2026 Legislative Wins
Friends,
I am pleased to announce that I have secured six key legislative victories that have been signed into law by Governor Newsom.
These bills I authored mark a productive year of policymaking on issues central to California’s economic stability, community wellbeing, and long‑term resilience.
I have been honored to work with a diverse group of community members and stakeholders this year on policy that positively impacts my constituents and all Californians, and am grateful to Governor Newsom for his support and signature on my bills.
My legislation spans a wide range of priorities, including healthcare treatment access, voting reform, financial protections, fuel refinery oversight, cemetery abandonment reform, and tribal housing expansion. Together, these measures strengthen consumer safeguards, enhance public safety, protects families and the legacy of their loved ones, and expand access to critical housing resources for sovereign tribal nations.
Governor Newsom signed the following bills:
SB 1089 Preventative Treatment Health Care Act
Ill add GLP-1s to CalRx’s list of medications. Offering GLP-1 medications would make chronic weight disease medications accessible and affordable to California patients regardless of one’s income, financial status, age or employment insurance.
Implementing SB 1089 will allow California to lead by offering competitive pricing through CalRx at an affordable cost and thereby accessible to all Californians. SB 1089 is a critical component in the potential health of over 20 million Californians and reduces overall costs to the health system by minimizing or avoiding further health costs for many diseases, cancers and comorbidities.
SB 1420 Voting Reform Mail-in Ballot Acceptance
Directs the Secretary of State (SOS) to develop and disseminate guidance on how counties should implement and enable the casting of Vote-by-Mail (VBM) ballots at an in person location without the envelope. In addition, SB 1420 directs the SOS to include information regarding this novel method of casting VBM ballots, as well as the use option to vote on the Saturday before election day, in official voter information guides and other election resources.
SB 1312 Cemetery and Funeral Bureau Advisory Committee
Legally defines “abandonment” as it relates to cemeteries and the process by which, private title transfers may occur when a cemetery is abandoned so that a potential new owner, public cemetery district or government entity (such as a county) can ensure the originally intended and contracted health, safety, adequately maintained property, and peace of mind is restored.
SB 505 Money Transfer Protections
Strengthens the security of money transmitted through requiring the use of common sense security practices, including the use of either two-factor authentication, multifactor authentication, or an equivalent or stronger form of authentication before allowing a user to login. In addition, SB 505 requires the implementation of risk-based re-authentication requirements that balance consumer protection with user access, as well as a method for consumers to report suspected fraud or errors through the same platform on which they occurred or through a reasonable alternative.
SB 1322 Tribal Housing Grant Program
Addresses ongoing challenges in navigating tribal sovereignty and land ownership that have made it difficult for tribes to access crucial housing resources. This bill strengthens the state’s commitment to tribal communities by expanding eligibility and increasing flexibility within the grant program. Funding will be administered through the California Department of Social Services, which oversees the program and will work directly with tribal governments to support housing acquisition and rehabilitation efforts.
SB 1337 (Energy) Memoranda of Understanding
Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, on or before January 31, 2029, to enter into memoranda of understanding with relevant air districts and local governments with transportation fuels refining facilities within their jurisdictions to enable the coordination that is needed to ensure the transportation fuels sector is successfully managed and maintains environmental, public health, labor, economic, and consumer protections.
Please contact my office at (310) 217-4728 if you need help with any state issues including DMV or EDD.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Senator Laura Richardson
35th Senate District
Assistant Majority Leader
Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee #5