When I talk with families across the Santa Clarita Valley, I hear the same thing again and again: We chose to live here because it’s safe.
People come here for strong schools, quiet neighborhoods, and the confidence that their kids can play outside and their parents can age with dignity. That sense of safety doesn’t happen by accident — it’s something we must actively protect, every single day.
Protecting our community has always been my top priority. That’s why this year, I’m proud to introduce two new pieces of legislation focused on what matters most: protecting children, safeguarding seniors, and supporting the public safety systems that keep our neighborhoods secure.
This work is deeply personal to me. I’m a mom — and I’m also a survivor of crime. As a child, I testified in court against my own perpetrator. I know firsthand how intimidating and overwhelming the justice system can be, especially for victims who are already carrying trauma.
I also know how devastating it can be when the system puts up unnecessary barriers instead of focusing on accountability and protection. Those experiences shaped my belief that community safety must always come first — and that victims deserve a justice system that works for them.
One of the first bills I’m introducing for the new legislative year strengthens protections for children from sexual exploitation and abuse.
Too often, cases involving sexual battery, indecent exposure, or child molestation cross city or county lines. Under current law, that can mean fragmented cases, delayed prosecutions, and added trauma for victims and their families.
My bill fixes that. It allows cases involving multiple qualifying offenses to be tried in any jurisdiction where at least one offense occurred. This common-sense reform removes technical loopholes that benefit offenders, not victims — and it gives prosecutors and law enforcement the tools they need to hold predators fully accountable while prioritizing the safety and well-being of children.
The second bill addresses another growing threat to public safety: financial abuse and consumer fraud.
Every year at our Senior Resource Fair — co-hosted with the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center — the “Senior Scams” workshop is standing-room only.
As technology and artificial intelligence rapidly advance, scams are becoming more sophisticated and more aggressive.
Education alone is no longer enough. We need stronger safeguards built into the system.
Financial fraud can wipe out a lifetime of savings in minutes, especially for seniors. While banks invest heavily in technology to protect their own assets, current law does not require meaningful action when suspicious transactions put customers at risk.
My legislation establishes clear preventative requirements and consumer protections that financial institutions must implement to help stop fraud before it happens.
This is about shared responsibility — and about standing up for those who are too often targeted and exploited.
These bills build on a record of action. I was proud to secure $1.5 million in state funding for a new mobile command unit for the city of Santa Clarita. This critical emergency vehicle — essentially a mobile emergency operations center — enhances coordination between first responders and law enforcement during disasters and critical incidents.
Just in time for fire season, it has already strengthened our community’s ability to respond quickly, decisively, and effectively when seconds matter.
I’ve also been a strong advocate for fully funding Proposition 36, the 2024 public safety ballot measure that increased penalties for drug trafficking, retail theft and other serious crimes. Uplifting what I had been hearing from community and law enforcement through a budget request letter, I fought to ensure our communities have the resources needed to enforce the law and uphold the will of the voters.
Beyond this year’s legislation, I’ve authored bills and led budget fights to protect seniors, expand protections for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and abuse, and ensure Californians can take control of their private data when they leave social media platforms.
Protecting our community isn’t just policy to me — it’s a responsibility I carry every day. I will continue working side by side with law enforcement, first responders, and community leaders to make sure our laws put people first, keep families safe, and deliver justice where it’s long overdue.
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.
