Press Releases

It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Riverside legend, and my dear friend, Tom Hunt. Tom, a product of Riverside public schools, was the very ideal of a tireless community leader and public servant. Tom served with distinction on the RUSD Board of Education for over 15 years, and took the helm as its President during one of the most challenging times for the School District, the COVID-19 pandemic. His calm, experienced and steady hand steered the District through this enormous crisis and into a much brighter future.

Sacramento—The 2024 Gun Violence Prevention Act, Senate Bill (SB) 902, by Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside), has passed the State Senate on a 36-1 bipartisan vote. SB 902 adds persons who are convicted of severe animal cruelty laws to the state’s firearm prohibition list for ten years, as other violent criminals are. California would be only the second state in the nation to enact such a prohibition, Massachusetts being the other.

Sacramento— A critical bill in California’s fight to end the opioid epidemic, by Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside), Senate Bill (SB) 1385, the Substance Abuse Navigators Legislation, co-authored by Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast), has passed the Senate Health Committee.

Los Angeles—The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, representing the nation’s most populous county, today unanimously voted to support Senator Richard D. Roth’s (D-Riverside) transformative More Pathways to Nursing legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 895, to create a pilot program for community colleges to offer Bachelor’s of Nursing Degrees. SB 895 will be heard by the Senate Committee on Education, Wednesday, April 10th.