Legislative Update

Dear friends,

I am pleased to announce that several of my bills are on their way to the governor for signature. These bills represent issues and concerns of my constituents and those of everyday Californians.

My bills include:

SB 1089 (Richardson) – Preventative Treatment Health Care Act:
SB 1089 would 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 would 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 1312 (Richardson) – Cemetery and Funeral Bureau Advisory Committee: 
SB1312 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 1322 (Richardson) – Tribal Housing Grant Program: 
Requires the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to adopt existing federal tribal housing agreement guidelines for the Community Care Expansion Program applications to minimize application costs, unnecessary duplication and unwarranted denials. This bill would require CDSS to include its tribal liaison, designated by the department, in discussions with tribes throughout the grant process to ensure that tribal sovereignty is considered and honored. This bill would also exempt a tribal grantee from providing real property when federal restrictions limit tribal ownership of land. Further, CDSS can leverage its existing tribal liaison to support tribal engagement, which will reduce any associated costs.

SB 1337 (Richardson) – Memoranda of Understanding: 
SB 1337 would require 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.

SB 1340 (Richardson) – Small Business Contracts:
Requires the small business liaison for each state agency to annually submit specified contract information to the Office of Small Business Advocate (Cal OSBA). The contract information will include a list of all contracts of the respective state agency that includes a subcontract with a small business, the total dollar amounts of each contract, and the total dollar amounts paid under the contracts.

SB1340 also directs the Office of Small Business Advocate to make the submitted contract information available on its website for transparency, accountability, and incorporation for future contract interests. Further, this bill will prohibit contractors from substituting, replacing, or terminating a small business, microbusiness, or disabled veteran business enterprise without prior approval from the awarding state agency.

I am optimistic on each bill being signed into law before the deadline of September 30, 2026.

As always, I appreciate your support and will provide updates as they become available.

Sincerely,

Senator Laura Richardson
35th Senate District
Assistant Majority Leader
Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee #5