Deadline Tuesday, 4/15 AND Key Legislative Updates
Dear Neighbor,
There is a lot happening in Sacramento and here in Senate District 25.
The deadline for Eaton Fire victims to request FREE debris removal is Tuesday, April 15.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Right of Entry (ROE)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will only perform FREE debris removal if the Right of Entry (ROE) Form is completed. Residents must fill out a Right of Entry (ROE) Form using the Los Angeles County website. Deadline: Tuesday, April 15
https://recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/roe/
Make sure to fill out the form by Tuesday’s deadline to receive the assistance to help you recover and rebuild.
State and Federal Tax Deadlines postponed until October in Los Angeles County.
April 15 is normally Tax Day. However, this year, residents of Los Angeles County are receiving an automatic extension of the tax deadline until October 15 to file and pay federal and state taxes because of the wildfire disaster. This delay applies to all residents of L.A. County.
Federal IRS information here:
State Franchise Tax Board information here:
Legislative Updates:
I am thrilled to update you on my legislative work.
The Generational Homeownership Protection Act: SB 293 passed the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support. This bill would allow L.A. County homeowners impacted by the wildfires to bring their property records up to date without penalty. We know Altadena suffered the worst of the devastation from the Eaton Fire that destroyed nearly 10,000 structures. What we didn’t realize at first was that many homes, particularly in Altadena’s historic Black community, were passed down within families, often, without proper title transfers. The lack of proper documentation could deny families their generational wealth and disqualify homeowners from assistance programs, further delaying their ability to recover and rebuild. This legislation is desperately needed to ensure communities like Altadena can maintain their identity and culture. Read more at:
Stopping Wage Theft: My legislation, SB 355, passed the Senate Labor Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support! This legislation will hold bad employers accountable and help workers collect their unpaid wages. Wage theft disproportionately affects low-wage workers. I am grateful to the California Labor Federation and SMART LOCAL 105 for sponsoring this important legislation. Read more at:
Protecting Students: I introduced SB 98, the SAFE Act, to warn school communities and families if federal immigration agents arrive on campus. This concern became a reality last week when federal agents attempted to enter two LAUSD elementary schools. This marks another dramatic escalation of President Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities. This is un-American, immoral and wrong. These attacks have nothing to do with public safety and – in fact make us less safe – by promoting racist narratives that target and demonize immigrant children. As Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I stand with our immigrant communities and will continue to pursue legislation so we can provide greater safety to all of California’s students and their families. Schools should be places of learning, not places of fear. Watch my video remarks at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXJAGLHlaN8
Regrowing School Gardens: My bill, SB 341, would relaunch California’s Instructional School Gardens Program, which started 25 years ago but has withered without proper funding for maintenance and technical support. It has passed Senate Education Committee with bipartisan support! I’m so excited to see the positive impact this revived program will have on students across California. School gardens teach students where their food comes from in a hands-on way and encourages healthy eating habits. I want to thank the students and everyone at Pacific Elementary School in Sacramento for hosting me and showing off their amazing instructional garden!
Stop Child Hunger: I am proud to share that my bill, SB 411, the Stop Child Hunger Act, also passed with unanimous, bipartisan support! This bill addresses gaps in the federal “SUN Bucks” program, which funds meals for students during the summer months when schools are typically closed. By streamlining the sign-up process, nearly 2 million eligible students will gain access to these essential benefits. A special thank you to End Child Poverty CA and the California Association of Food Banks for sponsoring this legislation.
This is just a partial list of the legislation I am carrying this year. I will keep you posted as we move through the process.
Do not hesitate to contact my office if you need assistance at (626) 304-1086 or (916) 651-4025.