Schiavo bills advance through committee, Senate 

Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, announced that several of her bills have moved forward in the Legislature, with eight measures passing out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and two passing the Senate floor.  

“Our community is facing rising costs and prioritizes public safety and supporting our veterans. I’m honored to be able to uplift the priorities of our community with these bills to meet those needs head on,” Schiavo said in a news release. “Whether it’s lowering utility bills, protecting veterans and survivors of violence, preventing medical debt, or making sure workers are safe on the job, every bill puts people first and delivers real results for our community.” 

The release provided the following summaries of bills advancing out of Assembly Appropriations: 

● Assembly Bill 30 (coauthored), Ethanol Blend Implementation Act: Reduces gasoline prices by allowing a higher percentage of ethanol in gasoline. 

● Senate Bill 694 (coauthored), Protecting Veterans from Predatory Practices: Strengthens state protections to align with federal law to keep California veterans from being charged illegal and exorbitant fees when applying for disability benefits they’ve earned. 

● AB 985, Chiquita Canyon Community Assistance Act: Provides tax relief, property reassessment, and mortgage forbearance tools for residents impacted by toxic emissions from the Chiquita Canyon Landfill. 

● AB 1312, Patient Debt Prevention Act: Ensures hospitals prescreen patients for financial assistance before billing. 

● AB 1418, Health Coverage Waiting Period Transparency: Tracks and reports delays in employer-sponsored insurance. 

● AB 28, Landfill Safety Act: Improves monitoring, transparency, and enforcement of landfills to avoid disasters like Chiquita Canyon from occurring in the first place. Creates a fund from penalties to support impacted communities. 

● AB 535, Victim and Witness Protection Act: Strengthens protections for survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and abuse. 

● AB 1508, Strengthening California’s Role in National Defense: extends the work of the Governor’s Military Council through 2031. The council plays a vital role in supporting California’s military installations and ensuring our state remains a leader in national defense. 

The release provided the following summaries of the bills that have passed the Legislature:  

● AB 1509, Expanding Oversight of Veterans’ Education Benefits: strengthens oversight of educational institutions to ensure veterans receive high-quality, fraud-free, training and education. This bill is awaiting the governor’s signature. 

● Assembly Joint Resolution 3, Protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medi-Cal: Calls on Congress and the president to reject cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medi-Cal, protecting seniors, veterans, and families who rely on these vital programs. This resolution has passed and no further action is needed. 

● AB 27, Chiquita Canyon Tax Relief: Incorporated into the taxation budget trailer bill AB 132 which was passed and signed by the governor. Exempts payments from the Chiquita Canyon Landfill or government entities relating to the Chiquita Canyon disaster from state income tax and safety net program eligibility determinations. 

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