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Bill Monning wrapped up his final stint in the legislature after running into California’s term limits, which restrict legislators from serving more than 12 years combined in the state senate and assembly. A past senate majority leader, serving in that position from 2014 to 2019, Monning remained an active legislator throughout.
Background
Like some other members of the California State Senate, Monning previously served in the California Assembly, representing the 27th District from 2008 to 2012. Aside from this, he’s served as a staff attorney for both the United Farmworkers of America (where he met labor icon Cesar Chavez) and AFL-CIO, and he taught at Monterey College of Law. He has been married for more than 40 years to Dana Kent and has two adult daughters.
Committees
Budget & Fiscal Review
Health
Joint Committee, Rules (vice chair)
Judiciary
Natural Resources and Water
Subcommittee, Budget 2—Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation
Select Legislation
SB 347, Sugar-sweetened beverages: safety warnings: The past author of an unsuccessful 2013 soda tax, Monning has now written a bill that would require health warnings be placed on sugar-sweetened beverages with at least 75 calories for every 12 fluid ounces. The bill stalled in 2019, amid heated opposition from soda companies, though it remains active.
SB 253, Juveniles: pyschotropic medication: Monning introduced this bill, which would have required medical examinations before administering psychotropic drugs to children in foster care. The bill passed both the senate and assembly with overwhelming support, though then-Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed it in 2016, saying that related rules had recently taken effect and that “until we know the impact of these changes, it is premature to legislate additional measures.”
SB 128, the End of Life Option Act: Monning and Lois Wolk (D-Davis) drafted the Death with Dignity Bill, which made California the fifth state in the nation to allow terminally ill people to end their lives. It came after four other unsuccessful tries to enact such legislation in the state and initially looked destined for failure as well after stalling in the assembly. Following amendments, the bill passed and went into effect in June 2016.
District Boundaries and Office Locations
This district covers much of California’s central coast, including all of Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties and parts of Monterey and Santa Clara counties. As such, Monning maintained the following offices for constituents:
Capitol office: State Capitol, Room 4040, Sacramento, CA, 95814. Phone: (916) 651-4017. Fax: (916) 651-4917.
District office: 99 Pacific Street, Suite 575-F, Monterey, CA, 93940. Phone: (831) 657-6315. Fax: (831) 657-6320.
District office: 1026 Palm Street, Suite 201, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401, Phone: (805) 549-3784. Fax: (805) 549-3779.
District office: 701 Ocean St. Suite 318A, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. Phone: (831) 425-0401. Fax: (831) 425-5124.
