Patricia Carmody Bates Voting Record & Scorecard | Institute for Legislative Analysis

CA Senator

District: 36 • Republican

2022 Alignment:

89.13%

View Member History

Lifetime Ratings by Policy Category

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Bill

Title

Lawmaker Position

AB 1227

Senate 2022

Attacking Second Amendment Rights through Additional Taxes on Firearms and Ammunition - Resulting in a 25% Sales Tax Rate.

The "Gun Violence Prevention, Healing, and Recovery Act" enacts an additional 3.75% sale tax on firearms and ammunition sold in the state. As a result, purchasers of firearms and ammunition may face a sales tax rate of over 25% when factoring in the state tax (11%), local taxes (up to 3.5%) and the federal tax (11%). This taxation also does not include the amount passed onto consumers through the $37.19 fee placed on firearm dealers plus other taxes.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as James Madison and our nation's other founding fathers understood that the right to keep and bear arms is a crucial individual liberty and protects the citizenry against a tyrannical government.

This measure serves to punish law-abiding individuals who wish to exercise their Second Amendment rights through outrageous levels of taxation.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 1279

Senate 2022

Stifling Economic Growth by Codifying the State's Disastrous 2045 "Net-Zero" Carbon Goal.

The "California Climate Crisis Act" legally binds the state to its goal of "net-zero" carbon by 2045, and maintain and achieve negative greenhouse gas emissions in the years following.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further cements the state to its disastrous environmental agenda, which will stifle economic growth and lead to sky-rocketing prices for businesses and consumers.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 1410

Senate 2022

Infringing Private Contracting Rights through Government Overreach into the Governance Practices of Private Condominium Associations

This bill imposes a series of new restrictions on the governing practices of Home Owners Associations (HOAs) and other planned communities. For example, the bill places new regulations on HOAs concerning the ability of owners to rent their units as well as how issues are discussed on social media platforms.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as it is not the role of government to dictate the private contractual agreements and operations of HOAs.

HOAs serve as free-market alternatives to government zoning and land use standards, as individuals can choose the restrictiveness of the community they wish to join or select to live on property outside the governance of an HOA.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 1594

Senate 2022

Attempting to Force Firearm Manufacturers Out of Business by Exposing them to Frivolous and Costly Litigation.

The "Firearm Industry Responsibility Act" prohibits a firearm manufacture from manufacturing or marketing a product that is "abnormally dangerous and likely to create an unreasonable risk of harm to public health and safety in California". Additionally, the bill allows individuals to sue a manufacturer for any actions or failure by their distributors to comply with state law if the individual suffers damages from the misuse of a firearm.

This measure is primarily designed to drive firearm manufacturers out of business through an attempt to advance a gun-control agenda.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 1632

Senate 2022

Forcing Private Businesses to Grant Access to Employee Restrooms for Individuals with an "Eligible Medical Condition".

This bill requires all publicly serving businesses to provide individuals with an "eligible medical condition" (such as inflammatory bowel disease) access to their toilet facilities. The access must be provided even if the toilet facility is otherwise only available to employees, and a business can be fined $100 for each case of non-compliance.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as lawmakers should not further grow the regulatory state and impose mandates on private businesses to account for the near endless list of medical conditions that individuals may face.

Such one-size-fits all mandates may also result in abuse of business restrooms - especially when considering California's extremely high homeless rates.

Against
Limited
Government

AB 1738

Senate 2022

Advancing New Electric Vehicle Charging Station Mandates on Existing Multi-Family Dwellings, Hotels and other Commercial Buildings.

This bill requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt new regulations which require the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at certain existing commercial buildings including multi-family dwellings, hotels and non-residential developments.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the free market - not government employees - is best equipped to determine the need, placement and amount of electric vehicle charging stations and infrastructure.

Empowering the DHCD to impose mandates may inflict significant financial harm onto some smaller businesses.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 1851

Senate 2022

Hiking Taxpayer Costs by Expanding Prevailing Wage Mandates to Include the Hauling of Construction Materials To and From Job Sites.

This bill expands the application of the state's prevailing wage mandate to include hauling of materials to and from a publicly-funded construction site, such as paving, grading and fill. The prevailing wage originates from the Davis-Bacon Act a depression-era policy that forces government contractors to pay their employees above-market wages when working public works projects.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as prevailing wage mandates needlessly drive-up taxpayer costs by imposing significant additional costs onto government contractors.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 1918

Senate 2022

Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Scholarships and Training for Abortion Providers by Establishing the "California Reproductive Health Service Corps".

