May Updates: Community, Legislation and Resources
Dear Neighbor,
In this month’s newsletter, you will find information about an upcoming district event, legislative updates, district news, and available state resources.
Upcoming District Events
Join us for CHIRLA’s Community Health Fair, a welcoming space designed to support families with essential resources. This event will offer mental health education, early‑sign recognition workshops, and presentations from clinical and wellness partners, along with free health screenings from local clinics. Together these services promote early access to care in a safe and inclusive environment that encourages community healing and equitable mental health engagement. Register here: Avanzando Juntos: Bienestar Mental y Feria de Salud / Rising Together: Mental Wellness and Health Fair
Saturday, May 16, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
St. Elizabeth Church in Altadena
1879 N. Lake Ave., Altadena, CA 91001
Join me for a Small Business Walk in the City of Glendora. In partnership with the Glendora Chamber of Commerce, come out to meet local small business leaders and discuss ongoing legislation.
Saturday, May 23, 2026
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Meet at Periwinkle in Glendora Village
163 N. Glendora Ave, Glendora, CA 91741
Legislation Updates
In Sacramento, we are entering one of the most critical moments in the Legislative calendar. May 29 is the deadline for all Senate bills to pass and move to the Assembly. Here’s a look at my legislation.
Response to the Eaton Fire
SB 742, the Wildfire & Emergency Management Act, would require the removal of abandoned or decommissioned powerlines, like the one suspected of igniting the Eaton Fire. This is my second push to remove these dangerous structures and prevent more deadly disasters. SB 742 would also require electrical utilities to collaborate with regional emergency operation centers to ensure effective communication with local and public safety partners during a crisis.
SB 877, the Fair Claims Practices and Transparency Act, responds to the insurance industry’s impact on our community following the Eaton Fire. This bill would require insurers to disclose all loss estimate materials and any revisions to policyholders to ensure homeowners can understand how their policy payout was calculated. This bill is sponsored by Consumer Watchdog and Every Fire Survivor’s Network.
SB 878, the Insurance Payment Accountability Act, strengthens existing prompt-payment insurance laws by attaching financial penalties for missed claim decisions and payment deadlines, requiring insurers to identify disputed items in writing, and mandating timely payment on all undisputed amounts, even when other portions of a claim remain unresolved. This bill is sponsored by Consumer Watchdog, Every Fire Survivor’s Network, and the State Insurance Commissioner.
SB 1098, the Protect Ratepayers from Utility Overspending Act, establishes safeguards for rate payers by setting guidelines on the use memorandum and balancing accounts by investor-owned utilities (IOUs) and requires that any costs approved for recovery through rates be set below the IOU’s current authorized rate of return. This bill is sponsored by The Utility Reform Network (TURN).
SB 1417, the Mutual Water Company Rate Disclosure and Fair Notice Act, requires mutual water companies to comply with specified notice and public meeting requirements before increasing rates. The bill also requires these entities to provide company records upon request by an eligible person and reinforces existing law stating that a mutual water company may not hold a shareholder’s tenant directly responsible for water service.
Protections Against Federal Overreach
SB 957, the SHIELD Act, strengthens user data protections by requiring social media companies to notify a user when the federal government seeks their personal information through an administrative subpoena. This bill ensures that users have time to respond or challenge the subpoena, requires companies to disclose what information was shared, and establishes reporting requirements to the Attorney General’s office.
SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act, would establish a statewide inspection and compliance framework for large involuntary residential facilities including privately operated detention facilities. People held in these privately operated facilities are suffering and, in some cases, are being treated inhumanely. An unprecedented number of people died in detention in 2025, and that number could be surpassed in 2026. This bill is sponsored by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA), Public Counsel, and the South Asian Network.
SB 1095, the Transparency and Regulation of Unlawful Surveillance and Tracking Act, requires California law enforcement agencies to adopt a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to prevent the sharing of sensitive personal information for immigration enforcement or racial/identity profiling if they participate in state‑run data surveillance hubs called fusion centers. The bill also requires annual reporting of fusion center operations and directs the State Department of Justice to conduct audits of fusion centers and participating law enforcement agencies. This bill is sponsored by the California Immigrant Policy Center, San Francisco Public Defenders Office, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Council on American-Islamic Relations.
