Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The Legislature is away from Sacramento on Summer Recess. While committee hearings and floor sessions will pick up again in August, our work continues as I crisscross the district. I've been visiting project sites and businesses, meeting with local leaders, and hearing directly from constituents. We'll return to Sacramento at the beginning of August for the final month of this year's legislative session.

This month's newsletter includes updates from both the Capitol and around the district. At the Capitol, we completed most of the work on next year’s budget – balancing it for two years, cutting the structural deficit in half, setting $35 billion in reserves, doing our best to protect against federal cuts to medical and food assistance, and placing a housing bond and budget reform on the November ballot. I also have 18 bills moving through the process, including two of my bills that were recently signed into law.

Here at home, I've had the opportunity to visit Hartnell College's new Career Technical Education Center in Soledad, tour the Ainsley Hicks Forest conservation project, and meet with business owners and community leaders across San Benito County. I'll also share an update on new state funding to expand PRIME Central Coast – the first steps toward a UCSC medical school – a partnership between UC Santa Cruz and UC Davis that will train more doctors to care for patients on the Central Coast.

This July also marks the 50^th anniversary of the California Conservation Corps, one of California's great success stories. For 50 years, the CCC has given young people the opportunity to serve their communities, protect our natural resources, and build skills that last a lifetime. I've been proud to support the program throughout my time in public service, in particular having the Corps in my portfolio as Natural Resources Secretary, and I was honored to lead the Senate's recognition of this milestone earlier this year – and author a column honoring the Corps on its anniversary. Congratulations to every Corps member and alum who has helped make the CCC what it is today – and here's to the next 50 years.

Thank you for reading. I look forward to taking what I've heard throughout Senate District 17 back with me to Sacramento as we begin the final weeks of this year's legislative session.
 

Sincerely,

JOHN LAIRD
Senator, 17^th District

Before Summer Recess, the Legislature sent a number of bills to Governor Newsom's desk, and I'm pleased that two of my bills were in that batch and have been signed into law:

SB 963 streamlines the California Coastal Commission's appeals process by establishing clear timelines for the Commission to act on coastal development permit appeals. The bill brings greater predictability to the process while maintaining California's strong coastal protections, and was supported by stakeholders across the political spectrum.

Governor Newsom also signed SB 1139, which helps protect the Monterey Peninsula's limited water supplies by ensuring the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District can continue enforcing existing restrictions on the irrigation of nonfunctional turf with potable water.

This month, Governor Newsom also signed a number of bills that comprise the state budget, including the Fair Share from Big Corporations Act, legislation I helped advance as Chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. The law strengthens Medi-Cal by requiring California's largest employers to contribute more fairly toward the health care costs of employees who rely on the program – particularly if the way many of their employees get their medical insurance is through the state Medi-Cal program. This proposal would protect Medi-Cal for Californians who depend on it while reducing the burden on taxpayers.

The Legislature also sent statewide ballot measures to the November ballot. I was on the Senate negotiating team for Proposition 1, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act. This measure would provide for over 40,000 affordable new units, support housing for University of California and California State University students, expand housing opportunities for veterans, and invest in water and sewer infrastructure in disadvantaged communities so they can meet state housing goals.  

We also placed a measure to reform California’s budget rainy day fund – increasing the annual deposits to better compensate for California’s boom and bust budget cycles.

When the Legislature returns in August, our focus will be on completing this year's legislative work before we adjourn at the end of the month.
 

One of the most exciting developments this month was securing $3.3 million in state funding to expand PRIME Central Coast, a partnership between UC Santa Cruz and UC Davis that will create a local pathway for future physicians to train and practice here on the Central Coast – and it’s part of the first steps toward establishing a medical school in the Monterey Bay Area. The program will help the Central Coast meet its growing health care needs while laying a strong foundation for a future medical school in our community.

I'm also continuing to work on SB 931, legislation to restore funding for San Luis Obispo County schools and local governments following the five year extension of operations at Diablo Canyon Power Plant.  I have an urgency clause in this bill to meet the local needs, and will continue working to secure funding for the full five-year extension.

In San Benito County, I met with educators, nonprofit leaders, conservation organizations, local businesses, and community partners to discuss workforce housing, educational opportunities, agricultural land conservation, youth services, and support for small businesses. I particularly enjoyed walking through San Juan Bautista visiting small businesses that have been certified as green businesses.

I also joined Hartnell College in Soledad to celebrate the groundbreaking of its new Career Technical Education building, which will expand workforce training in advanced diesel technology and prepare students for high-demand careers. 
 

Celebrating 50 Years of the California Conservation Corps

This July marks the 50^th anniversary of the California Conservation Corps, one of California's great success stories. I recently reflected on the Corps' legacy and the opportunities it has created for generations of young Californians in an op-ed for the Monterey County Weekly. I'm also proud to be carrying SB 1207, legislation that supports Corpsmembers who continue into state service and helps ensure the program can continue its important work for years to come. You can read the full op-ed here.

Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz

I had the opportunity to join Jonathan Hicken at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center for an episode of the Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz podcast. We talked about California's environmental leadership, water policy, and my journey in public service. You can listen to the full episode here.