This bill establishes the California Reproductive Health Service Corps "for the purposes of recruiting, training, and retaining a diverse workforce of reproductive health care professionals in underserved areas." The bill directs funding towards scholarships, stipends for living expenses and childcare, and loan repayment for providers who work at a "corps-approved site".

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as taxpayers should not fund scholarships or loan repayments for any industry, let alone an industry which faces strong opposition by a significant portion of the population.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 1930

Senate 2022

Increasing Government Dependency by Expanding Medicaid Postpartum Coverage from 60 Days to an Entire Year.

This bill extends the duration of postpartum coverage provided under Medicaid (government-provided healthcare) from 60 days to 1 year.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further grows government-provided healthcare and dependency while also placing significant additional costs on both state and federal taxpayers.

Against
Limited
Government

AB 1951

Senate 2022

Increasing Tax Burdens on Other Individuals and Businesses through an Expansion of Sales Tax Exemptions for Research and Development and the Manufacturing Sector.

This bill replaces the partial sales tax exemption for manufacturing equipment and research and development with a full sales tax exemption through 2028. This exemption covers items such as machinery, computers and special purpose buildings used for manufacturing or research and development.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as all state and local tax codes should be constructed in a broadly applied manner with as low of rates as possible for everyone.

The central planning and tax cronyism enacted under this measure provides special benefits and advantages to the manufacturing industry while shifting tax burdens to all other industries and companies that do not share the same business model. Instead, lawmakers should instead utilize the $500 million in tax savings to provide a broad tax cut across all industries, which will allow the free market to provide far greater job and business growth.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2098

Senate 2022

Allowing the State Medical Board to Punish Doctors for Spreading Alleged "Misinformation" about COVID-19.

This bill declares that physicians and surgeons commit "unprofessional conduct" if they "disseminate misinformation" related to COVID-19, including false or misleading information regarding the nature and risks of the virus, its prevention and treatment; and the development, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines".

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this politicized measure promotes government censorship and prevents physicians from best serving their patients - which is especially problematic considering the everchanging guidelines and determinations being made by the government concerning COVID-19.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2134

Senate 2022

Providing "Free" Abortions to Women Earning up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.

This bill establishes the California Reproductive Health Equity Program, which provides no cost or reduced cost abortion services to women earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, the bill requires health insurers which provide plans without abortion coverage to religious employers, to provide written notice to those enrollees that they may be eligible for no cost abortions through the state program.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as regardless of ones view on abortion, it is not the role of government to provide such coverage and force the costs onto taxpayers, many of whom have deep religious objections to the practice.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2183

Senate 2022

Hiking Consumer Costs and Empowering Union Leaders by Unionizing the Agricultural Industry through a Card-Check System.

This bill makes it much easier for union leaders to unionize agricultural workers across the state's 30,000 farms. Specifically, the bill authorizes usage of a "card check" system which allows leaders to publicly pressure workers into unionizing, as opposed to the existing "secret ballot voting" system.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this measure will subject agricultural workers to significant new levels of intimidation and harassment to unionize by labor leaders.

Measures such as this highlight the importance of "Right to Work" legislation, which protects the ability of individuals to work without joining a labor union.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2199

Senate 2022

Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Additional Doula Services Through the Creation of the "Birthing Justice for California Families Pilot Project".

This bill establishes the "Birthing Justice for California Families Pilot Project", which funds community-based doula groups to provide services to individuals who are otherwise not eligible under the state's Medicaid system.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this measure further increases government dependency under a state system that already provides benefits to a substantial portion of the population through Medi-Cal.

Lawmakers should instead work to reduce barriers for charitable organizations to direct aid and assistance to those that truly need it, not expand the ineffective welfare state.

Against
Limited
Government

AB 2201

Senate 2022

Weakening Property Rights by Placing Costly and Excessive Regulatory Barriers to Drill New Groundwater Wells.

This bill requires local agencies which permit groundwater wells to obtain written verification stating a proposed well will not "undermine sustainable groundwater management or cause well interference". This additional statewide mandate is expected to significantly raise costs for well applicants and potentially limit the ability of some landowners to utilize the groundwater beneath their property.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as well drilling is already regulated at the local level and this additional state-wide regulatory barrier places significant costs onto businesses and may provide favor to certain landowners while infringing the property rights of others.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2247

Senate 2022

Advancing Government Overreach through a Costly New Reporting and Registration System for Products Containing PFAS Substances.

