September 2026 Newsletter

Greetings Neighbor,

As summer comes to a close, I’m proud to share an update on the work my team and I have been doing both at the State Capitol and here at home in our community.

We closed out the legislative session on September 1^st with key bills headed to the Governor’s desk and critical state investments secured for the 28^th District. From protecting workers and expanding economic opportunity, to investing in housing, workforce development and our communities, we delivered meaningful progress for the people we serve.

Back home, my district team and I have remained present throughout our communities—from welcoming nearly 100 neighbors to our Coffee with the Senator in Westchester, to celebrating Black Business Month and recognizing Black-owned businesses across our district.

We’re also looking ahead to our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on October 3 as we continue bringing our community together to recognize the cultures and contributions that make our district so special.

As always, please visit our website to reach our Capitol and District teams for legislative and constituent services, or to request a meeting or event.

Thank you for staying engaged. I look forward to continuing our work together and building on the progress we’re making across our district.

Warm Regards,

Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Senator, 28^th District

Closing Out the 2026 Legislative Session

We wrapped up the 2026 legislative session on September 1 after months of work to deliver results for the people of the 28th District and communities across California.

This year, I sent legislation to the Governor’s desk that will better protect working families, strengthen worker protections, invest in cultural preservation, and improve access to healthcare through my bills:

• SB 626 – Maternal Health Screenings and Treatments

• SB 909 – Public Works Enforcement and Penalty Reform

• SB 964 – Medication Dose Optimization Act

• SB 1012 – Fire Camp to Career Act

• SB 1030 – Ends Discriminatory CalWorks “Man in the House” Rule

• SB 1073 – Black Cultural District Tax Contribution Fund

• SB 1100 – Strengthened California’s Records Management

• SB 1203 – Stand for Security Act

• SB 1316 – Wage Theft Enforcement

• SB 1405 – Reconnects Seniors to Unclaimed Retirement Benefits

We also fought for critical state investments in the state’s budget that will make a difference right here at home, including:

• Housing and Homelessness Assistance and Prevention—$890 million of Round 7 Funding that provides cities, counties, and Continuums of Care with flexible, one-time block-grant funding to prevent and end homelessness.

• Public Hospital Funding—$250 million to support California’s public hospital system.

• California Workplace Outreach Program (CWOP)—$30 million for CWOP, the state’s most effective worker-education partnership, connecting state labor enforcement agencies with trusted community-based organizations to reach workers who face the highest risks of wage theft, retaliation, and workplace exploitation.

• Immigration Services for Underserved Populations—$5 million to improve outreach for immigration-related services to underserved populations, including Black immigrants.

• California Arts Council—$10 million for the California Arts Council grantmaking and administrative costs, helping strengthen the state’s capacity to support arts organizations and community-based cultural programs.

• Historic South LA Black Cultural District--$1 million investment will help move the District from designation to implementation by supporting Black artists, cultural workers, neighborhood organizations, and community-led cultural programming.

• Ballona Creek and Wetlands—$4 million to support the restoration and revitalization of the Ballona Wetlands and Ballona Creek.

The Governor has until September 30 to act on legislation, and we’re working to get these bills across the finish line. Stay tuned for a full recap of our 2026 legislative accomplishments and the impact these wins will have on our communities.

Westchester Residents Attend Coffee with the Senator

Nearly 100 Westchester area residents joined us last month for our Coffee with the Senator community gathering at the Westchester YMCA.

Neighbors had an opportunity to connect over coffee, share their perspectives, and discuss key issues affecting Westchester and surrounding communities. During the Q&A segment, we shared updates from the State Capitol and heard directly from residents about the issues that matter most to them and their families.

Coffee with the Senator is part of our ongoing commitment to staying connected with communities across the 28th District and ensuring residents have a voice in the work we do in Sacramento.

Celebrating Black Entrepreneurship in the 28th District

August was National Black Business Month, and we celebrated the month by recognizing 80 Black-owned businesses across the 28th District with Certificates of Appreciation. These businesses are part of the more than 175,000 Black-owned businesses across California that create jobs and strengthen our communities. They deserve our support—not just in August, but all year long.

As part of our Black Business Month celebration, we also visited Silverback Coffee of Rwanda, a thriving coffeehouse in Downtown Los Angeles, to spotlight Black entrepreneurship in action. In our video, the owner shares how his business is creating opportunities for local youth while contributing to the economy and community.

Check out the video below—and join us in supporting Black-owned businesses throughout the year!

Watch Video Here

Join Us: Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Oct. 3

Please join us for our 3rd Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on Saturday, October 3—from 10 am to 1 pm—at the Fremont Wellness Center & Community Garden in South LA.

Held in partnership with LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell and Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, this community celebration will honor the rich cultural contributions of Hispanic, Latinx, Indigenous, and Afro-Latinx communities.

Attendees can access on-site health screenings and wellness resources, connect with community organizations, enjoy free food, and more!

We hope you’ll join us for a day of celebration, connection and wellness as we honor the vibrant culture that makes our 28th District so special.