| JUNE 2025 NEWSLETTER |
__SALUTATION__
Summer is here, and so is another month of updates from our office. We've been hard at work moving legislation, meeting with community members, and pushing for policies that make a difference. Scroll down to see what we've been up to and what's ahead this month!
| Click To Play |
| LEGISLATIVE UPDATE |
I'm proud to share that 13 of my bills have passed out of the Assembly and are now under consideration in the Senate. These proposals reflect a broad agenda focused on making California more affordable, equitable, and sustainable. We're advancing housing solutions that build smarter, faster, and greener. We're protecting your personal data and civil rights in an increasingly digital world. We're cutting red tape to expand green energy and outdoor access, modernizing school operations, and making our elections more transparent. And we're working to expand access to physical and mental health care—because everyone deserves to live a life free of worry and concern.
As a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, I am proud that the Legislature passed a responsible and forward-looking budget that reflects our values and protects Californians during uncertain times. We rejected the Governor's proposed cuts to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), to preserve overtime pay and ensure that immigrant seniors and people with disabilities continue to receive the care they depend on. At the same time, we made meaningful investments to tackle California's housing crisis—funding affordable housing production, supporting local homelessness efforts, and advancing long-overdue reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to speed up construction in environmentally responsible ways. This budget maintains record per-student school funding, boosts childcare access, and protects higher education from permanent cuts. We balanced the budget without raising taxes on working families, using a careful mix of reserve funds and internal borrowing, while still preserving over $11 billion in rainy day reserves. In the weeks ahead, I'll keep working to ensure the final budget continues to reflect California's deep commitment to equity, stability, and opportunity for all.
Building Homes Smarter, Faster, and Greener
AB 6 Building Standards – Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to create a working group to explore allowing "missing middle" developments between three and 10 units to be built under the requirements of the California Residential Code, rather than the California Building Code.
AB 253 Permitting Reform – Allows homeowners and developers to use third-party licensed professionals to review certain post-entitlement permits.
AB 368 Passive Housing Standards – Directs the California Energy Commission to evaluate the adoption of certified Passive House energy efficiency standards as an alternative compliance pathway to existing Title 24 building efficiency standards.
AB 474 Shared Housing Act of 2025 – Supports nonprofit home-sharing by reducing barriers, offering financial incentives and tenant protections for seniors, and allowing caregivers to move in when necessary.
Protecting Privacy & Civil Rights
AB 82 Secure Records for Drugs related to Gender Affirming Care – Strengthens protections for individuals seeking and providing legally protected health services in California by safeguarding health data privacy and expanding safety measures, particularly for those involved in gender-affirming care.
AB 446 Surveillance Pricing – Prohibits businesses from using the personal information of a consumer to adjust the price of goods based off their individualized data profile, a practice known as surveillance pricing.
AB 1337 The IPA Reform Act of 2025 – Updates California's Information Practices Act (IPA) of 1977, which governs how public entities handle our data, to respond to the challenges of today's digital environment.
Reducing Barriers for Green Energy, Recreation,
Modernizing School Operations & Electoral Processes
AB 518 Low Impact Camping – Streamlines the permitting process for Low Impact Camping Areas or commercially available campgrounds that are approved by and meet all requirements set by local governments.
AB 629 School Districts: Equipment Inventory – Updates an old rule that made schools track every item worth over $500 by raising the limit to $1,500, saving time and money by cutting down on unnecessary paperwork and keeping up with today's prices.
AB 864 Solar Panel Recycling – Makes it easier to recycle old solar panels in California by removing extra hazardous waste rules, as long as the panels aren't dangerous and are sent to certified recyclers.
AB 930 Electoral Efficiency Act – Makes voting and recounts in California more fair and transparent by giving voters more time to return mail ballots, improving how recounts are handled, and requiring clearer public reporting of results.
Expanding Access to Health and Mental Health Care
AB 322 School-Based Health – Increases local educational agencies' participation in programs that offer reimbursement for school-based health and mental health services, helping schools draw down crucial funds to cover the cost of student health and mental health services.
AB 1103 Research Advisory Panel of California (RAP-C) Reform – Streamlines RAP-C's processes for approving medical and scientific research about medicines used for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, treatment-resistant depression, substance use disorder, and other conditions driving the disproportionate incidence of suicide among veterans.
| CAPITOL HAPPENINGS |
Top Left: June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, and on June 5, I wore orange with colleagues to stand against gun violence. Top Right: Met some scaly Californians earlier this month via the annual Sea World at the capitol lobby day. Bottom Left: Attended the Capitol LGBTQ Association 6th Annual Pride Celebration in Sacramento. Bottom Right: Held a meeting with the Green Hydrogen Coalition to discuss the importance of green energy throughout our State.
| IN THE DISTRICT |
AD 78 Nonprofit of the Year - Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation: In May, I had the honor of recognizing a local nonprofit near and dear to our hearts here in San Diego. The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation is a proud partner with the City of San Diego in stewarding and maintaining the Mission Trails Regional Park. Be sure to click the link below to see our full interview with Jennifer Morrisey, the Foundation's executive director!
| OUT IN THE COMMUNITY |
Top Left: Presented my spring Intern, Pia, with a certificate to congratulate her on the completion of her internship in my office. Top Right: Attended the Kensington Memorial Day Parade with my team. Bottom Left: Joined Equality California at their Annual Equality Awards in San Diego. Bottom Right: Received a tour from The Nat of their new Paleontology Center.
| IN THE NEWS |
'Slap in the face' – San Diego leaders speak out against renaming of USNS Harvey Milk
California's Cities and Counties Must Step Up Their Privacy Game. A.B. 1337 Can Do That
Patrick Henry High's Morris named District 78 Teacher of the Year
| 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, BlueSky, 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 end 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.
Christopher M. Ward
Assemblymember, 78th District