2024 Legislative Achievements – Bills Signed Into Law
Assembly Bill 310 – Improving State Hospital Patient Outcomes
This legislation will help improve patient care and outcomes at California State Hospitals by gathering data to inform future policies that will increase the trust and quality of care between patients and their psychiatrists.
Assembly Bill 805 – Addressing Failing Infrastructure in Disadvantaged Communities
All communities should have access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation. This bill authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to appoint administrators to better manage failing systems and protect communities.
Assembly Bill 1830 – Folic Acid Fortification
Folic acid is essential to preventing birth defects, and food is the best way to get folic acid into women’s diets before they become pregnant. This bill helps support healthy pregnancies by requiring manufacturers to fortify corn masa flour and wet corn masa product with folic acid. A requirement already is in effect for enriched cereal grain product.
Assembly Bill 1855 – Brown Act Modernization for Community College Students
Eligible legislative student organizations at California community colleges will be allowed to use alternate teleconferencing provisions, if adopted by their Board of Trustees and adopted by the eligible body. This bill ensures students can participate in public meetings without threat to safety, privacy, or accessibility.
Assembly Bill 1888 – California Labor Trafficking Prevention Act
Survivors of labor trafficking should not be traumatized when seeking help. AB 1888, co-authored with Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), ensures that the State prioritizes these victims through more efficient and comprehensive enforcement of existing labor trafficking laws. The bill will establish the Labor Trafficking Unit within the State’s Department of Justice and will develop a tracking and reporting system. In addition, victims will be informed of services and options available to them.
Assembly Bill 2080 – Medical School Applicant Data
Every patient should have access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care to ensure better communication with patients – and therefore better treatment and outcomes. There is a critical shortage of physicians in the Central Valley and California, especially doctors who reflect the diversity of our communities. AB 2080 requires that the University of California present an annual enrollment report and post data on its website regarding students in its medical schools.
Assembly Bill 2240 – Farmworker Housing
It will eliminate an outdated requirement that forces farmworker families to move out of farm labor centers for a minimum of three months, or risk ineligibility for that housing. This unfairly disrupts their lives and their children’s education. AB 2240, with Speaker Robert Rivas as principal co-author, also ensures that these centers will be dignified places by requiring they comply with health and safety codes for heating, cooling, clean water, and other systems.
Assembly Bill 2543 – Immigrant Entrepreneurs
This bill provides all small business owners with the same opportunity to help California’s economy to thrive. AB 2543 ensures that all small businesses will have access to the benefits of small business certification, regardless of the immigration status of the owners or operators.
Assembly Bill 2795 – Indian Health Clinic Program
Members of tribal communities should receive equitable access to safety net programs. This bill, with Assemblymember Ramos as co-author, reduces administrative barriers to providing CalWORKS and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) at Indian Health Clinics.