Hi Neighbor!
The State Legislature has been back in full swing following our month-long summer recess! Over the past couple of weeks, I've hit the ground running, or scooting, between policy committees and Assembly Floor sessions to advance my 2026 legislative package while I continue to heal from my ankle injury. This year, August 31 is the final day for the State Assembly and Senate to send bills to the Governor for action, marking the end of the 2025-2026 legislative session. With over 1,000 votes to cast this month alone, it will be a lot of long days to discuss and vote on each bill.
As the Legislature adjourns this year just before September begins, I presented HR 126 on the Assembly Floor last week to designate September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Since losing my husband to suicide 8 years ago, I have put my grief to action by sharing my story publicly, championing legislative efforts to expand mental health care access, and uplifting resources and best practices to prevent suicides. Ahead of presenting HR 126, I was honored to welcome suicide prevention advocates and experts to the Capitol for a press conference, along with some of my Assembly colleagues, to shed light on youth mental health and alarming suicide rates. I am endlessly grateful to Dr. Shashank Joshi of Stanford University, Lauren Pulido of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)'s Greater Sacramento Chapter, and Alan Lai of The Trevor Project for adding their moving perspectives and lived experiences to the much-needed conversation about suicide prevention.
The message was resoundingly clear: suicide is preventable when people understand the signs and what to do when we notice them. Please take a moment to watch the press conference and learn about the role each of us plays in preventing suicide, as well as what California legislators are doing to create change statewide. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Legislative Update
I'm proud to announce that AB 1919, my bill that provides Santa Cruz METRO the election authority needed to place a citizens' initiative on the ballot, has been signed into law! With this granted election authority, local transit funding decisions are now in the hands of those who will use, rely on, and ultimately pay for the services: voters. We wouldn't be celebrating this win without the enduring support of METRO CEO Corey Aldridge, General Chairperson of SMART-TD Local 0023 Jaime Renteria, and SMART-TD VP of the Bus Department James Sandoval.
AB 1267, my bill to ban child marriage, has passed the Senate and advanced to the Assembly! I have been incredibly touched by the attention and support this bill continues to receive from child advocates, parents, and survivors across the state.
AB 1853, which would establish clear and enforceable standards for candidate statements that appear in official state publications, is advancing through the Senate.
AB 1902 has passed the Appropriations Committee and made its way to the Senate Floor. This bill, drafted in response to the horrific kidnapping and murder of 8-year-old Maddy Middleton from Santa Cruz, would change the process for youth detention continuation hearings to ensure proper placement for treatment. If signed, this bill ensures that families like Maddy's are not subject to reliving their trauma in a courtroom every other year.
Unlike AB 1267, AB 1853, and AB 1902, which will need to return to the Assembly for a concurrence vote, ABs 502, 2025, 2107, 2255, 2502, and 2697 are on their third and final stop at the Senate Floor.
Serving as your Assemblymember remains one of my greatest honors, and I look forward to updating you as more of my legislative proposals become law.
2027-28 Vice Chair-Elect of the Legislative Women's Caucus
Women make up nearly one half of acting legislators in California, making the Legislature close to gender parity. When women lead, women-centered policy follows, and much of that work is done in close collaboration within the California Legislative Women's Caucus. I am honored and excited that I have been elected to serve as the caucus's Vice Chair for the upcoming 2027-28 legislative session. I will be working closely with Senator Caroline Menjivar, who will serve as the Chair of the caucus and holds the record as the youngest member to ever hold the position.
Having spent years working to empower women and girls, I feel privileged to work alongside 58 incredible women in the Legislature to continue lifting the voices, struggles, successes, and needs of women and girls across California, breaking down barriers and creating greater opportunities for generations to come. When women succeed, families and communities succeed, and our state is stronger for it.
Care Fair is Coming to Morgan Hill
Suicide is preventable when those who are struggling, and those who love someone struggling, are connected to the resources that can prevent it. That's why each September my office hosts Care Fair, a health resource fair and honoree ceremony that uplifts local efforts to address our mental health care needs. Care Fair made its first stop in Los Gatos in 2024, then in Santa Cruz in 2025, and now makes its Morgan Hill debut on Saturday, September 26!
Join us at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center Amphitheater from 11 AM to 2 PM to celebrate our constituent-nominated Mental Health Heroes, learn about local services, get vaccines and health screenings, and eat some tacos! Head to my website to learn more about this annual celebration of health and follow me on social media at @AsmGailPellerin to be the first to know our 2026 Mental Health Heroes as they are announced in the coming days.
