March 2026 Newsletter – Office of Senator Bob Archuleta

The Walk Groundbreaking

The district recently celebrated the groundbreaking of The Walk, an exciting new development that will create a new gathering place in the City of Norwalk. The project will include housing, restaurants, and shops that strengthen our local economy and encourage people to spend time in our community. 

Just as important, The Walk will generate local jobs and new revenue for the city. Thank you to all the partners and community members who helped bring this project to this important milestone.
 

Senator Bob Archuleta is pictured (center) with Councilmembers and elected federal and state officials at the groundbreaking of The Walk, a new development in the City of Norwalk.

Governor Signs SB 694, Protecting California’s Veterans

I was proud to stand alongside Governor Newsom as my bill, SB 694, was signed into law, strengthening protections for California’s veterans and cracking down on predatory “claim sharks.” Thank you to my colleagues and co-authors, Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo and Senator Sabrina Cervantes, co-sponsor Attorney General Rob Bonta, as well as our veterans’ advocates for their partnership. As a veteran and Chair of the Senate Military & Veterans Affairs Committee, I’m proud to help ensure those who served receive every benefit they earned. 

Senator Bob Archuleta is pictured (center) with Governor Newsom and other elected officials, as he signed the Senator’s SB 694 into law.

Introducing Anti-DUI Legislative Package

I recently stood with my colleagues and officials from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the Safe CA Roads Coalition to announce the most comprehensive anti-DUI legislative package, including SB 907, in 20 years.  This fight is personal. In December 2024, my family lost my grandchild to a deadly DUI crash. No family should have to endure that pain. Together with families, doctors, and public safety leaders, we are strengthening our laws, closing enforcement gaps, and working to save lives.

Senator Bob Archuleta is pictured (center at the podium) at the press conference.

SB 623/SCA 4 – Each would allow veteran homeowners to stack the veterans’ exemption and the homeowners’ exemption. The bill and SCA would also modernize the veterans’ exemption by removing arbitrary limitations a veteran must meet in order to qualify for the exemption.

SB 804 – The Hydrogen Pipeline Safety Act will require the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to adopt safety standards for hydrogen pipelines to ensure that any new hydrogen pipeline infrastructure is designed and built to prevent leakage. 

SB 907 – Strengthens California’s DUI enforcement and sentencing laws, particularly for repeat offenders. The bill includes 5 provisions that will protect California families from drunk drivers, improve road safety, hold repeat serial offenders accountable, close loopholes in existing law, and prevent future tragedies from occurring.

SB 920 – Enhances transparency, accountability, and fiscal integrity in the implementation of regulatory fees under California’s Gambling Control Act. By requiring published statements of purpose and cost basis summaries, SB 920 advances good governance practices that promote greater transparency in fee adoption and expenditure and protect the integrity of regulatory funding mechanisms.

SB 962 – Authorizes the placement of blue emergency lights on all parole officer vehicles. Modeled after existing CDCR policy for managerial-level officers, this bill grants greater protection to rank-and-file parole officers who are most often on the front lines of potentially dangerous situations. SB 962 is inspired by the tragic loss of Parole Agent Joshua Byrd, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on July 17, 2025. 

SB 1001 – Requires the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to issue identification cards to essential utility workers, granting those workers easier access to evacuation zones during an emergency. This bill is inspired by the experiences of countless utility workers during the Eaton Fire, including employees of Rowland Water District who were denied access to evacuation zones and could not assist with response efforts. 

SB 1112 – Strives to protect consumers and businesses from “bandit” towing companies, fraudsters that manipulate or trick a consumer into handing over their vehicle and then hold the vehicle hostage for up to tens of thousands of dollars. This bill will make it easier for consumers to recover their cars and for the state to hold these bad actors accountable.

SB 1124 – will ensure tobacco consumers are made aware of lung cancer screenings available to qualifying consumers by requiring notice of these screenings and requirements are available to consumers at the point of sale. This bill will ensure those harmed by addiction begin their path to care.

SB 1188 – Will provide much needed clarity to students and education institutions alike by clarifying students participating in independent study, homeschooling, and other educational institutions can access their local schools JROTC program if not offered by their current placement. While federal code guarantees students enrolled in independent studies access to JROTC programs at their local schools, they are being turned away from their local schools and unable to participate.

SB 1262 – Will prohibit community colleges from having an unrestricted financial reserve of over 50% of its annual operating budget unless the district provides their part time faculty health insurance, pays part time faculty for office hours, and provides that 75% of its teaching hours are taught by full time faculty. It ensures that community colleges don’t hoard bloated reserves at the expense of their faculty and potential student services.

SB 1274 – California is home to a small number of unique cities that have a higher daytime population than residential population. This typically occurs when a city is primarily zoned for industrial use and is experiencing large numbers of workers commuting to and from the city every day. In recent years, these industrial cities have formed a coalition to better advocate for themselves and their unique needs. SB 1274 legitimizes their status by creating an official definition of “industrial city” in state code.

SB 1320 – Prohibits the use of UCC-1 financial filings against residential owner-occupied real property. This bill will reduce uncertainty in real property sales and protect homeowners and home buyers from having their transactions delayed because of hidden liens against the property. 

SB 1407 – Will exclude military retirement pay and income from personal gross income. It seeks to incentivize veterans to stay in California and seek second careers guaranteeing their further investment into the state’s economy while supplying our highly skilled workforce. As retention challenges grow, we must recognize that fiscal policy plays a role in long-term enlistment decisions.

As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity within the 30th Senate District and throughout the region continues, it is important for residents to be informed, prepared, and protected. 

My office remains committed to standing with immigrant families and ensuring that all members of our community are aware of their rights and have access to trusted legal and civil resources.

Here are links to vital information to help navigate these challenging times and safeguard your family and neighbors.

Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs: https://oia.lacounty.gov/for-la-county-immigrants/

National Immigration Law Center: https://www.nilc.org/resources/

Immigrant Legal Resource Center: https://www.ilrc.org/

California Immigrant Policy Center: https://caimmigrant.org/what-we-do/policy/fighting-mass-detention-deportation/resources-for-immigration-legal-protection/

My staff is available and committed to helping you resolve any issues you have with any state agencies. We will contact a state agency on your behalf to see if we can get your questions answered or matter resolved. You can give us a call at (562) 406-1001 or visit https://sd30.senate.ca.gov/. You can also follow my Facebook and Instagram accounts for a look at the work my staff and I are doing in the Capitol and the District, as well as information regarding Senate District 30.
 

Senator Bob Archuleta currently represents the 30th Senate District, which includes portions of Los Angeles County and Orange County. He is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, and a member of the Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee, Governmental Organization Committee, Transportation Committee, as well as the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management. Senator Archuleta also sits on the Senate Special Committee on International Sporting Events: Olympics and World Cup Soccer

Website of Senator Bob Archuleta:https://sd30.senate.ca.gov/