New Bills Would Benefit Farm Workers, Smart Phone Users, Clean Car Buyers

Friday is the deadline for California state lawmakers to introduce bills for the year. They’ve already introduced more than 2,000.

One newly-introduced measure would waive the state sales tax on the purchase of new zero-emission vehicles. Buyers would still have to pay local sales tax.

Another bill would create a pilot program to provide health care to farm workers.

And a third measure would require smart-phone and tablet users to “opt-in” before an app can collect and share GPS data.

Despite Friday’s deadline, bills can still be amended later this year to address completely new subjects.

Bills must be in print for 30 days before being heard in committees. Hearings on previously-introduced bills begin next week.