News release
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, announced that her package of bills has passed the state Assembly and advanced to the state Senate in time for the house of origin deadline requiring Assembly and Senate bills to advance to the other house.
The legislation includes steps to improve affordability, strengthen public safety, support veterans, seniors, and small businesses, protect victims of crime, and expand access to health care, said a news release from Schiavo’s office.
“These bills are about delivering real results for our community,” Schiavo said in the release. “Whether it’s lowering costs, keeping families safe, or supporting veterans, seniors, and small businesses, I’m proud to move these bills forward on behalf of our communities in the Santa Clarita Valley and North San Fernando Valley.”
The release provided the following summaries of the bills that cleared the Assembly:
● Ratepayer Relief Act – Assembly Bill 1020: Ensures utility companies pass public savings on to customers.
● Patient Debt Prevention Act – AB 1312: Ensures hospitals prescreen patients for financial assistance before billing.
● Military Pension Tax Exemption – AB 53 (coauthor): Excludes up to $20,000 in veteran retirement pay from taxation.
● Ethanol Blend Implementation Act – AB 30 (coauthor): Speeds up approval for lower-cost gasoline blends with higher ethanol content to help reduce gas prices and expand fuel options for California drivers.
● Victim and Witness Protection Act – AB 535: Strengthens protections for survivors of domestic violence, trafficking and abuse.
● Justin Kropp Safety Act – AB 365: Requires automated external defibrillators at high- and low-voltage worksites to prevent death by electrocution.
● Chiquita Canyon Tax Relief Act – AB 27: Ensures aid to landfill-impacted residents isn’t taxed or counted against benefits.
● Landfill Fire Safety Act – AB 28: Requires early warnings and state oversight to prevent public health disasters like the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.
● Timely Care Act – AB 539: Extends insurance approvals for medical treatment from 60 days to one year.
● Click-to-Cancel 2.0 – AB 656: Requires platforms to let users easily delete their accounts and the data stored by companies.
● Governor’s Military Council – AB 1508: extends the operation of the council to continue its work enhancing local collaborations with military bases.
● Veterans Education Assistance Act – AB 1509: Strengthens oversight of programs using G.I. Bill benefits.
● Health Coverage Waiting Period Transparency – AB 1418: Tracks and reports delays in employer-sponsored insurance.
● Expediting State Housing Permits – AB 301: Cuts red tape by holding state agencies to timely housing permit reviews.
● Foster Youth Housing Stability – AB 534: Makes it easier for service providers to build housing for youth exiting foster care.
● Expanding Outdoor Dining Access – AB 592 (coauthor): Extends key COVID-era flexibilities for restaurants and food vendors — like outdoor dining and satellite food service — making them permanent.
● FAIR plan stabilization Act – AB 226 (coauthor): Helps protect homeowners in wildfire-prone areas by making sure California’s Fair Plan has the funding it needs to pay out claims quickly after disasters.
Each of these bills now heads to the state Senate, where they will undergo further consideration. If approved, the legislation will return to the Assembly for a final vote before heading to the governor’s desk.
