary legal barriers to seeking protection from harassers.
This bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on August 31, 2021. Chapter 156, Statutes of 2021.
AB 1219 - Income taxes: Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Act of 2000
AB 1219 reestablishes the Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit program, which allows the state, a local government, or a qualified non-profit to acquire conservation, park, habitat land at a discounted purchase price by structuring the acquisition so that the landowner can receive a state tax credit.
This bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 30, 2021. Chapter 419, Statutes of 2021.
AB 1317 - Clean energy
Two year bill.
AB 1346 - Air pollution: small off-road engines.
AB 1346 phases out the sale of new gas-powered small off-road engines, primarily lawn and garden equipment, by 2024 for cleaner air and healthier communities. For details, please click here to view the bill fact sheet. Haga clic aquí para ver la hoja informativa en español.
This bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 9, 2021. Chapter 753, Statutes of 2021.