Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
Last week marked the governor’s deadline to sign or veto the bills that made it through the legislative process this year. I’m thrilled to share some incredible news: 100% of our bills that reached the governor’s desk were signed into law! That’s right—11 bills, including one I co-authored and two from our Assembly Military and Veteran Affairs Committee, which I chair, are now officially California law. Getting just one bill to the governor’s desk is an achievement in itself. To have every single one signed? That’s rare — and it’s worth celebrating. What It Takes to Pass a Law Behind every new law is a long, rigorous process — one that should be demanding. From introduction in the Assembly or Senate, to surviving multiple committee hearings, floor votes in both houses, and finally making it to the governor’s desk, every step is designed to ensure new laws are thoughtful, informed by stakeholders, and free of unintended consequences. That’s why I’m so proud of what we accomplished this year — because each bill represents months of hard work, collaboration and community input. Our Focus: Affordability, Safety, and Support for Those Who Serve Since day one, our office has focused on the issues that matter most to the people of Assembly District 40 — making life more affordable, strengthening public safety, expanding access to health care and housing, and supporting our seniors, small businesses and veterans. This year was no different. Here’s a quick update on our bills signed into law this 2025 legislative session: Making Life More Affordable Expediting State Housing Permits (Assembly Bill 301) : Speeds up urgently needed housing construction. Chiquita Canyon Community Property Tax Relief (AB 985): Provides income and property tax relief for those affected by the Chiquita Canyon Landfill fire. Patient Debt Prevention Act (AB 1312): Tackles unnecessary medical debt by ensuring people who need financial assistance get the support they need when they have health care emergencies. Health Coverage Waiting Period Transparency (AB 1418): Taking the first steps to ensure our health care workers are able to access health care themselves, starting on day one of employment, so the workers taking care of our families can also stay healthy themselves. Ethanol Blend Implementation Act (AB 30 – Co-Author): Reduces gas prices for California drivers. Keeping Our Community Safe Justin Kropp Safety Act (AB 365): Improves safety standards for workers in high-risk, high-voltage job sites. Strengthening Safe Leave Act (AB 406): Expands job protections for survivors of crime and their loved ones who help them pick up the pieces and get into a safe situation for themselves and their family. Victim and Witness Protection Act (AB 535): Boosts protections for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and abuse. Click to Cancel 2.0 (AB 656): Simplifies cancelling social media accounts and data deletion to protect your personal information and safety. Supporting Military and Veterans Strengthening California’s Role in National Defense (AB 1508): Keeps our state at the forefront of national security efforts. Protecting Veterans’ Education Benefits (AB 1509): Shields veterans from predatory institutions. These bills were written with a single goal in mind: making life better—more affordable, equitable, and safer — for families across our district. I ran for office to help ensure every person has a fair shot to not just survive, but thrive, and these new laws are an important step toward that vision. None of this would have been possible without my incredible staff and of course, you — our community members, organizational partners and passionate advocates who helped me shape these bills, testified in Sacramento, and supported us every step of the way. Thank you. Your voice made this happen. We are already working on 2026 bills and as the cost of living continues to rise, health care costs skyrocket from federal cuts and pressing issues like the Chiquita Canyon Landfill fire continue to threaten our community. We have a lot of work to do. Let’s keep pushing forward – onward! Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, represents the 40th Assembly District, which includes most of the Santa Clarita Valley in addition to the northwest San Fernando Valley. “Democratic Voices” appears Tuesdays and rotates among local Democrats.
