CC 10-13-2025 Item No. 3 Assemblymember Ahrens Legislative Bills_PresentationCC 10-13-2025
Item No. 3
Legislative Updates from
California
State Assemblymember
Patrick Ahrens
Presentation
2025 LEGISLATIVE RECAP
OUTLINE
1.Committees
2.Budget
3.Bills signed by the Governor
4.Two-year bills for January
5.Priorities for 2026
6.Legislative Process
7.Questions
8.Contact me
COMMITTEES
Select Committees:
Asia/California Trade and
Investment
Biotechnology and Medical
Technology
CalFresh Enrollment and
Nutrition
Child Care Costs
Domestic Violence
Housing Finance and
Affordability
Master Plan for Higher
Education in California
Sea Level Rise and the
California Economy
Co-Chair of CA Technology
& Innovation Legislative
Caucus
Standing Committees:
Business and Professions
Budget
Communications and
Conveyance
Rules
Transportation
Subcommittee:
Budget Subcommittee No. 2
on Human Services
In spite of dangerous cuts to social services and key programs by the federal government, the State Budget protects the safety net for all Californians by prioritizing:
$52 million for food banks.
Increase state funding for affordable housing and preserving $500 million in Low income housing tax credit.
$60 million one -time funding to support student in block grants.
$5.1 million one -time funds to support financial aid support and outreach to community college students.
Saved $4.6 million in 2025-26 and $14 million in 2026-2027 for CalWORKs program.
Public Safety Funding
$100M to support organizations serving crime survivors.
2025-2026 BUDGET
This bill requires public higher
education institutions to accept
proof of financial independence
and confirmation from local
education agencies or county
probation/welfare departments.
It allows for the limited
disclosure of juvenile case file
information, including the
youth's name, date of birth, and
relevant dates, to protect their
privacy. Information will only be
shared within an institution if
requested by the youth or with
their consent .
(Signed by the Governor)
AB 243 STUDENT FINANCIAL AID DEPENDENCY STATUS: JUVENILES.
Ensures that families whose
children are not regularly
attending school are offered
more help, not less. It does so
by removing harmful penal
code penalties for parents of
children who are chronically
truant, including fines of up to
$2,000 and jail time of up to one
year.
(Signed by the Governor)
AB 461: MORE, NOT LESS HELP FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACT OF 2025.
Ensures that all eligible youth
for transitional housing have the
best opportunity for placement
by requiring counties to create
contracts that provide maximum
flexibility and minimize barriers
to youth placement .
(Signed by the Governor)
AB 1314: TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PLACEMENT.
This bill would add Diwali to the
list of state holidays, authorizes
public schools and community
colleges to close on Diwali, and
authorizes state employees to
elect to take specified leave in
recognition of Diwali.
(Signed by the Governor)
AB 268: STATE HOLIDAYS: DIWALI. (CO-AUTHOR)
Allows sites distributing at least
one meal a day for senior
citizens through the Congregate
Meals Program to provide meals
served hot or available as “to
go meals” that can be reheated
at home.
(Signed by the Governor)
AB 1476: MEAL PROGRAM: SENIOR CITIZENS.(CO-AUTHOR)
A two -year bill is legislation that
was introduced in the first year
of a two -year legislative session
and did not pass its house of
origin by the deadline in the
first year, meaning it carries
over into the second year to
continue its journey through the
legislative process.
TWO-YEAR BILLS
The Mobilehome Residency
Protection Program (MRLPP)
aims to address the most serious
violations of the Mobilehome
Residency Law. This bill
mandates the Department of
Housing and Community
Development refer the most
serious, harmful, and
economically significant
alleged violations of the MRLPP
to the Attorney General.
AB 635: MOBILEHOME RESIDENCY LAW PROTECTION PROGRAM.
This bill requires the department
and the Office of Community
Partnerships to include a
statewide “water -wise”
designation in the Save Our
Water Campaign for businesses
in the CII sector that meet or
exceed best management
practices for water use.
AB 1203: WATER CONSERVATION: WATER WISE DESIGNATION.
Creates a Youth Employment
System (YES) database for minor
work permits.
AB 1351: PUPILS: WORK PERMITS: ONLINE DATABASE.
Refocuses efforts to get truant
kids back into classrooms using
proven effective interventions.
AB 1359: REMOVES PENALTIES FOR FAMILIES RECEIVING CALWORKS.
The District Office serves the
constituents of Assembly District 26
by providing essential services and
coordinating community events in
Cupertino, Santa Clara, San Jose,
and Sunnyvale.
We supported 337 constituents this
year, addressing issues related to
the EDD and DMV, including 139
EDD cases that secured about
$110,000 in support.
Assemblymember Ahrens
participated in 1,400 meetings and
events, organized or partnered in
43 events, and engaged with over
12,000 constituents. Our civic
engagement program includes 22
interns and roughly 60 volunteers
who assist with community events.
DISTRICT IMPACTS
My top issue areas for next year
will be:
•Housing
•Foster Youth
•Technology
•Education
•Affordability
2026 PRIORITY BILLS
Bill Introduction
A bill is put into print
and eligible to be
referred
Assembly Committees
A bill is referred to
policy committee(s)
and appropriations
committee
Assembly Floor
The bill is voted on
by all 80 members of
the Assembly
Senate
A concurrent
process happens in
the Senate
Governor’s Desk
The Governor has 30
days to veto a bill or
sign it into law
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Questions?
CONTACT US
LINKEDIN
PATRICK AHRENS
INSTAGRAM
@PATRICKJAMESAHRENS
EMAIL
AHRENS.SCHEDULER@ASM.CA.GOV
OFFICE PHONE
408-446-2810