| WELCOME |
Greetings Neighbor,
I’m excited to share some good news from Sacramento! Governor Newsom signed 10 bills I authored into law, turning months of hard work into real progress, opportunities and investments for Californians.
These newly signed laws strengthen worker protections, expand access to health care, create pathways to good jobs, and give communities new tools to grow and thrive. We also secured important state investments in housing, homelessness, workforce development, and community priorities—including continued support for the Historic South LA Black Cultural District.
In this newsletter, I’m sharing highlights from this year’s work and what these accomplishments mean for you, your family, and our communities.
As always, please visit our website to connect with our Capitol and District teams for legislative and constituent services, request a meeting, or invite us to an upcoming event.
Thank you for staying engaged and being part of the work. I look forward to continuing to serve you and building on the progress we’re making together across our 28th District.
Warm Regards,
Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Senator, 28th District
Governor Signs My 10-Bill Package
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed 10 bills I authored that advances worker protections, expands pathways to good jobs, improves access to healthcare, and invests in communities across California.
At a time when working families are being asked to do more with less, we stayed focused on what matters: Protecting workers, creating pathways to good jobs, and strengthening the communities that too often get left behind. These bills turn those priorities into action.
The following are my 10 bills that were signed into law:
Delivering for Workers
SB 1203: Stand for Security Act – Security officers help keep our communities safe, and they deserve the training and protections to do that work well. SB 1203 requires security officer training to take place on paid time and strengthens training standards, helping build a safer, more professional workforce.
SB 1012: Fire Camp to Career Pathways – People who have served our communities through fire camp deserve a meaningful pathway to a better future. SB 1012 creates equitable access to stable, union-affiliated skilled trades careers for formerly incarcerated fire camp participants, turning training and service into lasting economic opportunity.
Investing in Our Communities
SB 1073: Black Cultural District Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund – California’s cultural districts are engines for community pride, small businesses, and economic opportunity. SB 1073 creates a voluntary way for Californians to support and invest in the Historic South LA Black Cultural District.
Improving Healthcare Access
SB 626: Maternal Health Screenings and Treatments – Addresses California’s fragmented perinatal mental health system by requiring consistent screening, diagnosis, follow-up care, and insurance coverage for critical mental health services during pregnancy and postpartum.
SB 964: Medication Dose Optimization Act – Helps patients get medically necessary dose adjustments for medications they are already approved to take, without unnecessary prior authorization delays.
Protecting Working Families
SB 909 – Public Works Enforcement – Strengthens enforcement of public works laws to ensure workers are paid the wages they earn, protect responsible contractors, and safeguard taxpayer dollars.
SB 1030: End the CalWORKs “Man in the House” Rule – Modernizes the CalWORKs program by repealing the outdated “Man in the House” statute, a discriminatory policy rooted in the 1950s and 1960s that has historically penalized low-income mothers and families of color.
SB 1100: Civil Grand Jury Reports – Improves how the Secretary of State’s office receives civil grand jury reports and responses by supporting more timely public access, clearer court compliance, and stronger long-term preservation of oversight records.
SB 1316: Worker Wage Recovery – Strengthens labor enforcement so workers can more effectively recover unpaid wages and penalties they’re already owed.
SB 1405: Retirement Protections – Sponsored by State Controller Malia Cohen, this bill helps reconnect seniors with missing retirement funds, putting money back into the hands of families and strengthening financial security for our elders.
Passing a bill is only the beginning. My team and I will continue working to make sure our communities understand these new laws and can benefit from the protections, programs and opportunities they create.
Thank you for staying engaged and for continuing to help shape the work we do in Sacramento.
New Way to Invest in the Historic South LA Black Cultural District
Governor Newsom has signed my bill SB 1073, creating a voluntary tax contribution fund that will give Californians a new way to invest in the Historic South LA Black Cultural District directly through their state tax returns.
The fund provides a tool to support cultural institutions, artists, small businesses and communal spaces while helping ensure that the people and businesses that built Historic South LA can benefit from the community’s growth.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details on how California taxpayers can voluntarily contribute to the Black Cultural District.
Raising the Standard for Security Officers
Security officers help keep our hospitals, businesses, public spaces, and communities safe. They deserve the training and support to do their jobs safely and professionally.
SB 1203—Stand for Security Act—strengthens training standards for security officers and requires mandatory training to take place on paid time.
This new law means officers will be better prepared for the situations they face on the job while raising standards across the industry. That will be especially important as Los Angeles prepares for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, when a well-trained security workforce will be essential across venues, businesses, and public spaces.
By investing in security officers, we’re investing in safer workplaces, stronger communities, and a safer California.
From Fire Camp to a Career
People who served on fire crews in our communities while incarcerated should have a meaningful pathway to a career when they return home. My bill SB 1012, signed into law by Governor Newsom, creates a pathway to stable, union-affiliated skilled trades careers for formerly incarcerated fire camp participants.
These individuals gained valuable skills and experience while helping protect California communities. By connecting that experience to good jobs and career training, this new law helps open the door to long-term economic opportunity and a brighter future after their release.
This bill is about turning experience into opportunity, and making sure people who have served our communities have a fair shot at building a career when they reenter society.
Governor Signs Maternal Mental Health Bill
Governor Newsom has signed my bill SB 626 that expands screening, treatment, and equity in perinatal mental health care statewide. The bill signing marks a major milestone in a two-year campaign led in partnership with survivors, health care providers, and advocates across California.
This bill was introduced because too many California families are struggling with maternal mental health conditions without getting the care they need, especially in communities of color that face greater barriers to care. SB 626 is an important step toward ensuring families get the support and care they deserve during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and we must treat it that way. When we fail to address perinatal mental health, it not only affects mothers, but also their children, families, and entire communities.
Bringing State Investment Home
Our work this year went beyond legislation. Through the state budget, we protected important investments in housing, homelessness, health care, and workforce development while bringing resources back to the 28th Senate District.
That includes funding and support for the Historic South LA Black Cultural District, local workforce opportunities, and community and environmental projects across our district.
These investments help bring state resources directly to the neighborhoods and families who need them most.