Calif. Internet Bills Pass First Chambers

California lawmakers passed broadband bills Wednesday to fund and revamp the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). Senators voted 31-5 for SB-4 by Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D). The Assembly voted 62-7 for AB-14 by member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D). Each bill advanced to its opposite chamber. Others that passed their originating chamber by wide margins this week included AB-32 on telehealth, AB-41 on agency coordination, AB-537 on wireless facility applications, AB-955 on highway permits, AB-1560 on distance learning and SB-546 to extend a California LifeLine pilot. The Assembly passed two social media regulation bills, voting 59-16 Tuesday for AB-35 about misinformation and 64-1 Wednesday for AB-587 on transparency.