Key Bills on the Governor’s Desk

__SALUTATION__

I’m excited to share some noteworthy developments from the legislature. This year, we’ve made significant strides on various issues—from election protections to housing and safety regulations. Here’s an overview of my bills on the Governor’s desk, awaiting to be signed into law!

I have divided the bills into a few different categories so you can better understand my priorities and how I am addressing various community needs.

Looking Out for Children

Ensuring the safety, support, and well-being of our children is a top priority of mine:

AB 2496 - Foster Family Agency Liability: This bill ensures up to 9,700 children in the care of the care of Foster Family Agencies are not displaced. It facilitates the transfer of Resource Families from an FFA that can no longer operate because they don’t have insurance; to the county or an FFA that is still insured and operational.
AB 2866 - Swimming Pool Safety in Daycares: This bill updates the Swimming Pool Safety Act to include stricter requirements for daycare facilities with pools. It mandates safety features, daily inspections, and clear visibility of safety equipment to protect children and prevent accidents. I brought forward this legislation in response to the profoundly tragic deaths of two children in our community.
AB 1907 - Child and Family Service Review System Enhancement: This legislation would make critical improvements to the California Child and Family Service Review System, which is designed to improve outcomes for children in the foster care system. My bill would incorporate important behavioral health data and stakeholder feedback into the foster care system to improve child and family services when it comes to mental health.

Ensuring Clarity for Voters During Elections

AB 2839 - Combatting Deceptive Election Communications: To tackle voter disinformation, this bill prohibits distributing materially deceptive deepfake election content. It allows affected parties to seek legal action to prevent and address deceptive communications within 120 days of an election and ensures prompt judicial review and enforcement.
AB 1784 - Candidate Withdrawal and Nomination: This bill allows candidates to withdraw their nomination documents and apply for another office during the primary election filing period. It ensures that withdrawal is irrevocable and that fees are non-refundable.

Advancing Environmental and Health Protections

AB 2513 - Gas Stove Labeling: Starting January 1, 2025, this bill will require gas stoves sold online to display a warning label about air pollutants. For in-store sales, the label will be mandatory from January 1, 2026. This initiative aims to increase consumer awareness of the environmental and health impacts of gas stoves.
AB 2103 - Property Acquisition for State Parks: This bill will facilitate faster property acquisition by the Department of Parks and Recreation for Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks to help conservation partners rebuild parks after the devastating CZU Lighting Complex Wildfire.

Cannabis Sales for Small Producers

AB 1111 - Small Producer Event Sales Licenses: This bill introduces a new licensing framework allowing small cannabis producers to sell their products at state temporary events. Effective January 1, 2026, it will enable these producers to sell cannabis up to $175,000 in gross revenue per year, with potential adjustments starting July 1, 2027. It also mandates compliance with event requirements and ensures unsold inventory can be returned to licensed distributors.

Supporting Housing Development and Tenant Application Protections

AB 3035 - Agricultural Employee Housing: This legislation expands eligibility for agricultural employee housing developments, increasing the number of units from 36 to 150 in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties. It also streamlines the development process for housing located within 15 miles of previously designated agricultural areas.
AB 2493 - Application Screening Fees: This bill restricts application screening fees by prohibiting charges when no rental units are available. It also mandates landlords provide a copy of the credit report within seven days of receipt, ensuring transparency and fairness for prospective tenants.
AB 2387 - Mobile Home Park Lot Expansion: This bill allows owners to add up to 10% more lots to their parks without incurring additional local fees or zoning approvals. It exempts these projects from CEQA requirements and ensures that new lots comply with existing laws while maintaining current facilities.

Enhancing Transparency and Accountability

AB 3221 - Department of Managed Health Care: Review of Records: This bill increases the efficiency and efficacy of the Department of Managed Health Care’s enforcement actions. AB 3221 will allow the Department to request health plan records in a searchable digital format and allows the Director to take disciplinary action when health plans fail to respond to records requests fully or in a timely manner.
AB 2765 - Backup Electricity Rules Reporting: This bill requires detailed reporting on audits and inspections related to backup electricity compliance for telecommunications providers. It aims to enhance transparency and accountability in enforcing these critical rules that ensure telecommunication services during an emergency.

Celebrating California’s Natural Heritage

AB 1850 - State Slug: This bill designates the banana slug (Ariolimax) as the official state slug, highlighting California’s unique natural heritage.

These bills represent my commitment to addressing critical issues and improving the quality of life across our state. Thank you for your continued support as we work to impact our communities positively.

P.S. – We are hiring a new Field Representative in my District Office! If you or someone you know is interested in the position, you can read the job description at this link.

All the best,

Gail Pellerin Signature