UPDATE

The cosponsors of SB 300 — including Anti-Recidivism Coalition, California Coalition of Women Prisoners, Californians United for a Responsible Budget, Drop LWOP Coalition, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Families United to End LWOP, Felony Murder Elimination Project, Silicon Valley De-Bug, and Young Women’s Freedom Center — released the following announcement in response to the placement of the bill on the inactive file:

August 31, 2022

Dear community,

We write to you with the news that as of August 29, 2022, SB 300 will not be moving forward through the California Legislature. This is the final week that bills can pass through the Assembly and SB 300 does not have the necessary votes (the bill requires a supermajority, or ⅔ vote). As a result, it was placed on the inactive file. While this bill will no longer be our pathway to changing felony murder special circumstance law, our work presses onward. Let’s be clear: today is a disappointment, but not defeat. Our collective work has advanced us towards justice – our stories and strength have given hope to our loved ones who are currently incarcerated.

The cosponsors of SB 300 are not taking a break – we will be convening in two weeks to learn from our successes and challenges and develop a strategy for taking the reforms of SB 300 all the way. In order to do this, we will need you. Please stay ready to continue this work through the end of this year and into 2023.

Senator Cortese, who authored SB 300 and will continue to champion these crucial reforms, stated “Although this bill didn’t have enough support from my colleagues to pass the Assembly, our coalition is committed to bringing it back next session.” We extend a heartfelt thank you to Senator Cortese, Senator Durazo, and Assemblymember Kalra and their staff for their dedication and support. We are also deeply appreciative to everyone who has poured their hearts and souls into advocating for our loved ones inside — our work continues on with them.

With love,

The SB 300 Cosponsor Team

This statement is also available on EBC’s website here.

On February 9th, 2021 Senator Dave Cortese announced SB 300, The Sentencing Reform Act of 2021, to reform California’s unjust “felony murder special circumstance” law and ensure that the death penalty and life without the possibility of parole cannot be imposed on those who did not kill, nor intend that a person die, during a crime. SB 300 will provide recourse to hundreds – potentially more – of people convicted under the “felony murder special circumstances law” that are currently awaiting execution or condemned to die in prison. Thank you to Senator Cortese and bill sponsors Silicon Valley De-Bug, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB), The Drop LWOP Coalition, Families United to End LWOP (FUEL), and the Felony Murder Elimination Project.

Learn more: tinyurl.com/SB300Justice