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Summer is here Assembly District 78! I'm your representative Chris Ward and I want to bring you up to date on the latest news for July.
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| LEGISLATIVE UPDATE |
First up, I want to give you an update on a few bills from my legislative package for this year:
AB 1955, also known as the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today's Youth or the SAFETY Act, has passed in both the Assembly and Senate, and is now signed into law. Transgender, nonbinary, and other LGBTQ+ youth have been increasingly more at risk due to a recent growing trend of California school boards enacting forced outing policies. Since 2023, more than a dozen school districts have proposed and/or passed policies requiring teachers to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender, or asks to be identified by a different name or pronouns while at school. These efforts have a measurable impact on the mental health of LGBTQ+ students, and can lead to a rise in bullying, harassment, discrimination, and more. Teachers should also not be the gender police. I introduced AB 1955 to ensure all students have a safe and supportive environment to learn, regardless of their gender identity.
Hate littering, or distributing flyers, posters, or symbols with hateful messaging targeting protected communities, has become more prevalent in recent years. These forms of propaganda have rapidly become a preferred tactic of hate groups because it maximizes personal impact, while allowing the perpetrators to attempt to remain anonymous in the shadows. These are deliberate, targeted attacks that are intended to harass and intimidate victims, dehumanizing them based on their religion, gender or sexual orientation, or other characteristics. AB 3024: The Stop Hate Littering Act will make necessary updates to existing law by building on the Ralph Act of 1976 (which states that all persons have the right to be free from violence and intimidation) to ensure victims are provided adequate protections, civil recourse, and create new legal tools for law enforcement to hold offenders accountable and deter hate act activity. The bill is currently eligible for a vote on the Senate Floor and will be taken up some time after summer recess.
With the increased usage of social media platforms the act of doxing, or publishing someone's private data for the purpose of targeted harassment, has become a popular tactic affecting countless victims. Doxing someone can include highly personal information like phone numbers, home addresses, passwords, medical records, text messages or other sensitive materials without their permission to exact revenge, embarrass, extort, or exploit victims. Doxing is already a crime in the criminal code, but protections and recourse for victims is absent. AB 1979: The Doxing Victims Recourse Act will allow victims of doxing the ability to pursue civil action and receive restitution for the harms they endured. The bill is currently up for consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
| CAPITOL CONSTRUCTION |
For about three years now, lawmakers and staff, as well as the governor and his staff have been working out of the "swing space" located two blocks south of the State Capitol on 10th and O streets while the Capitol Annex is being reconstructed.
Built back in 1952, the Capitol Annex created offices for the governor, lieutenant governor, legislators, and other state officials. But in recent years, the annex has been deemed unsafe due to its lack of ADA accessibility, hazardous materials in its walls including asbestos, lead, and mold, and not being built to to modern safety or building codes.
The Capitol Annex Project was approved in 2021 and is slated to be completed by fall of 2025 when all lawmaker offices will move back into the newly constructed annex, which will include a completely glass exterior facade, gift shop and underground parking structure. For more details, visit the link below.
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| CONSTITUENT SURVEY |
Several bills are still making their way through the Legislature, and I thought it would be an important time to have you weigh in on some of the more talked-about pieces of legislation this year.
Click here to be taken to my website where you can find more information on each bill, including analysis and bill text, as well as multiple choice options on how you would vote.
As you can see, the Legislature covers a wide range of important topics with arguments for and against bill ideas. Your feedback is important, and I look forward to reading through your responses. As always, if you have any questions about any legislation, feel free to reach out to me through my district office.
| AD 78 District Survey |
| OUT IN THE COMMUNITY |
From top to bottom: Left to right: Top left: Posing with Brody Thai, the winner of Assemblymember Ward’s inaugural Civics Essay Contest. Top right: Assemblymember Ward, surrounded by his colleagues, presents the SAFETY Act for a final vote. Bottom left: Participating in the San Diego LGBTQ+ Roundtable discussion. Bottom right: Celebrating a decade of She Fest with a resolution from the State Legislature.
| CLOSE OUT |
As always, I want to thank you for your support. I'm grateful to be your representative and work on these issues and more. One of the best ways to stay informed is to follow my social media accounts on Facebook, X, Threads, and Instagram where you can know in real time what developments are happening or what I'm working on every day.
And if you need assistance, please know that my district office staff is available and ready to serve or answer any questions you may have. Feel free to reach out to the contact information at the bottom of this email, and a staff member will connect with you as soon as possible. I wish you, your family and your neighbors all the best.
Sincerely,
Christopher M. Ward
Assemblymember, 78th District