SB 1101, the Higher Education Data Sharing Transparency Act, responds to ongoing concerns about federal actions affecting free speech and campus safety at colleges and universities by requiring institutions to notify students, faculty and staff when their personal information is shared with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The bill also limits such disclosures to what is legally required, and mandates institutions specify the type of information released. This bill is sponsored by California Faculty Association (CFA), California Federation of Teachers (CFT), and the University of California Student Association (UCSA).
SB 1103, the Responsible Enterprise and Public Accounting of Immigration Raids (REPAIR) Act, requires large home improvement retailers to publicly report immigration enforcement activity occurring on their premises and to disclose their policies on surveillance data-sharing practices and employee interactions with federal immigration authorities. The bill also requires companies provide the State Attorney General with documentation related to such activity upon receipt of an administrative subpoena. This bill is sponsored by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON).
SB 1105, the Protect California Rights Act, responds to actions by the current federal administration that have resulted in discriminatory and retaliatory measures targeting communities of color and immigrant communities. This bill prohibits state and local law enforcement from participating in federal operations that violate state laws, including state protections against racial/identity profiling, and the criminalization of protected speech. This bill sponsored by the American Civil Liberites Union (ACLU) California Action and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA).
Other Key Legislation
SB 978, the Data Center Community Accountability Act, protects Californians and utility ratepayers by mitigating the adverse effects of data centers by directing the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to establish a special rate class for data centers, ensure that data centers pay for transmission level interconnection, and prohibit cost shifts to ratepayers. It also requires a contractor who enters a contract to perform work on a data center facility to abide by specified public works requirements and use a skilled and trained workforce.
SB 1083 (Statewide Accountability System for Egregious Misconduct) builds on the Safe Learning Environments Act (SB 848) by establishing an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) review process for classified employees added to the statewide data system for investigations involving egregious misconduct, strengthening investigation and reporting requirements, and creating appropriate vetting standards for independent contractors who work with students. This bill is sponsored is sponsored by the California School Employees Association, AFSCME, and the California Federation of Teachers.
District News
I was deeply honored to serve as the commencement speaker for ArtCenter’s Spring 2026 Graduation and Grad Show, and to accept an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. I am in awe of the creativity of these new graduates and have great anticipation for their future artistic contributions.
I had such a great time at the Door of Hope 40th Anniversary Celebration. For four decades, Door of Hope has been providing critical support, stability and hope for families in need. It was more than a celebration of a milestone, but a celebration of all the lives impacted by their service and dedication. I offer my congratulations to Door of Hope and wish this critical organization many more years of service to our community.
Resources
ICYMI: I hosted a special Sexual Assault Prevention webinar. This topic feels especially important given all the recent news. But the unacceptable reality is sexual assault is and has always been all around us. Our panel of experts represent Center for the Pacific Asian Family, Partners Against Violence, and East Los Angeles Women's Center. They are dedicated advocates who are working every day to stop sexual assault and support the survivors. Please reach out to these organizations if you need their services. Watch the webinar here. https://www.youtube.com/live/-ou_4gRKxS0?t=135s
Wildfire Prevention Grants: CAL FIRE is announcing the availability of up to $70 million in funding for community-focused Wildfire Prevention and Resilience projects. The Wildfire Prevention Grants Program will host a series of ‘office hours' to assist with various steps in the Wildfire Prevention grants process, including answering questions. Please check the Wildfire Prevention Grants webpage for exact dates, times, and locations for each office hour event. A recording of each will also be made available on the Wildfire Prevention grants webpage. At least 40 percent of available grant funding will support projects. Entities that can apply include: Native American Tribes, Joint Powers Authorities if the entities involved are eligible applicants, Special districts (fire protection districts, community services districts, water districts, resource conservation districts), local agencies including, cities, and counties, Fire Safe Councils with a 501(c)(3) designation, other qualified non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation. For more information about CAL FIRE's Wildfire Prevention Grants, including previously awarded projects and application details, visit CAL FIRE Grants.
Constituent Services
I am grateful for the support and engagement of my constituents! If you need assistance with state government services, please contact my office or visit my Senate website at: sd25.senate.ca.gov
Please reach out if I can be of assistance.