Hi Neighbor!
I hope everyone had a fabulous time celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary earlier this month! The holiday weekend marked the beginning of the Legislature's month-long summer recess - a constitutionally required break from floor and committee sessions during which legislators continue working in their districts, meet with constituents and stakeholders, and participate in conferences and policy study programs. I had a lovely time connecting with constituents at the Rose, White & Blue Parade in San José and later spending time with friends and family in Santa Cruz.
Unfortunately, over that same weekend, I managed to trip and fracture my fibula in my right ankle. I've spent the past few weeks getting very familiar with a scooter, crutches, and leaning on the people around me for help. For me, summer recess is an invaluable opportunity to visit every corner of the district and hear from constituents, so it's been disappointing not to be in our communities as much as I'd hoped. I'm continuing to work from home as I recover and am grateful that the recovery process has an end in sight.
Legislative Update
As of July 17, I've had two of my bills signed into law! One of them, AB 1736, bans lobbyist employers from using AI to generate fictitious persons to spam or influence the public comment portal for bills, regulations, or other administrative procedures. Safeguarding democracy doesn't stop at the ballot box. With the signing of this bill, constituent voices will not be undermined in our statewide decision-making.
The other bill, AB 2333, aids the Foster Family Agencies insurance crisis by preventing the expiration of liability protections against harms caused by other actors. Foster Family Agencies, known as FFAs, serve some of the most vulnerable children in public care. In 2024, the insurer of 90% of these agencies announced they would not be able to renew the coverage required for FFAs to continue operating. In response, I authored AB 2496. While that bill ensured that the thousands of foster kids being served by FFAs could remain in their homes, it had a sunset date of January 1, 2027. The search for a long-term solution to the FFA insurance crisis continues, but in the meantime, the signing of AB 2333 ensures that these liability protections do not further disrupt an incredibly unstable market by extending the policy through 2030.
Another legislative proposal I am hopeful will be passed and signed into law is my bill AB 1267, which I've recently amended to set a necessary precedent in California - no more child marriage. California is one of only three states without a minimum age for marriage, allowing children to marry adults. AB 1267 has a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of legislators supporting it, and has recently passed the Senate Judiciary Committee with a unanimous vote. Its next stop is Senate Appropriations.
Plenty of my other bills are moving through Senate policy committees, and a few of them are already on the Senate Floor, ready for a final vote. I look forward to providing more updates on my signed legislation in upcoming newsletters!
Save the Date: Care Fair 2026
Care Fair is returning this fall! September marks Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and each year I honor it by bringing a health resource fair to a different community within Assembly District 28. On September 26, Care Fair is coming to Morgan Hill! The event features local health resources, screenings, and a celebration of our district-nominated Mental Health Heroes, who I'm looking forward to sharing more about soon! Mark your calendars and tell your friends to join you in Morgan Hill this September. Organizations interested in tabling at Care Fair can sign up at my website.
Past Events
Rose, White & Blue Parade
I was grateful to be accompanied by constituents, supporters, and colleagues at the Rose, White & Blue 4th of July Parade in San José! Big thanks to Jesse Burmeister from Willow Glen for volunteering his 1950's Chevy truck for the parade.
With this year marking the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, I was moved to celebrate alongside a wide array of cultural and religious groups in the parade. For me, celebrating 4th of July means celebrating the promises this country was founded on: representation, democracy, and the pursuit of freedom for all. My patriotism is my drive to safeguard our democracy, which was hard-won only 250 years ago and remains fragile. We must never stop pushing to expand access to democratic participation because we, the people, decide the future of the United States.
Supporting Brain Health in Our Community
On June 26, Assemblymember Dawn Addis and I co-hosted an educational webinar by the Alzheimer's Association, where we learned about science-based steps to support our brain health and the different forms of dementia that many Americans experience.
Dementia affects so many Americans, and I am grateful to the Alzheimer's Association for their education and advocacy, which provide us with research that translates into real actions we can take to prevent dementia in our own lives, such as making small changes in our daily routines to keep our brains active. Reach out to my office for a recording of the event and stay tuned for future webinars!
See More HQ Grand Opening
It was a pleasure to visit UC Santa Cruz's Seymour Marine Discovery Center to celebrate the grand opening of its See More HQ. This bilingual, interactive exhibit not only makes real-time coastal science accessible to our community, but also fun and engaging!
The digitally focused exhibit empowers visitors to explore regional scientific research and solutions with games, maps, and immersive videos. I'm proud of the university for its remarkable contributions to marine science, and for sharing its research in this innovative and exciting way. The exhibit is permanent, so whenever you're ready to "See More," head to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center!
Upcoming events
Almaden Valley Summer Concert Series
Greystone Park, San José | July 23 & 30 | 🕙 6:30 - 8:00 PM
The Almaden Valley Summer Concert Series is a longstanding community tradition that brings people together through free, live music events. I'm proud to be a sponsor of the 2026 series, which kicked off on July 9th and continues every Thursday throughout the month. More details can be found here.
Los Gatos Music in the Park Series
Los Gatos Civic Center Lawn | July 26 - August 23 | 🕙 5:00 - 7:00 PM
The town of Los Gatos has brought back its famous Music in the Park concerts for the summer! Free concerts are held each Sunday afternoon on the Los Gatos Civic Center Lawn and are open to all. Bring a comfortable seat or blanket and check out one of the many family-friendly shows. See the lineup and other details here.
Santa Cruz Wharf Tuesday Night Concert Series
21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz | July 28 - September 8 | 🕙 6:00 - 8:00 PM
The City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with Choose Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Wharf Tenants to bring back the Tuesday Night Live Concert Series! These free shows are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month through September 8. While attending, be sure to shop local and check out the local businesses and restaurants. The next concert will be on Tuesday, July 28. Check out the 2026 concert lineup to spend your summer evenings with music and community.
Morgan Hill Friday Night Music Series
Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center | July 24 - August 21 | 🕙 5:30 - 9:30 PM
The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce provides free concerts every Friday through August 21 at the Community and Cultural Center Amphitheater through its Friday Night Music Series! The next concert will be on July 24, and beer and wine will be available for sale to keep the events free for the public. Please keep in mind that no outside alcohol is permitted. To find the schedule and other event information, visit this website.
Big Basin Redwoods is California's oldest state park located in the heart of Santa Cruz and is home to ancient redwoods. This park has a little bit of everything; it offers incredible sights, and elevations vary from sea level to 2,000 feet. Although 97% of Big Basin burned in the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires, many of the old trees survived. Park staff continue working hard to reopen trails for public use, especially after even further damage was caused by the series of atmospheric river storms in 2023. This park has become a key site for wildfire recovery research, giving scientists a rare window into how redwood forests regenerate. Before exploring, please check the current trail conditions to see which trails and roads are open and safe for public use.
Resources & Updates
SUN Bucks: Apply by August 31
Families who received CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal at least once during the 2025-26 school year will automatically get SUN Bucks, a summer food benefit for school-age kids; cards were mailed starting in late May and may arrive as late as July 2026. Families who didn't receive those programs can still qualify if they meet free/reduced price meal income guidelines and submit a school meal form or "alternative income form" at their child's school by August 31, 2026, with new approved families receiving cards starting in late July 2026 (learn more about eligibility). SUN Bucks will not affect immigration status. Each eligible child receives $120 on an EBT card to use over the summer, but funds expire 122 days after they're loaded and stolen benefits will not be replaced, so it's worth reviewing the state's FAQs on how to spend and protect them. To check your card balance or claim status, visit the EBT cardholder website.
District Interns visit the State Capitol
Team Pellerin has no shortage of interns this summer! Our district field representatives Lisette and Lauren chauffeured our cohort of six interns to the State Capitol to get a tour of the building, watch an Assembly floor session from the chambers, and meet our legislative side of the team. Our interns are young, bright, and eager to serve Assembly District 28 constituents!
California Grants Portal
Everyone should know about the California Grants Portal, a single destination for all grants and loans offered by California state agencies, available on a competitive or first-come, first-served basis. Opportunities can be searched by category, eligible applicant, and agency, making it easier for nonprofits, schools, small businesses, and local governments to find funding that fits their needs. I encourage you to explore the portal, bookmark it, and share it with partners who may be seeking support. Access to opportunity matters, especially during tight budget years. Head to grants.ca.gov to find your opportunity.
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, 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
