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Assemblywoman Soria Votes in Favor of AB 379 to Protect Kids from Sexual Predators
SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria (D- Merced) today voted in support of AB 379, which strengthens penalties against the sexual exploitation of kids. The bill provides felony penalties for predators who solicit sex from a minor.
‘I’m still waiting.’ Some Planada families frustrated by slow flood recovery
Two years after a flood ravaged the town, even a member of the California State Assembly says she’s unhappy with the slow pace of repairs promised to residents.
Affordable housing is bustling in Merced, but smaller cities face barriers. ‘It’s not for lack of trying’
The city of Merced has a number of low-income housing projects in the works, but other, smaller Merced County cities have none.
Adam Conour took a couple of career detours before finding his calling in real estate development in California’s Central Valley.
Prior to launching Anabasis, a real estate company that houses U.S. armed forces veterans, he tested explosive weapons for the federal government. Before that, the 34-year-old Winton native was enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Conour’s commitment to housing his fellow veterans runs deep, even though investing in affordable housing in the state’s rural areas is challenging.
Assemblywoman Soria’s Patient Protection Bill Approved by Health Committee
Will Now Head to Appropriations Committee
SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria (D-Merced) is announcing the Health Committee’s passage of her bill AB 849, which will protect patients from sexual abuse during vulnerable examinations by requiring the presence of a trained medical chaperone.
Assemblywoman Soria’s Medical Education Bill Package Approved by Higher Education Committee
Will Now Head to Appropriations Committee
SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria’s medical education bills passed the Assembly Higher Education Committee today. Assembly Bill (AB) 1400 directs the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to establish a pilot program to allow up to 15 community college districts to offer a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. Additionally, AB 58 requests the University of California (UC) report to the Legislature by August 31, 2026 the financial requirements necessary to expand on the existing successful UC San Francisco (UCSF) medical education program at UC Merced and transition to a fully independent medical school operated by UC Merced.
Assemblywoman Soria’s EV-School Bus Bill Approved by Transportation Committee
Will now be Heard in Appropriations Committee
SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria’s EV School Bus Extension Bill(AB 1111),passed through the Assembly Transportation Committee today.
AB 1111 seeks to address challenges that local educational agencies (LEAs) face in adopting zero-emission school buses by the state mandated deadline of 2035. AB 1111 extends the deadline to 2045 for small rural school districts, adds infrastructure challenges and fire risks to the list of existing exemptions, and provides flexibility to an existing school bus scrapping program.