This bill requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control to construct a publicly accessible platform were manufactures must annually register products that contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). There are over 9,000 PFAS in existence which are in hundreds of common household products such as nonstick cookware, furniture, raincoats and shampoo.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the federal government already monitors PFAS substances and this measure will place significant additional costs on taxpayers, manufacturers, and ultimately consumers.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2320

Senate 2022

Channeling Tens of Millions of Additional Taxpayer Funds to Providers of Abortion in "Marginalized Communities".

This bill establishes a new pilot program within the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHSA) which provides additional taxpayer funding to primary care clinics that perform abortion and are located in five counties across different regions of the state.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as it is not the role of government to promote abortion and force payment from taxpayers to advance abortion (many of whom may have strong religious objections).

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2517

Senate 2022

Expanding Cronyism and Unnecessary Spending by Providing Grants to Government-Favored Community Groups with Politically Driven Agendas.

This bill establishes the "California Coordinated Neighborhood and Community Services Grant Program" which provides state grants to certain organizations in federal "Promise Neighborhoods". Many of these groups have politically-motivated agendas, such as bill sponsor "StriveTogether" which promotes on its website how its network member led the passage of a ballot measure which hiked property taxes in Colorado to increase school funding.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as taxpayer funds should not be utilized to advance political initiatives.

The private sector (through charitable endeavors) is best equipped to direct funding to the groups and initiatives which are most needed and beneficial to communities.

Against
Limited
Government

AB 257

Senate 2022

Subjecting Restaurants to Unreasonable Labor Union Demands through the Creation of an Unaccountable "Fast Food Council" to Impose Regulations.

The "Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act" or "FAST Recovery Act," establishes a 10 member fast food council made up of appointees by the Governor, Speaker of the Assembly and Senate rules committee. The council would have power to set minimum wages, working hours and various other labor standards and regulations.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill provides far overreaching powers to a group of individuals who are not accountable to voters.

Additionally, the bill drives up consumer costs by subjecting business to unreasonable demands by labor unions.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2608

Senate 2022

Weakening Election Integrity by Ending the Preservation of Vote by Mail Applications and Expanding Recipients of "Second" Mailed Ballots.

This bill repeals the requirement that the state preserve all applications for mail ballots for 22 months following the date of federal elections, and 6 months from the date of state and local elections. Additionally, election officials are now required to also send a "second ballot" via mail to a "voter representative" upon written request by a voter.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill promotes ballot harvesting as well as weakens safeguards to prevent voter fraud.

Such safeguards against fraud are critical to ensuring free and fair elections, an essential component of democracy under our nation's constitutional republic.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2784

Senate 2022

Hiking Consumer Costs by Imposing Recycled Content Mandates for a Wide Range of Common Consumer Plastic Containers.

Beginning in 2025, this bill requires thermoform plastic containers (such as "clamshell" trays for take-out food, plastic egg cartons, bakers trays, etc.) to contain at least 20-30% recycled content. The bill also imposes penalties on producers for non-compliance.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill serves as yet the latest mandate which infringes business and consumer choice for food packaging and unnecessarily drives up cost.

The state's two largest cities have already imposed bans on Styrofoam food containers.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2817

Senate 2022

Increasing Government Dependency and Housing Market Costs through a New $5 Billion Housing Assistance Spending Program.

This bill establishes the "Housing California Challenge Program" to provide $5 billion in direct rental assistance over the next 5 years to individuals who are at risk of homelessness. This program is in addition to a number of other state programs, and funding under the bill may be utilized to help individuals locate and obtain housing as well as for long-term rental assistance.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill serves as yet another measure which traps individuals into poverty by disincentivizing advancement and growing government dependency.

Additionally, the bill's $5 billion in subsidies will merely bid up the market prices of existing rental units, thus worsening the state's housing affordability crisis and likely leading to additional homelessness and government dependency.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2847

Senate 2022

Forcing Taxpayers to Spend Hundreds of Millions Annually to Provide Unemployment Benefits to Illegal Immigrants.

This bill establishes the "Excluded Workers Pilot Program" which provides illegal immigrants with up to 20 weeks of unemployment benefits, at an amount of $300 per week. The bill is estimated to cost state taxpayers $237 million to build out and over $215 million in annual benefit payouts.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as providing individuals who entered the country unlawfully to taxpayer funded welfare benefits merely incentivizes additional illegal immigration.

