Hello, Assembly District 78! I'I'm your representative Chris Ward and I wanted to update you on the news for August.
Leg update
First, I want to update you on my bills that are still in the legislative process. Last week, 10 of my bills were heard by the Senate Budget Committee on Suspense Day. This is the last day that the House and Senate Budget Committees meet and consider pending bills in California that have budget costs that exceed a threshold set by each committee. Typically, hundreds of bills go through the House Budget Committee or the Senate Budget Committee, and each one is either passed by the committee or held up in the “suspense file” where it cannot be pursued.
Of the ten bills in my legislative package that were presented to the Senate Budget Committee, seven are moving forward in the legislative process:
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AB 1858, the Safe and Prepared Schools Act standardizes guidelines for conducting school shooting drills at grade levels K-12. These new guidelines provide more clarity, require parental notification, prohibit simulated shootings, and require age-appropriate drills.
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FROM 1970, the Doxing Victims Recourse Act offers compensation to victims harmed by doxingXby enabling a victim to take civil action to obtain redress for the harm caused to him by theXfixed.
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FROM 1884 clarifies the definition of excused absences due to combat activities for students in grades K-12 whose parents are on active military duty, so that smaller school districts no longer have to struggle with the vague and outdated definition currently in the law that puts them at ADA funding risk.
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FROM 1635 amends existing law with respect to the Department of Motor Vehicles facility in the Hillcrest neighborhood of the City of San Diego to ensure that it is used for the development of affordable housing and to maximize the redevelopment potential of the site.
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AB 2353 ensures that non-profit developers of affordable rental housing can benefit from the existing social property tax exemption without having to make unnecessary tax payments while their application is being considered, thereby reducing the cost of building affordable housing.
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AB 3093 requires local authorities to consider the housing needs of homeless people in their housing units and HCD to include vulnerable residents in the regional housing needs allocation.
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Finally, FROM 2005 enables California State University campuses to use the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to create affordable housing for CSU faculty, staff, and students on CSU-owned properties.
As we approach the end of the legislative session, I look forward to these bills coming to a vote and landing on the Governor's desk.
Chairman of the LGBTQ Group
I am pleased to announce that I was recently elected by my colleagues to serve as Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. I will serve alongside Vice Chair Senator Caroline Menjivar, and we will officially transition into our new leadership roles on December 2, 2024.
At a time when there is a national wave of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and attacks, as Chair I will be committed to making our state a safe haven for members of the LGBTQ+ community seeking equality, care, and protection from harm. I look forward to growing our caucus in both numbers and diversity and advancing equity in several areas that impact our community, such as housing and homelessness, education, and civil rights and community protection. Additionally, I am grateful to be able to do this incredible work with Senator Menjivar, who has quickly risen to become a respected leader in the legislature.
I look forward to starting this important work later this year.
Thanks and memories
I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who took the time to ask the 78th House District about the most talked about legislation this year.
This feedback is incredibly useful in understanding how my constituents feel about some sensitive issues. Over the coming weeks, I will read through your responses and consider your suggestions to support my upcoming votes in the plenary of Parliament.
As we approach the end of this legislative session, I want to remind you that my online portal for legislative proposals is open. Visit my website by clicking the button below and click on the “Resources” tab at the top of the page. Below that, you will find the “Submit a Bill” page where you can submit a proposal for something you think should be included in a bill or a challenge you think needs to be addressed with new legislation.
Once your proposal is submitted, my staff and I will review it and contact you as needed. We look forward to reading your responses.
Click here to submit a bill.
Upcoming events
If you've ever thought about switching to eco-friendly products to save money and do something good for the environment, but don't know where to start, I'll be hosting a webinar on September 9th on “How to Go Green.”
This informative session will cover the benefits of rooftop solar and the advantages of purchasing an electric vehicle. Experts will provide practical tips on how to make homes more energy efficient and discuss the long-term benefits of green energy solutions.
Click here to register.
And if you're interested in purchasing an electric vehicle, I'll be co-hosting an EV Day with SDG&E on September 14. This event will give you the opportunity to test drive several different electric vehicles and find out which one is best for you, without being pressured to buy one.
Click here to register.
As always, I want to thank you for your support. I am grateful to be your representative and to work on these and other issues. One of the best ways to stay up to date is to follow my social media accounts on Facebook, X, Threads, and Instagram. There you can find out in real time what developments are happening or what I am working on every day.
And if you need assistance, rest assured that the staff at my district office is here for you and happy to assist you or answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to reach out to the contact information at the bottom of this email and a staff member will get back to you as soon as possible. I wish you, your family, and your neighbors the best.
