Happy New Year! I hope you all had time over the holiday season to unwind, reflect, and set intentions for the year ahead.

Before the end of 2025, my team and I spent a couple of days in Morgan Hill, touching base on how we can best serve the communities across District 28 and reflecting on our impact over the past year. Each year, we identify our collective highlights and present them to you.

Our team in the Capitol helped me move 10 bills across Governor Newsom's desk. These new laws strengthen renter and buyer rights, improve election procedures, and pave the way for a cleaner future. Around this time last year, we hosted a group of human trafficking survivors who shared the harsh realities of trafficking with other legislators and me, while outlining opportunities to better protect some of our most vulnerable residents. In a tight budget year, we secured vital support for family health by designating funds to Second Harvest of Santa Cruz County's diaper program, Planned Parenthood, Alzheimer's research, and the Healthy School Food Pathway (HSFP) program. Through the California Legislative Women's Caucus and the Central Coast Commission, $12,000 in scholarship support was provided to four outstanding students from our district.

Last year, I was appointed Chair of the Select Committee on California's Mental Health Crisis, an issue that is integral to my purpose in the California Legislature. Few know that the staff supporting Select Committee Chairs are not committee specific, but instead part of the Chair's legislative staff. I am proud of the work my team did between legislative sessions to bring mental health experts together, including hosting a hearing on the implementation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Our team in the district stepped up to meet the needs across Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, assisting with nearly 1,000 constituent cases. One of these cases involved a resident who was unlawfully detained at SFO by federal agents. Through extensive collaboration with federal officials and consulates, we assisted with her release and safe return home to Santa Cruz. Outside of the office, my district team organized more than 22 district events. I am grateful for every opportunity to connect with you, whether on a trail, at a town hall, or sitting one-on-one in a library.

We honored the heroic contributions of mental health leaders in our district and brought together dozens of mental health resources outside the Santa Cruz County Courthouse in recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We coordinated a Home Hardening Town Hall in Almaden, bringing fire experts together to share crucial tips on fire preparedness. Last year, we also invited you to nominate women in our community who made a significant difference or inspired you personally. We celebrated 13 of these individuals at our Women of the Year Luncheon, and I look forward to learning about our 2026 honorees after nominations close on January 31.

I wake up every day grateful for the opportunity to represent you in the Assembly and for our stellar team, which works tirelessly to serve our residents. Today marks the first day of the 2026 legislative session. An exciting and challenging year awaits us in Sacramento, and I remain committed to fighting for our values and delivering for the communities across our district. Stay tuned for legislative updates in the coming months.

Past Events

Implementing 988: Select Committee Hearing

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I recently had the privilege of holding my first Select Committee Hearing on California's Mental Health Crisis as Chair. Representatives from CalHHS, DHCS, CalOES, the 988 California Consortium, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services Department, the Mental Health Association of San Francisco, Family Service Agency of the Central Coast, the California Behavioral Health Association, Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center, and the Elk Grove Police Department shared insights on the implementation of 988. I was deeply moved by the success stories of the 988 Lifeline and inspired to continue working to strengthen the service and expand access to this life-saving resource. The hearing can be viewed on the Assembly website.

Holding Space and Celebrating Hanukkah

The massacre of innocent lives celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, was a horrific start to the holiday. It was a deeply somber day, marked by painful thoughts of children, rabbis, and a Holocaust survivor murdered by gun violence, and it served as a stark reminder of the antisemitism and hate that continue to plague our world. Despite the heaviness in our hearts, communities across our district gathered for public Hanukkah celebrations. It was healing to be together with our Santa Cruz neighbors, singing and celebrating our faith, resilience, and hope for a kinder future. I am deeply grateful to our local Jewish leaders who guide us through these incomprehensible moments with compassion, love, and understanding.

A Visit with AACSA

I recently had the opportunity to tour the African American Community Service Agency in San José. This organization has been a cornerstone of the Santa Clara County community for 47 years, providing critical services to seniors, supporting youth leadership development, assisting struggling families, and advancing economic justice. Executive Director Milan Balinton shared the agency's mission, legislative priorities, upcoming events, and wide range of services. This vital hub serves as a touchpoint for comprehensive support and welcomes all who come through its doors. I look forward to partnering with AACSA in the future and supporting their continued impact.

Upcoming Events

2026 Women of the Year

For the third year, my office will host our annual Women of the Year Luncheon in March, this time in Santa Cruz. As in years past, we are collecting nominations for women who live in the district and are unsung heroes to the causes and people they serve in their communities. Nominations will remain open through January 30. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the women in your lives and submit a nomination for an Assembly District 28, 2026 Woman of the Year. I look forward to reviewing your submissions and celebrating these incredible women in March!

Updates and Resources

Welcoming Our 2026 Legislative Fellow

Team Pellerin is excited to welcome our 2026 legislative fellow, Jonathan Fong! Jonathan graduated last year from UC Davis with a double major in Chemistry and Political Science, and has previously interned on Capitol Hill and with the Governor Newsom's office. Over the next year, he will be diving into exciting and important projects with our Capitol team. In his free time, he enjoys brewing coffee and watching long, three-hour movies.

Next-Generation Clipper

As part of the Next-Generation Clipper system rollout, all Bay Area transit riders can now pay adult fares using cards already in their wallets. This includes plastic or mobile contactless bank cards, whether credit or debit, from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover.

To ensure the correct card is charged, riders should remove their card from their wallet before tapping. To reduce the risk of improper or multiple charges, riders should use the same card to tap in and out of dual-tap agencies. Riders paying with a mobile device should select their preferred payment method in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.

To learn more, visit the Clipper website for a full overview of the key features of the Next-Generation Clipper system, including contactless bank card payments, at clippercard.com/enhanced-features.

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 Jose 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.

District Offices:
701 Ocean Street
Room 318B
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Tel: (831) 425-1503

3150 Almaden Expressway
Suite 252
San Jose, CA 95118
Tel: (408) 264-2848

Satellite Office:
17555 Peak Avenue
Suite 100
Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Please don't hesitate to reach out. My team is ready to support you however we can.

Warm regards,

Gail Pellerin
Assemblymember, District 28