With Assemblymember David Chiu, talking about protecting California renters.

Every legislative session brings new challenges and opportunities, but this session was particularly exceptional, and notable for the quality of the bills we passed. Throughout this first year of the two-year session, our work resulted in legislation that will improve the lives, health, and safety of San Diegans and all Californians.

Before I recap some of the highlights, I want to say thank you to you, the people of my district, who voiced support and posed questions and concerns to my staff and me throughout the legislative process. Your participation is most welcome and appreciated.

In addition to passing a $214 billion budget that was bold and responsible, we also crafted and vetted hundreds of bills that sought to improve life in California.

• Housing: This session, we protected renters from indiscriminate evictions and rate increases, passed a bill that ensures local housing development applications are processed in a timely manner,and expanded protections against housing discrimination for Californians who receive public assistance.
• Public Safety: We passed landmark legislation to reform our state's use-of-force standard to end preventable deaths without jeopardizing the safety of our law enforcement officers. We also passed legislation requiring law-enforcement agencies to adopt new training policies in accordance with the new standard. And we negotiated a solution to overhaul the way our state and utilities cover the cost of wildfire damages.

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I was humbled to receive the Ally of the Year award from Planned Parenthood in September.

This legislative session marked a time of action to uphold women's reproductive rights and access to health services.

We passed SB 24, authored by Senator Connie Leyva and co-authored by myself and many of my colleagues, to make medication abortions more accessible on Cal State and UC college campuses.

We also passed a bill allowing pharmacists to furnish HIV preventatives without requiring a physician visit, and approved legislation requiring implicit-bias training for doctors and nurses treating pregnant women, to improve awareness of racial bias on maternal and infant health.

And in a supplemental budget bill, we provided $10 million for security at clinics that provide abortions, to ensure the safety of staff and patients.

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The California Arts Council has announced that grant season has begun. Right now, applications are being accepted for 15 different grant programs, and additional grant programs will be opening up in 2020. Grants range in size from $3,000 to $50,000.

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I was thrilled to learn that Feeding San Diego, a hunger-relief organization that serves more than 63,000 local residents, including children, seniors, and military members, has received a $500,000 grant from CalRecycle to expand its efforts to rescue nutritious food from ending up in landfills and redistribute it to people struggling with food insecurity.

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CalSavers, California's new program to help workers save money for retirement, is now open for businesses to register.

CalSavers was created by Senate Bill 1234, which passed in 2016. Under state law, businesses with five or more employees must offer a retirement savings plan – either by sponsoring their own plan or by joining CalSavers.

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Every fall, Covered California – our state's health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act – opens its doors to new enrollees for the following year.

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My district staff is always available to help constituents navigate a complex web of state agencies. If you're having trouble working out an issue with any state agency, please call my office at 619-645-3133, and my staff will do everything in their power to help.

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I was thrilled to join the Diamond Business Association for the 5th Annual Diamond Street Festival – what a fabulous community event!

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