10 Ways Assembly Democrats are Building a Stronger California in 2026

For immediate release:

• Nick Miller
• Communications Director
• 916-319-2029
• [email protected]

SACRAMENTO- As the Legislature heads into recess and lawmakers return to work in their communities, Speaker Robert Rivas and Assembly Democrats have established a strong foundation for 2026 - taking decisive action to fight for affordability and protect access to health care, speed up housing construction, and make sure every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely and responsibly.

And we're not slowing down - this is just the opening chapter on a year of delivering real results for Californians.

Despite historic uncertainty at the federal level, California's Assembly continues to defend our economy and workers, and stand tall when our values come under attack. Out-of-control White House policies threaten everything, from our schools to local small businesses - but California doesn't back down. We stand firm, and we win.

The 2026 legislative year extends through September, but the first three months have decisively delivered on building a foundation for improving day-to-day quality of life for all Californians. The following is 10 Ways Assembly Democrats are Delivering Results, Fighting for Affordability and Building a Stronger California in 2026:

1. $90 Million for Women's Health Care

California Democrats moved swiftly this year to protect women's reproductive health, acting fast to keep clinics and Planned Parenthood doors open, and to avoid reduction in services.

As Trump and Republicans in Washington slash funding for essential care, California is holding the line - fighting to ensure women don't lose access to the care they rely on.

In February, California accelerated $90 million in critical fundingto protect access to reproductive and women's health care services statewide. This investment:

• Ensures Planned Parenthood centers will both remain open and also avoid reductions in services
• Allows clinics to continue providing essential care - including cancer screenings, contraception, STD testing and treatment; and safe abortion services - even as federal actions threaten providers and have forced clinic closures.

2. Housing, Housing, Housing

Last year, the Assembly delivered generational and landmark reformsto make it easier and less costly tobuild housing across California- especially in our cities and metro areas, where workers deserve shorter commutes by living closer to their jobs.

This was a transformational change to housing policy. And in 2026, the Assembly is building on that success.

To begin the year, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks initiated a new Select Committee on Housing Construction Innovation, which Speaker Rivas called an essential effort to "dig into the innovations that can meaningfully lower construction costs and help us produce housing at the scale Californians need."

"By learning from practitioners, studying what's working around the world, and further identifying the barriers holding us back, we can chart a path toward modernizing how we build housing in this state," Speaker Rivas said.

Learn more about how the Assembly and California continue to deliver results on building homes faster and improving affordability and opportunity.

3. Protecting $188 Billion for California Families

As Trump and Republicans resumed their economic assault on California last year, the Legislature acted fast to defend California's workers, businesses and families by approving $25 millionfor legal action against unlawful and hostile federal actions.

That $25 million investment has resulted in multibillion-dollar protections for California.

As of February, California's legal action has protected $188 billionin funding that supports schools, small businesses, wildfire response, health care, and critical infrastructure across the state.

In a year, California has filed 55 lawsuits against the Trump administration, securing 13 final rulings and 35 preliminary injunctions granting preliminary relief, and the state's actions are increasingly seeing success at the appellate level. There have also been 6 cases where Trump has backed down in full or in part.

California has also blocked efforts to undermine food assistance programs like SNAP, making sure that food aid and benefits reach eligible Californians.

The state has also stopped Trump from clawing back funds for child care, cutting-edge medical research, and FEMA's disaster mitigation, and preserved AmeriCorps.

4. ¡Fuera ICE! No ICE in California!

The first week of 2026, as Trump's reckless ICE agents terrorized Minneapolis, Speaker Rivas and Assembly leaders condemnedthe fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, standing in solidarity with Minnesotans and leading a moment of silenceduring the State of the State address while holding the federal government accountable.

Later, on January 26, after the ICE killing of Alex Pretti, Assembly lawmakers united to condemn ICEreckless violence.

In the subsequent days and weeks, lawmakers introduced several new billsto hold Trump accountable for criminal ICE and Homeland Security agents and his administration's failed immigration policies.

As Trump's ICE enforcement actions continue to threaten immigrant communitiesand sow chaos throughout the nation, the Assembly is committed to maintaining a strong stance to protect Californians.

5. Making Sure Taxpayer Dollars are Spent Responsibly

Since day one as the Assembly's leader, Speaker Rivas has prioritized oversight, and in 2026 continued to double-down to make sure major state investments are implemented effectively and responsibly - because taxpayer dollars must work for each and every resident.

So far this year, Assembly lawmakers have:

• Convened targeted public hearings to examine homelessness and housing programs, energy affordabilityand the future of California's 911 system.
• Pushed for greater accountability, transparency, and measurable outcomes across state programs, including holding several budget oversight hearings.

6. Fewest Bills Introduced in Decades

In a shift toward results-driven governance, in 2024 the Speaker announced that the Assembly would reduce the number of bills each member can introduce.

Speaker Rivas lowered the number of bills Legislators can carry from 50 to 35. He explained the reasoning behind this change in remarks at the beginning of this two-year session:

"We're doing so because we want every leader in this room to have the greatest possible bandwidth to focus on laws that uplift affordability and prosperity."

This bold decision has brought deeper focus to the Assembly's work:

• Lawmakers have introduced the lowest number of new bills in two decades.
• Compared to the previous two-year session, bill introductions are down nearly 13%, with 608 fewer bills introduced overall.
• This reframing of priorities allows lawmakers additional capacity for oversight and accountability, ensuring existing programs are implementing programs effectively and course-correcting if there are unintended consequences.

7. First-in-Nation Outcomes Review Oversight Tool

The Assembly introduced a first-of-its-kind Outcomes Reviewprocess to evaluate whether new laws are working as intended - because passing a new law isn't the finish line, it's just the beginning.

In 2026, 16 Assembly members will use this new tool to review how their legislation has been implemented - and make recommendations for future actions and solutions. This effort:

• Strengthens transparency, improves implementation, and ensures policies are delivering meaningful benefits for Californians.
• Creates more opportunity for public access, with multiple committee hearings across housing, health care, public safety, and affordability.
• So far this year, at least half of these laws have already been examined via public hearing, bringing together policy experts, government agencies, advocates, and community members to analyze how legislation is improving the lives of Californians - including committee hearings on affordable housing, farmworker housing, online charitable platforms, community solar, mortgage forbearanceand insurance, and groundwater recharge permits.
• At the end of the legislative year, the process will result in a summary of Outcomes Review findings and proposals for next steps.

8. Demanding Trump Deliver Wildfire Relief for L.A.

February 2026 marked one year since California and Governor Gavin Newsom formally requested the Trump administration and Congress to provide federal wildfire relief for victims and survivors of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires.

On that one-year mark, Assembly Democrats voted to pass a resolution demanding immediate federal relieffor victims of the Eaton and Palisades wildfires as tens of thousands of residents are still rebuilding their lives.

• California had requested $39 billion to support waste and debris removal, housing and infrastructure repair, targeted tax relief, housing tax credits, business loans and grants, future fire risk mitigation, and other critical recovery efforts for victims.
• The Trump administration has failed to act, not giving the Los Angeles fire victims the same timely disaster assistance that other states receive when catastrophe strikes.
• The full bipartisan California Congressional delegation has supported federal aid for Los Angeles's recovery, including through a letter signed by all sitting California members of the U.S. House and Senate.
• The Assembly made clear that disaster relief must not be delayed, denied, or politicized.

9. Honoring California Farmworkers

The Speaker brought together Democrat and Republican Assembly members to unanimously approve legislation establishing Farmworkers Day as a state holiday, recognizing the essential contributions of California's farmworkers. The measure:

• Honors generations of workerswho have fought for safer conditions, fair wages, and dignity on the job.
• AB 2156, which Speaker Rivas authored with Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón and was co-authored by all 80 lawmakers in the Assembly, passed the Assembly with a 70-0 vote.
• Celebrates their essential role in California's economy and communities.

10. Always Fighting for California Values

From protecting access to health careto condemning hateful rhetoricand standing up for immigrant communities, the Assembly has taken clear, unified action to uphold California's values.

• Defended California against harmful federal actions, including: standing against offshore drilling on California's coast, protecting free and fair elections, urging Congress to restore subsidiesthat help millions of Americans afford quality health care, condemning threats to freeze childcare fundingand food assistance for families, and calling for an end to violent immigration enforcement tactics.
• Passed key resolutions, led public advocacy efforts, and worked across government to protect rights and promote equity.

This work reflects a simple commitment: results that Californians can see and feel.

The Assembly will continue advancing solutions, holding our own government accountable, and defending the values that make California a place of opportunity for all.