While reforms are needed to the U.S. immigration system to increase the number of skilled individuals who may enter and work in our country, measures such as this undermine reform efforts and plunge taxpayers into further debt.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 2974

Senate 2022

Hiking Taxpayer Costs through an Additional Small Business Procurement Mandate for Infrastructure Projects.

The "Small Business Procurement and Contract Act" establishes a 25% small business target for infrastructure contracts issued through the $14 billion the state received under the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as all government contracting and procurement decisions should be based strictly on factors relating to cost and quality.

Contracting quotas and mandates such as this bill merely restrict competition and unnecessarily drive-up taxpayer costs, while also potentially reducing project quality and timeliness.

Against
Limited
Government

AB 503

Senate 2022

Increasing Crime and Harming Public Safety by Placing a 6 Month Limit on Juvenile Probation.

This bill places a 6-month limit on the amount of time a juvenile offender may be placed on probation except in limited cases. Additionally, the court is no longer required to place certain conditions on juvenile probation such as attending counseling, repairing property, performing community service or repaying apprehension costs.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill limits the ability of courts to maintain public safety and protect property rights.

This measure is especially troubling considering the enactment of other changes to the criminal justice system which have loosened penalties and led to rising crime rates.

Supports
Limited
Government

AB 937

Senate 2022

Threatening National Security by Prohibiting Illegal Immigrants who Committed Crimes from Being Transferred to ICE Upon their Release from Prison.

The "Voiding Inequality and Seeking Inclusion for Our Immigrant Neighbors Act" prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies from transferring illegal immigrants who committed crimes to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) upon completing their sentences at correctional facilities.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government.

Measures such as this threaten national security by obstructing the ability of federal authorities to monitor and deport dangerous individuals residing in the country unlawfully.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1018

Senate 2022

Expanding the Regulatory State by Placing Costly New Reporting Mandates on Social Media Companies Concerning Content Policy Violations

The "Platform Accountability and Transparency Act" requires social media to publicly disclose how their algorithms push information. This includes statistics on items of content that violated their platform policies and were recommended or amplified through their algorithms. According to the bill's sponsor, the measure is needed to bring transparency to medical disinformation, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this government overreach into the private sector places significant financial and regulatory costs onto the tech industry, which is ultimately passed down to consumers.

Except in cases of fraud or criminal activity, industries are best governed through free market principles whereby consumers hold private companies accountable.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1020

Senate 2022

Hiking Energy Costs by Imposing Even More Stringent Renewable Energy and Zero-Carbon Electricity Mandates

The "Clean Energy, Jobs, and Affordability Act of 2022" further increases the stringency of a landmark climate bill passed in 2018 which requires all electricity sold in the state to be 100% clean by 2045. SB 1020 establishes additional benchmarks such as requiring 90% of electricity sold be carbon free by 2030 and 95% by 2035. Furthermore, all state agencies must now obtain their power from renewables by 2035.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as these unnecessary new mandates will only further drive-up electricity costs for consumers, businesses and taxpayers.

Lawmakers should instead spur economic growth (which ultimately leads to environmental improvement) through an "all of the above" approach to energy procurement.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1038

Senate 2022

Protecting Civil Liberties by Maintaining the Prohibition on the Usage of Facial Recognition Systems on Police Body-worn Cameras.

The bill extends indefinitely the prohibition on law enforcement utilizing facial recognition or any other biometric surveillance system in conjunction with a body-worn camera. This prohibition had been set to expire January 1, 2023.

Support is the Limited Government Position as our Founding Fathers supported strong protections against unreasonable search and seizures as enshrined in the Fourth Amendment.

Failure to enact this bill will further grow the surveillance state through the elimination of a critical protection against warrantless data collection.

Against
Limited
Government

SB 1137

Senate 2022

Limiting American Energy Production Through New Draconian Restrictions on Oil and Gas Well Placement.

This bill prohibits construction of any new oil or gas wells within 3,200 feet of a "sensitive receptor" which includes everything from homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. Additionally, the bill requires existing wells in those areas to comply with additional light, sound and environmental regulations.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill will significantly reduce oil and gas extraction in the state, ultimately harming American energy production and the U.

