Speaker Rivas Announces 14 Assembly Lawmakers for First-of-its-Kind ‘Outcomes Review’ Oversight Project

This new oversight tool strengthens the Legislature's focus on accountability. Lawmakers will be empowered to convene hearings, enhance the impact of enacted laws and make sure solutions are working for California.

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

SACRAMENTO - On Tuesday, Speaker Robert Rivas announced 14 Assembly members to participate in this year's first-of-its-kind Outcomes Review project.

This new oversight tool empowers lawmakers to assess, review and improve implementation of enacted laws they've authored or championed - aiming for elevated community engagement, improved outcomes for Californians.

"Californians expect results, not just good intentions on paper. The Outcomes Review tool is another way the Assembly is prioritizing oversight and empowering lawmakers, because we don't build trust by passing laws: We build trust by delivering results," Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said.

What is Outcomes Review?

With this new oversight work, Assembly members will participate three key steps, including:

• February: Announce laws to evaluate and review, in coordination with existing policy committees, and identify partners for collaboration
• Spring and Summer: Work with policy staff and stakeholders to host Outcomes Review-related committee hearings and community meetings, starting in the spring, empowering Californians directly impacted by enacted laws to have a strong voice in this public process
• At the end of the legislative year: Highlight Outcomes Review findings, actions and solutions that will improve implementation of laws

With 2026's Outcomes Review projects, lawmakers will focus on diverse issues, including housing, affordability, energy, health care, worker protections, wildfire recovery and foster care.

Since day one of Speaker Rivas' leadership, the Assembly has prioritized impact, oversight and accountability, including the formation of new committeesto make sure taxpayer dollars are implemented effectively and efficiently, special affordability-focused hearings on energy pricesand the top cost drivers for working families.

In 2025, Speaker Rivas also lowered the number of bills legislators can introducefrom 50 to 35, so that every leader in the Assembly has the greatest possible bandwidth to focus on making sure California's laws uplift prosperity.

Now in 2026, the Speaker is empowering members to emphasize collaborative review of enacted legislation by introducing an "Outcomes Review" oversight tool, which government policy author Jennifer Pahlka described as a "bold" and "intentional, structured processfor evaluating whether the laws lawmakers pass actually do what they're supposed to do" on her Eating PolicySubstack.

This Year's Outcomes Review Projects

Expanding Telehealth Access for Families: Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Currywill continue her work on health care access for California families by reviewing implementation of AB 744 (2019) and AB 32 (2021), which expanded telehealth services to improve access to care statewide.

Strengthening California's 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahanwill review implementation of AB 988 (2022), which established the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in California, to assess statewide implementation, staffing and funding capacity, and coordination with 911 to ensure Californians experiencing a mental health crisis receive timely and appropriate care.

Accelerating Affordable Housing: Assemblymember Buffy Wickswill review implementation of AB 2011, the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022, enacted to streamline the approval of affordable and mixed-income housing along resource-rich commercial corridors.

Reducing Costs and Delays in Affordable Housing Finance: Assemblymember Pilar Schiavowill review implementation of AB 519 (2023), which established a multi-agency workgroup to streamline and coordinate affordable housing finance by moving multiple state funding programs into a single, consolidated application. The review will assess progress toward meeting statutory deadlines, reducing duplicative paperwork, lowering development costs, and eliminating administrative barriers that delay affordable housing construction.

Supporting Affordable Farmworker Housing in the Central Valley: Assemblymember Esmeralda Soriawill review outcomes related to AB 457 (2025), which was enacted to support the development of affordable farmworker housing within close proximity to agricultural land in the Central Valley.

Protecting L.A. Wildfire Survivors from Post-Disaster Foreclosure: Assemblymember John Harabedianwill review outcomes related to AB 238 (2025), which provides post-disaster mortgage forbearance protections for homeowners, to assess compliance and identify opportunities to strengthen relief for disaster survivors.

Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in Charitable Giving: Assemblymember Jacqui Irwinwill review implementation of AB 488 (2021), which strengthened oversight of online charitable fundraising to ensure donations raised on platforms get to charitable organizations, especially when generosity soars in response to emergencies like wildfires.

Expanding Community Access to Clean Energy: Assemblymember Chris Wardwill review AB 2316 (2022), which empowered the California Public Utilities Commission to create a community solar program, to allow all California ratepayers to benefit from distributed generation.

Streamlining Groundwater Recharge to Strengthen Water Supply: Assemblymember Diane Papan, along with Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, will review AB 658 (2019), which streamlined groundwater recharge permitting, to assess whether the law is improving approval timelines and supporting groundwater sustainability efforts statewide.

Combating Wage Theft and Holding Bad Actors Accountable: Assemblymember Liz Ortega, co-leading with Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, will review outcomes related to SB 588 (2015), which expanded enforcement tools to combat wage theft and hold employers accountable for unpaid wages.

Stabilizing Foster Family Agencies: Assemblymember Gail Pellerinwill review the implementation of AB 2496 (2024), which was enacted to address liability and insurance challenges facing foster family agencies. The review will assess whether the law is providing stability to providers and ensuring continuity of care for children in the foster care system.

Reducing Disruptive Foster Care Placements: Assemblymember Mike Gipsonwill review implementation of AB 2247 (2018), which strengthened protections for foster youth by requiring placement preservation strategies and advance notice before placement changes, to assess whether the law is improving placement stability and reducing disruptive moves for children in foster care.

What Assembly Members are Saying About Outcomes Review

"I'm grateful that Speaker Rivas is implementing the new Outcomes Review tool. It's just good, practical governing - making sure the laws we pass do what we promised people they would do. That is the point of passing laws. So, the first thing I'm doing is looking at how AB 744 is working. We passed that bill back in 2019 to help California families get the health care they need through telehealth, no matter where they live. With this new tool, we can listen to our communities, see what's working, fix what's not to keep improving care for all. That's the kind of commonsense work I'm proud we're doing." -Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry

"Following up on legislation to ensure it is enacted as intended is essential. I follow all my bills that have passed and even have a bill tracker on the wall in my office that shows the implementation status of each bill. I am grateful that Speaker Rivas is focusing on much needed oversight." -Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin

"Our constituents deserve to know whether the laws we pass are being implemented and are effective. They should know how these laws are working or not working and impacting their communities. The Outcomes Review tool will ensure transparency, oversight, and accountability at a time our constituents look to us for solutions. With these new outcome review tools, our constituents will know whether more affordable homes are being built for California farmworkers, as AB 457 clearly lays out." -Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria

"In a state as complex as California, passing laws is only the beginning. We need to understand how they're working in practice and where adjustments might be needed. The Outcomes Review offers a structured way to do that - engaging communities, examining real-world impact, and helping us strengthen our work where it matters most." -Assemblymember Buffy Wicks

Next Steps

Outcomes Review committee hearings will begin in the coming weeks and continue throughout the legislative year.