Berman Bulletin: 14 Bills Heading to the Governor

When the gavel fell at midnight on August 31 (or, in reality, noon on September 1), and my 10th legislative year came to a close, I was excited to send another fourteen bills to Governor Newsom’s desk. As a new dad, I am especially proud of the work we did to protect our children and our young adults – from creating a free youth suicide prevention training for students age 13 and up and all teachers, administrators, and parents in California to requiring children’s diaper manufacturers to clearly disclose the ingredients in their products. Now, after too many nights away from my son, I am excited to be back home and to spend more time in the amazing communities of the 23rd Assembly District.

In this newsletter:

• Berman Bills Heading to the Governor
• $6 Million in State Funding for AD 23
• Summer Food Drive
• Ribbon Cutting for Tunitas Creek Beach
• Youth Town Hall
• Thank you, Interns
• Upcoming Events

Sincerely,

Marc Berman
Assemblymember, 23rd District

This year, I sent fourteen bills to the Governor’s desk, two of which have already been signed into law. Here are a couple of the bills awaiting the Governor’s signature that I am especially excited about, including legislation to improve election transparency and help families electrify their homes. To learn more about my entire 2026 legislative bill package, check out my website.

AB 1130 – Improving Election Transparency for Social Media Content Paid for By Political Campaigns

As we saw in California’s gubernatorial primary, social media and the growing influencer industry have changed the way candidates communicate with voters. As more candidates pay influencers to post content supporting their campaigns, it’s critical that voters know if that content is organic and authentic or if it is paid political messaging.

AB 1130 ensures that social media influencers disclose when they are paid by a political campaign to post content and requires campaigns to clearly disclose all spending on social media influencers.

Learn more about AB 1130 here: California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics - Los Angeles Times

AB 1864 – Preventing AI-Enabled Bioterrorism

Every day, we hear more and more about the dangers of artificial intelligence. Recently, the New York Times reported that AI can walk a person through how to create a bioweapon. That's why I teamed up with the AI safety experts at Encode to write AB 1864, which will require commonsense safeguards to ensure that genetic materials that could be used to create a bioweapon do not get into the hands of bad actors seeking to endanger public health.

California is the proud home of technological innovation, but this innovation cannot come at the expense of the public. AB 1864 is a proactive approach that will keep Californians safe.

Learn more about the danger behind AB 1864 here: Tech Rivals Unite to Stop AI-Designed Bioweapons – Forbes

AB 1901 – Ingredient Transparency in Children’s Diapers

We all want the best for our children, but the shocking lack of transparency around what ingredients companies use to make children’s diapers keeps parents in the dark when buying the one thing that is touching their baby’s sensitive skin every minute of their lives for years. My bill, AB 1901, will require manufacturers of children’s diapers to clearly label all ingredients on both the product’s packaging and online, equipping parents and caregivers with the information they need to feel confident about the products they choose for their children.

I was honored to join public health advocates, including actor Hilary Swank, to discuss my bill. AB 1901 was co-sponsored by Children Now, Environmental Working Group, Consumer Reports, and Center for Environmental Health.

AB 2121 – Defending Student Equity and Access

The Trump administration has launched an assault on higher education, attacking historically marginalized students who rely on critical programs provided by Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to stay in school and succeed. When President Trump pulls the rug out from under our most vulnerable students, California must fight back, holding firm to our values of equity and access to higher education.

I am proud to partner with West Valley-Mission Community College District to respond to the administration's systematic dismantling of federal student success programs by making it easier for community colleges to backfill this loss in federal funding. AB 2121 empowers our community colleges to save these programs and continue supporting their most disadvantaged students.

Learn more about AB 2121 here: West Valley community college district sponsors bill to address loss of federal funding - San Jose Mercury News

AB 2313 – Home Energy Choice Act

Many homeowners want to fully electrify their homes, but the upfront costs of transitioning from gas appliances to electric alternatives pose a major barrier. If we’re going to meet our goal of creating a more affordable and sustainable California, we need to encourage electrification by making it less costly to transition to clean energy.

I teamed up with NRDC and Earthjustice to create the Home Energy Choice Act to provide Californians with that opportunity. AB 2313 will give families the choice to electrify their homes and provide them with financial support to upgrade to modern, energy-efficient appliances, rather than forcing homeowners to let the utility replace their aging natural gas hookup. This is a win for ratepayers, a win for the environment, and a win for public health.

I am proud to have secured $6 million in state funding for cities across the 23rd District for their efforts to protect their communities from wildfires, flooding, and sea level rise. Every one of our communities is feeling the environmental impacts of climate change. Just a few months ago, the city of Pacifica had to shut down their iconic Municipal Pier due to damage caused by coastal erosion and sea level rise. The state has a responsibility to ensure that our communities are protected, and these civic investments will help repair damage and prepare for the next disaster.

When school is out for the summer, the need for food assistance is greater than ever, and kids who rely on free meal programs during the school year may miss out on that critical nutritional support. With the recent cuts to food assistance by the Trump Administration, it is crucial that we all step up to support each other.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to my first Summer Food Drive. We received a literal ton of food donations, which we delivered to local food pantries throughout my district. I am incredibly proud of our community’s generosity and thank everyone who donated and supported their neighbors.

It was amazing to be back on the coast side to celebrate the opening of Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach. This breathtaking stretch of California coastline is now safely open to the public, embodying the legacy and vision of former Supervisor Don Horsley.

Don saw the beauty of Tunitas Creek and believed our coast is one of our greatest shared treasures. Now, and in small part due to the $5 million I secured in the state budget in 2018, everyone can enjoy this majestic refuge.

I hosted my seventh annual Youth Town Hall over the summer. This event continues to be one of my favorites, and this year we had a spectacular turnout! Hearing directly from young people in my district, who are already making change, always leaves me feeling inspired. Hearing directly from young people who are already making a difference in their communities always leaves me feeling inspired and hopeful for the future.

Thank you to our amazing youth panelists, community organizations, and everyone who spent their Saturday afternoon with us.

My office welcomed another amazing group of interns this summer – Amber, Arjun, Nathan, and Nishi! From providing in-depth research on district issues and policy ideas to helping organize our Youth Town Hall, I am grateful for all of their hard work in service of my constituents. As a former intern myself, I know firsthand the value of an internship to potentially spark a future in public service. If you or a young person you know is interested in our District Office Internship, keep an eye on my website for future opportunities!

I am excited to invite you and your family to my annual Community Health and Wellness Fair. Hosted in partnership with the Mountain View Whisman School District, join us for an afternoon dedicated to your well-being.

Discover resources, enjoy fun activities, and take proactive steps toward a healthier lifestyle. We will have a variety of options for kids to explore, learn, play, and stay healthy - all for free. In addition, community service providers from across the district will offer information about accessing critically important services.

We will also be providing free back-to-school supplies, diapers, dental and vision screenings, Flu and COVID-19 vaccines, and more.

RSVP Here