Dear Neighbor,
Fall is officially in full swing, and with that comes football, local Halloween fun, and voter education! Ballots for a crucial election have been mailed out to registered voters. Please register and make a plan to vote by November 4. Your vote is your voice!
Legislation on the Governor's Desk
I'm proud to share that all ten of my bills that reached the Governor's desk have been signed into law. I'm incredibly proud of my team for their hard work and tenacity in getting us to this point. My colleagues and I worked long days--some over 12 hours--to move critical legislation through the Assembly before the end of session.
Here's a look at my 2025 legislation that has been signed into law:
- AB 414 will require landlords to return the security deposit to the tenant via e-transfer or wire transfer if they have previously used it as a method of payment with the tenant.
- AB 583 will allow nurse practitioners to sign death certificates, speeding up necessary post-mortem procedures and allowing physicians more time to treat patients.
- AB 679 will add property acquired for Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks to the list of exemptions from the Public Works Board process, removing barriers in the CZU Fire State Parks Recovery.
- AB 723 will require real estate listings to disclose when AI is utilized in virtual staging, preventing bad actors from misleading potential tenants/buyers.
- AB 996 will provide guidance to coastal cities and counties on preparing for sea level rise, helping them avoid hurdles that result in fines.
- AB 1072 requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with county elections officials, to develop uniform standards and guidelines for a voter to correct mistakes made on the voter's ballot.
- AB 1104 will remove administrative barriers for private businesses that want to install solar energy.
- AB 1511 will make minor and technical changes to the Public Records Act.
- AB 1512 will create greater consistency in the way that ballot questions are asked on the ballot.
- AB 1513 will ensure that elections-related communications can be delivered more quickly.
If you're curious about hearing more detailed breakdowns of these pieces of legislation, please click on the links attached to the bill numbers. Follow along on my Facebook, Instagram, or BlueSky for the most immediate notification on my legislative activity!
Care Fair Recap
In recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, my office hosts a health fair and honoree ceremony, which rotates throughout the district. This September, we honored our 12 mental health heroes in Santa Cruz.
It was a deeply moving and full-circle moment to welcome so many mental health providers and advocates right outside the building where I first filed to run for the Assembly. When I made the decision to represent Assembly District 28, I made a committment to uplifting suicide prevention efforts and championing access to mental healthcare.
I encourage everyone to stay familiar with the signs of mental illness and be ready to connect others to help when they need it most. A comprehensive list of mental health resources can be found on my website.
Please take a moment to meet our 2025 Mental Health Heroes and consider nominating a 2026 honoree to be recognized next September at our third annual Care Fair. If you're part of a health-focused organization serving Assembly District 28 residents, it's never too early to inquire about tabling opportunities for next year's event.
Other Community Events This Month
Resources & Updates
Help Welcome Residents Home on Cherry Avenue
DignityMoves, the City of San José, and Santa Clara Valley Water are opening a new 130-bed interim supportive housing community on Cherry Avenue, operated by HomeFirst. This community will provide safe, dignified shelter for hundreds of San José residents each year and help more than 2,000 people find their path out of homelessness over the next decade.
Community members are invited to help make this new site feel like home by adopting a Unit:
- Volunteer to Set Up Rooms: Join onsite October 24-26 to furnish and prepare the units for incoming residents.
- Donate a Welcome Home Basket: Fill a basket with essentials such as toiletries, shampoo, lotion, a toothbrush, deodorant, and a warm note of encouragement.
For details on logistics, donation guidelines, and registration, visit the registration page and sign up by Friday, October 17.
Clean Air Vehicles (CAV) Decal Program Update
On September 30, 2025, the federal policy that allowed Clean Air Vehicles (CAV) access to the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes and Express Lanes, regardless of the number of occupants, expired. This change in federal policy required the California DMV to sunset the Clean Air Vehicle decal program that has been in place since 1999. In addition, any Clean Air Vehicle that does not meet the HOV lane occupancy requirements will no longer be permitted in the HOV lanes on the BATA Bridges. Clean Air Vehicles that do not meet the carpool requirements can still use Bay Area Express Lanes but will no longer receive toll discounts unless they meet carpool occupancy requirements.
Starting October 1, 2025, all Bay Area FasTrak CAV tags will automatically convert to FasTrak Flex tags; no action is required by customers. For more information, please visit the DMV website.
Bill Wilson Center Host Homes
The Bill Wilson Center's Shared Housing/Host Home Program is asking community members to open their doors and hearts to young adults ages 18-24 who are experiencing housing instability. Hosts provide temporary housing (about six months) in a safe, welcoming environment, giving youth the stability they need to stay in school, work, and build toward independence.
Hosts can be families, couples, or individuals living anywhere in Santa Cruz County. Hosts receive monthly rental assistance of up to $1,500. Check out their website for more details.
Every young person deserves a safe place to call home. Learn more or apply to become a host today.
Planned Pethood in Santa Cruz County
The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) is once again partnering with Animal Balance to provide Santa Cruz County dog and cat owners with affordable spay/neuter surgery, core vaccines, and a microchip between November 7 and 9, 2025. Registration is open at www.scanimalshelter.org.
Heads-Up: Murray Street Bridge Closure
Construction is underway on the Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project in Santa Cruz--a major effort to bring the bridge up to modern seismic safety standards.
The retrofit includes replacing outdated structural components, adding new pilings and supports, and upgrading drainage systems to extend the bridge's lifespan and improve resilience in the event of an earthquake.
Bridge Closures are taking place through 2028:
- Westbound Lane: Closed to vehicles and bicycles starting through January 2028.
- Full Bridge Closure: June 23, 2025-February 2026, both directions closed to all traffic (vehicles, bikes, pedestrians).
- A second full bridge closure is expected to start early to mid-2026 and last for three months
- Pedestrian access and eastbound lanes will reopen in February 2026, with westbound lanes remaining closed until 2028.
Businesses in the Lower Seabright and Harbor area remain open during construction. You can view detour maps here.
Alternative transportation: The free Santa Cruz harbor water taxi has added extended hours during the closure, so hop aboard! You can learn more here.
Operating Hours:
- Thursdays: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM (During Crow's Nest beach barbecues)
- Fridays: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Trial basis - through October!)
- Saturdays & Sundays: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Holidays: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day)
Allow extra time when traveling near the Santa Cruz Harbor area. For detour maps, timeline updates, and more, visit the City of Santa Cruz project page.
Constituent Services
As your elected representative, I'm here to serve you in a variety of ways. One of the most important is helping you navigate issues with state agencies.
Whether it's the DMV, Franchise Tax Board, EDD, Disability Insurance, or another state department--we're here to help. Contact my office through my website or by calling:
📍 San Jose District Office: (408) 264-2848
📍 Santa Cruz District Office: (831) 425-1503
You can also visit our offices--please call ahead to schedule an appointment so staff are ready to assist.
My team and I are always here to support you.
Warm regards,
Gail Pellerin
Assemblymember, District 28