S. economy.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1142

Senate 2022

Promoting Abortion through the Creation of a State Website to Provide Information on Abortion Providers and How to Obtain Support Services Such as Airfare, Meals and Lodging.

This bill requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to establish a website providing various abortion related information. Such information includes the locations of abortion providers, available practical support services like airfare, lodging, meals, etc., and payment support resources.

All abortions are tragedies and every child deserves the right to life.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1162

Senate 2022

Subjecting Employers to Further Harassment by Expanding the State's Pay Data Reporting Mandate to Include Contractors and Pay Publishing.

This bill further expands the reporting requirement placed on employers which requires them to disclose pay rates by job category according to race, sex and ethnicity. Now employers must publish their pay scales and employers with 100 or more contractors must also disclose this information for their contracted workers.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this further government intrusion into the marketplace infringes confidential employer and worker contracting rights, while also subjecting employer to additional public harassment.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1173

Senate 2022

Harming Taxpayers and Reducing Investment Returns within the Public Employee Pension System by Mandating Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies.

This bill requires the boards of the Public Employees' Retirement System and the State Teachers' Retirement System to divest of their holdings in all fossil fuel companies by July 1, 2030.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill potentially sacrifices higher investment returns for taxpayers in order to advance a politicized environmental agenda.

All state investments should be conducted in a manner to provide taxpayers with the greatest returns based on risk, and not be based on politicized Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) principles.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1234

Senate 2022

Increasing Government Dependency by Providing STD Treatment to all LGBTQ Individuals at the Expense of Taxpayers.

This bill expands Family PACT (government-provided healthcare) to include prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases for individuals who already may be insured and are not at risk of experiencing or causing an unintended pregnancy. The bill is primarily directed at LGBTQ individuals who may have confidentiality concerns using their insurance for treatment.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further grows government-provided healthcare and dependency while also estimated to place tens of millions of dollars of additional costs onto taxpayers.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1273

Senate 2022

Threatening School Safety and Productive Learning Environments by No Longer Requiring Lawmaker Notification of Students who Commit Assault or Threaten Physical Violence.

This bill removes the requirement that law enforcement be notified whenever any employee of a school district is attacked, assaulted, or physically threatened by any pupil. The bill also eliminates the criminal penalty for students who cause "willful disturbance" of public schools.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as ensuring safe and productive learning environments should be the highest priority of any school.

This bill threatens the educational quality of all students by limiting the ability of law enforcement to maintain school discipline and safety.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1314

Senate 2022

Hindering Energy Production through a Prohibition on "Concentrated Carbon Dioxide Fluid" for Oil Extraction.

This bill bans the use of carbon dioxide fluid (collected through carbon capture technologies) from being utilized in oil extraction. This fluid serves as a helpful solvent in promoting oil flow.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill serves as yet another unnecessary barrier towards American energy production, ultimately harming the entire U.

S. economy through higher energy costs.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1327

Senate 2022

Attacking Firearm Owners and Second Amendment Rights by Allowing Anyone to Sue Another Individual Who Constructs, Transports or Sells a Firearm Banned by the State.

This bill, modeled after the Texas law allowing anyone to file lawsuits alleging violations of abortion laws, allows anyone to sue another individual who constructs, transports or offers for sale a firearm banned by the state, such as an "assault weapon" or unserialized firearm. Like the Texas law, the bill offers bounties of at least $10,000 for prevailing claimants. fi. The bill even includes language that the provisions will become inoperative if the Texas statute is struck down by the Texas Supreme Court or U.S. Supreme Court.

Lawmakers should not infringe the Second Amendment rights of their own state residents to politicize the actions taken by other states.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1343

Senate 2022

Threatening School Choice by Forcing Charter Schools to Participate in Costly State Retirement Programs.

This bill requires all new charter schools to participate in either the state's Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) as opposed to offering their own 401k style plans. This change would subject charter schools to additional regulations and costs.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this new mandate harms school choice by making it more costly to operate a charter school.

This bill is primarily designed to help bail out the state pension system as California has some of the highest unfunded pension liabilities in the country.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 1391

Senate 2022

Threatening Businesses with Higher Costs by Increasing the Stringency of the State's Cap-and-Trade Program.

This bill authorizes the State Air Resources Board every three years to review and increase the stringency of the state's cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the state's cap-and-trade program already places enormous unnecessary costs on businesses.