Past Events
Fattoria Public Market and Food Hub
I was glad to return to Terra Amico Farms, where I joined Joe Raineri and partners of the Fattoria Public Market as they presented their concept and project plan to Secretary Karen Ross of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). When Joe shared his plan for a year-round community food hub with me two years ago, I knew it could be a game-changer for our region's agricultural economy. As the project continues to develop and garner interest from local farmers and community members, it was incredibly meaningful to be joined by Secretary Ross, CDFA staff, leaders of The Health Trust, and Mayor Mark Turner in conversation with Joe about the future of the project and what it could mean for similar efforts statewide.
Stuff the Bus
Team Pellerin showed up for Santa Cruz County students at the 17th annual "Stuff the Bus" school supply drive, made possible by the support of United Way Santa Cruz and the County Office of Education. Hundreds of volunteers once again joined together to fill 2,500 backpacks with school supplies for students across the county experiencing homelessness. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I'm proud of our Santa Cruz County village for coming together to volunteer their time, energy, and resources for our students ahead of the school year.
National Night Out
Team Pellerin field representatives and interns joined residents across the district for National Night Out earlier this month! Our Santa Cruz district office team set up at the Santa Cruz Harbor, and our San José district office team set up at Playa Del Rey Park in San José, distributing hundreds of coloring books, sharing updates from the Capitol, and connecting residents with state services. Neighborhoods across Assembly District 28 got outside and embraced the opportunity to connect with one another and with the local police and emergency personnel who serve their community. I'm grateful for the work of our neighborhood associations to make these events possible year after year.
Lighthouse Field State Beach
Lighthouse Field State Beach sits along West Cliff Drive in our beautiful Santa Cruz, with a scenic coastline overlooking Steamer Lane, one of the most famous surf spots in the state. It's a perfect place to spend a sunny day, with a dog friendly beach, monarch butterflies migrating through in the winter, and stunning ocean views throughout. If you have time, stop into the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, housed in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, to learn how surfing first came to the mainland US.
Resources & Updates
Cheers to 2025-26 Assembly Fellows!
Last week, we celebrated the 2025-26 cohort of Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellows with a Floor ceremony, presenting resolutions to honor their incredible service to the State of California throughout this legislative session. Among the group is our very own , who, over the past year, has become an integral part of our team staffing legislation, engaging in stakeholder meetings, and taking constituent calls.
I'm proud of the work ethic he brought to the role, and the skills he developed throughout it. He's already helped get AB 1919 across the governor's desk and signed into law, a direct win for AD28 constituents. That this is an early chapter in his policy career says a lot about where he's headed, and how fast he'll get there.
Each legislative session brings a new cohort of Capital Fellows, and alumni of Capital Fellows Programs often continue their careers in service to the Legislature, including our very own Chief of Staff! Applications for the Capital Fellows Programs reopen in September for the 2027-28 legislative year.
Team Pellerin Welcomes New Field Rep
I'm excited to share that our team has hired on a new field representative within our San José District Office! Not only is he an AD28 native from Los Gatos, but he also brings extensive state experience as a former casework intern for Assemblymember Ahrens and a policy intern for the CA Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). He brings a wealth of enthusiasm for serving our communities and, in just two weeks, has already attended community meetings, tabled at National Night Out, and resolved constituent casework and inquiries.
South Bay PBA Holds Inaugural Wildland Firefighting Training
The South Bay Prescribed Burn Association (PBA), managed by the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, held its inaugural wildland firefighting training at Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Twenty participants earned their Fire Fighter Type II certifications, the entry-level qualification for wildland firefighting and participation in prescribed burns.
These trainings, made possible through support from the California Coastal Conservancy, enhance Santa Clara County's wildfire resilience by building a certified local workforce to safely manage vegetation and execute controlled burns through cross-agency collaboration. I'm endlessly grateful to the participants, which, aside from local community members, included staff of the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, San Benito Resource Conservation District, and San José State University, for their commitment to building a more wildfire-resilient region.
2026 Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Hearing
The California State Board of Equalization will host its 2026 Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Hearing on Wednesday, August 26, at 10 AM. The Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Hearing is an opportunity to share feedback, ask questions, and raise concerns about California's property tax system and the Alcoholic Beverage Tax directly to the elected members of the State Board of Equalization. Individuals can attend the hearing in-person, by phone, or online. If you're interested in attending, head to the Board of Equalization's webpage to learn more about what to expect from this annual hearing and how you can participate.
Constituent Services
As your elected representative, I'm here to serve you in a variety of ways. One of the most important is helping you navigate issues with state agencies.
Whether it's the DMV, Franchise Tax Board, EDD, Disability Insurance, or another state department—we're here to help. Contact my office through my website or by calling:
📍 San José District Office: (408) 264-2848
📍 Santa Cruz District Office: (831) 425-1503
You can also visit our offices -- just call ahead to make an appointment so staff are ready to assist.
Please don't hesitate to reach out. My team is ready to support you however we can.
Warm regards,
Gail Pellerin
Assemblymember, District 28
