Senator Hurtado Votes No on ABx2-1 to Protect Consumers, Rejecting Bill That Will Trigger Additional Energy Price Spikes

BAKERSFIELD, CA – State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D) voted against ABX2-1 (Hart), a special session legislative item targeting oil refineries with mandates and regulations that may adversely affect the price of energy Californians are paying to fuel their vehicles.



Sen. Hurtado Applauds DOJ's Crackdown on RealPage for Unlawful Rent Price Hikes Through Algorithmic Collusion; Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting Consumers with SB 1154

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) today commended the U.S. Department of Justice, along with California and other states, for taking decisive action against RealPage Inc. The DOJ's civil antitrust lawsuit targets an unlawful scheme in which landlords utilized RealPage’s software to fix rental prices, leading to inflated costs and reduced market competition.



Key Legislation Authored by Sen. Hurtado Heads to the Assembly Floor

SACRAMENTO, CA – Several key pieces of legislation authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) which seek to address important issues affecting California’s Central Valley passed a significant legislative hurdle, and now head to the floor of the California State Assembly. Among the seven bills eligible for a floor vote and potential passage into law are:



Senator Hurtado Expresses Disappointment Over Failure to Pass SB 697, Urges Continued efforts in line with Vice President Harris’ Economic Agenda to Combat Corporate Price Gouging & Tackle Inflation

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) today expressed her deep disappointment after the California Assembly Appropriations Committee failed to advance Senate Bill 697. This bill aims to enhance sentencing and penalties for those found guilty of wrongdoing under the Cartwright Act. The bill proposed increasing corporate fines up to $100 million and individual fines to $1 million with possibility of a 10-year imprisonment.



Hurtado’s Bill to Crack Down on Corporate Crime Advances in California Assembly

SACRAMENTO, CA – Last week, the California Assembly Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 697, authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield). This bill aims to enhance sentencing and penalties for those found guilty of wrongdoing under the Cartwright Act.



Bakersfield Legislators Call on Governor Newsom to Declare a Drought Emergency for San Joaquin Counties as East Bakersfield Goes Without Water

BAKERSFIELD, CA – Bakersfield Legislators Senator Melissa Hurtado and Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains are calling for assistance to families in East Bakersfield who have been without household water for multiple days during extended heatwaves.

“The residents of East Bakersfield are experiencing a humanitarian crisis that needs urgent attention and support. Just as we experienced triple-digit heat, their water goes out. What is happening is inhumane, and it is cruel. And it must be resolved with urgency,” said Senator Melissa Hurtado.



Senator Hurtado’s Bill Safeguarding Rural Homebuyers Signed into Law

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) released the following statement after her legislation, Senate Bill 1366, was signed into law by Governor Newsom. The bill requires a seller of a property to disclose water well issues that resulted in water tank assistance to prospective buyers.



Senator Hurtado Applauds Law Enforcement Partnerships in Bakersfield Resulting in Numerous Arrests

BAKERSFIELD, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) released the following statement applauding joint operations between the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Bakersfield law enforcement that have resulted in 470 arrests for illegal activities, 244 stolen vehicles recovered, and 10 crime-linked firearms seized: