Summer Update from Sacramento

It is hard to believe that almost eight months ago, I joined 79 colleagues in the assembly chamber for my first official floor session as your assemblymember. What an honor it has been! As we are now more than halfway through the year, I feel it is important to report back to you some highlights from Sacramento and the legislative successes we have had so far this session.

Regarding my legislative package: We had nine bills make their way from the Assembly into the Senate. Many of them have had strong bipartisan support.

The first bill that I introduced, AB 766, assists foster youth with their living expenses while attending college. It has passed every committee and floor vote unanimously and is on its way to the Senate floor.

AB 1393, which requires law enforcement to impound vehicles repeatedly involved in street racing or reckless driving for 30 days and for all illegal modifications to be removed within 30 days upon release of impoundment, has also passed through the Assembly, most recently passing the Senate Public Safety Committee with bipartisan support.

AB 1560 expands our health care workforce by allowing physicians more flexibility in the ratio of nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives and physician assistants they can supervise, passed the Assembly with 73 “yes” votes and is waiting for a vote on the Senate floor. It’s a change that will help all of our primary clinics, hospitals and others meet the needs of California families.

Finally, AB 1414, which reduces the cost of and streamlines the process for consumers acquiring permits for solar energy systems, also passed the Assembly with broad support and most recently passed the Senate Governance and Finance Committee.

Of course not all of our votes, nor all of my own bills, have been without controversy. We have had plenty of votes that have been divisive within the legislature and the community. These are bills written by legislators with the best of intent, often attempting to address huge problems. Our greatest challenges – housing, drought, healthcare, climate change, substance abuse, etc. – only continue to be difficult because the solutions are so complicated.

As a legislator, I believe it is our job to tackle with sincerity and fearlessness all issues large and small. We should never have our focus be either too broad or too narrow. This is where the voice of our constituents plays such a crucial role.

It was through my time as a Glendale councilmember and now as your assemblymember that the majority of the bills in my package were born – from real people sharing their experiences with real challenges. Every time a constituent sends mail, an email, a website comment or calls, they’re helping us understand the challenges people are facing.

Yes, we don’t always agree, but this is the real heart of the process. In fact, this is the cornerstone from which our whole system was devised. It is a spectacular thing to be part of these debates, no matter how unpleasant they become, because it gives us the opportunity to have people with myriad perspectives come together and settle on a solution that hopefully works for the greatest number of people possible.

This year I have had several events across the district, and at each of them a robust conversation took place, either about a wide range of issues or regarding a specific subject. We have also been given the opportunity to participate in all aspects of our district’s civic life – from city council meetings to ribbon cuttings, parades, memorials, festivals and marches.

It is here in this blend of experiences both up in Sacramento and down at home – in the meetings, the conversations and the events, committee hearings and floor debates – that I get to experience the diverse, intelligent, creative, thoughtful community that is California and the 43rd Assembly District. I couldn’t be more proud to represent this community. I am confident in our successes and look forward to our future victories.

Please continue to reach out to my office with your questions and concerns or to have us be involved in your projects and events. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to serve you.

District Office: (818) 558-3043

Website: https://a43.asmdc.org/

Laura Friedman represents Burbank, Glendale,
La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose,
and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, Hollywood Hills,
Los Feliz, and Silver Lake.

  laura friedman