William “Bill” W. Monning was elected to the California State Senate in 2012 to represent the 17th Senate District. Senator Monning previously served in the California State Assembly for two terms from 2008-2012.
During his tenure in the Legislature, the Senator was a leading advocate of efforts to prevent childhood obesity and other preventable chronic illnesses through reduced consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, make health care accessible and affordable, secure rights for workers, and reverse the adverse effects of climate change.
In 2015, Monning coauthored the landmark End of Life Option Act, which provided mentally-capable, terminally-ill Californians with the option to request a doctor’s prescription for aid-in-dying medication.
In his final term, Senator Monning passed legislation to create the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund, which provides short- and long-term solutions for Californians who lack access to safe and affordable drinking water. In 2019, approximately 300 water systems in California were contaminated and linked to cancer, reduced mental functioning in children, nervous system decline, miscarriages, and numerous other health issues.
From 2015 through 2018, Senator Monning served as the Senate Majority Leader under two Presidents pro Tempore. Additionally, he was appointed by the President pro Tempore of the California State Senate to represent the Senate on the California Air Resources Board.
Monning represented Senate District 17, which included all of San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz counties, and portions of Monterey and Santa Clara counties. Prior to being an elected official, the Senator was a professor at the Monterey College of Law and a Professor of International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Monterey (Middlebury) Institute of International Studies.