Press Releases

Senate Judiciary Chair Tom Umberg Responds to New California Supreme Court Rule

June 22, 2023

(Sacramento, CA) – Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana), Chair of the California Legislature’s Senate Judiciary Committee issued the following statement today in response to the California Supreme Court’s adoption of a new rule mandating reporting of misconduct by attorneys:

Umberg Labor Rights Constitutional Amendment Advances

Senate Constitutional Amendment 7 Passes First Committee

June 22, 2023

(Sacramento, CA) – Senate Constitutional Amendment 7, authored by Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana), The Right to Organize and Negotiate Act, passed the Senate Labor Committee earlier today by a vote of 4-1.

“I’m thrilled SCA 7 has cleared its first hurdle,” said Senator Umberg.  “The rights of workers in California to negotiate and organize have been clearly defined for decades – adding these as fundamental rights to our Constitution shouldn’t be debated or controversial” he added.

Senator Tom Umberg Honors Orangewood Foundation as 2023 Nonprofit of the Year

June 12, 2023

SACRAMENTO – Last week, Senator Tom Umberg (D-Orange County), and the California State Senate, announced that the Orangewood Foundation, and Chief Executive Officer Chris Simonsen, have been honored as the 34th Senate District 2023 Nonprofit of the Year.

Bills Introduced to Allow Local Governments and California to Have Public Financing of Elections

SB 24 and AB 270 would put a measure on the November 2024 ballot to allow voters to decide the matter

April 10, 2023

SACRAMENTO, CA — At a time when voters are more concerned than ever about the dominance of Big Money in politics, Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) and Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San José) have introduced parallel bills, SB 24 and AB 270, to restore control to local governments and the State by allowing them to enact new options for election campaign funding.

Alexandra’s Law Fails in Senate Committee

Senate Bill SB 44, jointly authored by Senators Umberg & Ochoa Bogh, failed passage on Tuesday, though was granted Reconsideration for a later hearing

March 28, 2023

(Sacramento, CA) – Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) announced today that his SB 44, jointly authored by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa), failed passage in the Senate Public Safety Committee.

SB 44, nicknamed Alexandra’s Law, proposed to implement a Fentanyl Admonishment in California similar to the state’s current Watson Advisement for DUIs.

Senator Thomas J. Umberg Honors Orange County Woman of the Year

March 20, 2023

(Sacramento, CA) – Today, Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) announced that he will be honoring Samantha Maria Soto, a Dispatch Supervisor with the Orange County Fire Authority as the Woman of the Year for the 34th Senate District.

Senate Judiciary Chair Tom Umberg Responds to Stunning California Bar Report

March 10, 2023

(Sacramento, CA) – Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana), Chair of the California Legislature’s Senate Judiciary Committee issued the following statement today in response to the State Bar of California’s release of reports outlining unethical conduct in the Bar’s mishandling of complaints about disgraced and disbarred attorney, Tom Girardi.

Senator Tom Umberg Named 2022 Legislator of the Year by CA Veterans Services Officers

March 2, 2023

SACRAMENTO — Last night, retired US Army Colonel, Senator Tom Umberg (D - Orange County) was awarded with the 2022 Motomu Nakasako Award for 2022 by the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers (CACVSO).

Accepting this award, Senator Umberg stated:

Former White House Deputy Drug Czar Prioritizes California Fentanyl Crisis in 2023

Senator Thomas J. Umberg Authors 4 measures to Combat Fentanyl Deaths

March 1, 2023

(Sacramento, CA) – Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) announced today that he is prioritizing California’s fentanyl crisis in 2023 and has introduced 4 measures to help stem the explosion of fentanyl poisonings.

Legislators Respond to Audit of Orange County Power Authority

February 28, 2023

Santa Ana, CA – Senators Thomas Umberg, Josh Newman, and Dave Min issued the following statements today in response to the release of the California State Auditor’s Audit Report on the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA):

Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana)