SACRAMENTO, CA - Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo announced today that she has delivered on her commitments to make our community more affordable, healthy, and safe, with 16 bills heading to the Governor's desk. These new laws would help to lower costs, expand health care access, protect our neighbors and small businesses, strengthen public health and safety, support veterans, and address our housing affordability challenges.

"This work is about solving the real problems people are facing every day - whether it is families struggling with rising utility costs, small business owners getting trapped by hidden fees, patients waiting for care because of delayed insurance approvals, or veterans trying to get the benefits they earned and sacrificed for," said Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo. "They also reflect what we have heard directly from our communities, including the need for stronger protections to prevent another public health disaster like the Chiquita Canyon Landfill fire. Getting these bills across the finish line and onto the Governor's desk is a huge step forward on these critical issues."

Assemblywoman Schiavo's priority legislation headed to the Governor include:

Lowering Costs & Expanding Health Care Access

Utility Rate Transparency Act (AB 1715)
Holds utility companies accountable by ensuring savings from public financing the utility receives are passed along to ratepayers.

Timely Care Act (AB 539)
Reduces health care costs and speeds up patient care by keeping insurance companies from requiring frequent and time consuming approvals for treatment.

Public Hospital Physician Employment Act (AB 2311)
Keeps health care services available by allowing some public healthcare district hospitals to directly employ physicians.

Electric Vehicle Charger Affordability Act (AB 1820)

Reduces costs for EV charger installation in multifamily housing by capping permitting fees, making clean transportation more accessible.

Public Safety & Victim Support

Sexual Predator Accountability Act (AB 2147)
Helps protect and support crime survivors and improves prosecution of serial sexual offenses perpetrated across multiple counties. (Signed by Governor)

Organized Metal Theft (AB 1941)^†
Helps the state protect public infrastructure and prosecute those committing metal theft in a coordinated manner by creating a new crime of organized metal theft.

Public Health

Landfill Safety Act (AB 28)
Better prevents public health disasters like the one at Chiquita Canyon Landfill from occurring by requiring action if early warnings are seen, formalizing state oversight to control landfill temperature, and creating strong public health responses in the event a disaster occurs.

Landfill Data Transparency Act (AB 2674)
Better protects public health by making landfill temperature and gas data publicly available online, so communities can identify warning signs.

Housing

Multifamily Housing Cost-Saver Cleanup Act (AB 2390)
Ensures housing projects eligible for streamlined approval are not delayed by shifting standards during the process that can unexpectedly increase construction costs.

Supporting Veterans

Faster Services for Veterans Act (AB 2219)
Helps to ensure veterans and their families receive the comprehensive and timely support they deserve by strengthening collaboration between the California Department of Veterans Affairs and County Veteran Service Officers.

Veterans Property Tax Exemption (SB 296)*
Provides total exemption from property tax up to $1 million in home value for low-income disabled veterans and 50% exemption for all other qualifying disabled veterans.

Protecting Veterans from Predatory Practices Act (SB 694)^†
Protects veterans from illegal and exorbitant fees charged by predatory claims companies when they seek help accessing the disability benefits they earned. (Signed by Governor)

Small Business Protection, Local Jobs & Financial Security

Protect Small Business from Predatory Lending Act (AB 2116)
Saves small businesses time and money by preventing surprise contract terms or hidden fees from unregulated financers.

Film Tax Credits (AB/SB 186)*
Strengthens California's film and television industry by removing the cap on the Motion Picture and Television Production Credit 4.0, helping keep productions and jobs in the state.

Post-Production Tax Credits (AB 2319)^†
Expands the Movie Picture and Television Production Credit 4.0 to include new tax credits for post-production and visual effects work.

Protecting Families from Financial Delay Act (AB 1660)
Protects vulnerable individuals and holds institutions accountable for unnecessary delays by ensuring financial institutions promptly comply with public guardians' requests for financial information and assets.

"Whether we are lowering costs for families, making sure people can get the health care they need, helping veterans access the support they earned, or keeping people safe, my focus has been on delivering practical results that make people's lives better," Assemblywoman Schiavo said. "Getting these bills on the Governor's desk means we are just one step away from new laws that will make life easier for everyone."

The Governor has until September 30 to sign or veto legislation passed by the Legislature.

* Joint Author

^† Coauthor

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Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo was elected to the California State Assembly in November of 2022 and re-elected in 2024 to represent the 40th Assembly District, representing the Northwest San Fernando Valley, Val Verde, Castaic and the Santa Clarita Valley. Upon her election, she was appointed as Assistant Majority Whip by the Speaker of the Assembly and now serves as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. During her first term she brought back a record $100 million district investments in school and community safety, seniors meal programs, veteran housing, domestic violence services and creating local jobs. Prior to her election, Assemblywoman Schiavo was a Nurse Advocate and Small Business Owner who worked in the labor movement for more than 20 years. Throughout her career, Assemblywoman Schiavo helped deliver healthcare, including reproductive healthcare, to more than one million people. In the Northwest San Fernando Valley, she co-founded an organization that helped secure housing for Veterans experiencing homelessness, has delivered more than 50,000 meals to people in need, and increased resources to help keep our communities safe. Assemblywoman Schiavo lives in Chatsworth with her creative kid where they love to hike in the Santa Susana Mountains.