Sen. Jerry Hill Opens Entries For 'Oughta Be A Law' Contest

SAN MATEO – Want to help California be a better place? State Senator Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, encourages Peninsula and Silicon Valley residents to submit their bill ideas to his 12th Annual “Oughta Be a Law...Or Not” contest.

For the contest, Hill will consider ideas from constituents for new legislation or the repeal of outdated laws. Typically, Hill selects a standout bill idea and introduces legislation based on it. But the contest isn’t limited to a single winning idea if there are other equally strong entries.

“I always welcome great bill ideas and if there is more than one winner, that’s terrific – our record is four winners in a single year,” said Hill, referring to four bills inspired by constituents that he introduced in 2016, two of which became laws.

One of those was Jojo’s Act, which took effect with the New Year and was urged by the mother of a severely disabled South San Francisco student who relies on medicinal cannabis to attend school. Jojo’s Act, Senate Bill 223, enables parents of public school students like the bill’s namesake to give their children their medicine at K-12 campuses under strict rules and conditions provided the school district allows it.

“We’ve had great legislative successes with the ‘Oughta Be a Law’ contest,” said Hill. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for constituents to participate in the legislative process and help bring about positive change.”

Ideas may vary from statewide reforms to local community improvements that are within the purview of the state Legislature.

To learn more information, obtain a contest entry form and view previous winning law ideas, visit Senator Hill's website.

Entries must be receieved by Jan. 17.

The contest is open to all constituents of the 13th Senate District, which includes the cities of Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Mountain View, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Sunnyvale, Woodside and parts of unincorporated San Mateo County and unincorporated Santa Clara County.