This measure will further worsen the situation by allowing unaccountable government employees within ARB to inflict even greater harm to the state's business climate.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 222

Senate 2022

Growing Government Dependency by Providing "Water Rate Assistance" to Certain Utility Payers based on Income.

This bill creates a new "Water Rate Assistance Program" which would require taxpayers to subsidize the water and wastewater utility bills of certain individuals based on income.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as further growing the size and scope of the government welfare state disincentivizes advancement and traps individuals into government dependency and poverty.

The private sector, through charitable initiatives, is best equipped to help support those in need and work to make them self-sufficient.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 245

Senate 2022

Increasing Health Insurance Premiums by Mandating Policies Provide Abortion Services Without any Co-Pay or Deductible.

This bill prohibits most health insurance plans, except for a specialized health care service plan contract, from requiring any cost sharing for abortion, such as a deductible, coinsurance, or copayment. The bill also applies to Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as each and every health insurance mandate or price control on co-payments prevents an individual from selecting a plan with just basic or customized coverages to fit their specific needs.

As a result, health insurers are forced to only offer costly plans loaded with coverages that most individuals do not need. This can result in lower-income or younger individuals choosing to purchase no insurance plan at all due to the high cost.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 490

Senate 2022

Increasing Taxpayer Costs by Worsening Protectionist Agricultural Procurement Mandates Placed on Schools and Universities.

The "Buy American Food Act" places more stringent domestic procurement requirements on California public schools and universities concerning their agricultural food purchases. Previous law required institutions to procure only domestically grown and processed foods unless the cost was greater than 5% of the non-domestic alternative. This bill now requires the non-domestic alternative to be at least 25% more costly, which is estimated to cost taxpayers an additional $1.9 billion.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill is largely designed to enrich California agricultural producers and labor unions, while unnecessarily punishing taxpayers who will be forced to bear the higher costs.

The bill also directly violates the limited government principles of free trade and markets.

Against
Limited
Government

SB 523

Senate 2022

Increasing Health Insurance Premiums by Mandating All Policies Cover Vasectomies and Contraceptives at No Cost.

The "Contraceptive Equity Act of 2022" requires all health insurance policies offered in the state to provide coverage for vasectomies and over-the-counter contraceptive drugs, devices and products. All of these services and products must be provided without any deductible or cost-sharing requirement. Additionally, the bill adds "reproductive healthcare decisions" to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, thus prohibiting employers from taking any discriminatory actions.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 731

Senate 2022

Threatening Public Safety by Expunging Felony and Violent Criminal Records.

This bill further expands the state's expungement policy (previously limited to just misdemeanors and low-level felonies) to now include nearly any previous criminal offense after six years have passed.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as while expunging low-level and non-violent criminal records can help reduce potential employment barriers, this expansive measure which expunges serious violent crimes threatens public safety.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 912

Senate 2022

Increasing Health Insurance Premiums by Mandating All Policies Provide Coverage for Biomarker Testing

This bill requires all health insurance policies, including Medicaid, offered in the state to provide coverage for biomarker testing to diagnose, treat, manage, or monitor a person's disease or condition "if the test is supported by medical and scientific evidence."

Against
Limited
Government

SB 918

Senate 2022

Infringing Second Amendment Rights and Defying the Supreme Court Ruling through New "Gun Free" Zones and Concealed Carry Law Changes.

This bill is largely in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, which found the use of arbitrary "may issue" standards for concealed carry licenses to be unconstitutional. Under the bill, "gun free zones" are significantly expanded - including all private businesses by default unless they post a sign saying it is permitted. Additionally, concealed carry training requirements and costs are increased, among a number of other provisions.

This measure serves to undermine the Supreme Court's decision and limits the ability of law-abiding individuals to defend themselves from criminals.

Supports
Limited
Government

SB 951

Senate 2022

Further Expanding Wealth Redistribution Under the State's Paid Leave Program by Hiking the Wage Replacement Rate to 90%.

This bill further boosts payouts under the state's Paid Family Leave (PFL) program, which is funded through an additional 1.1% payroll tax on most workers. Specifically, the bill increases the wage replacement rate from 70% to 90% for workers who earn up to $57,000 a year.

Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill will inevitably lead to a further increase in the state payroll tax due to the higher payout and greater incentive for individuals to utilize the benefit.

Instead of further growing this state wealth transfer initiative, lawmakers should eliminate the program and allow individuals to choose whether or not to purchase paid leave insurance through the private marketplace.

Supports
Limited
Government