As California and the United States host the World Cup, this year’s legislative session is now in its critical second half. This month, I am proud to share updates on our ongoing efforts to secure vital community investments in the 2026-27 State Budget, from defending immigrant youth to championing housing affordability. We have also reached a critical milestone, with fifteen of my bills advancing and one sitting on the Governor’s desk awaiting signature. Also in this newsletter, I am honored to spotlight the incredible contributions of local leaders and organizations building a stronger East Bay and highlighting our state’s SUN Bucks program to help feed school children over the summer.

Community Budget Priorities Included in Adopted State Budget

Senator Arreguín speaks at a press conference highlighting the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond.

Throughout the year, I have been advocating for critical investments that directly serve our East Bay communities. By prioritizing funding for essential services and affordable housing, we are securing a more equitable and resilient future for all Californians.

Supporting Immigrant Children: Reports that children are being forced to represent themselves in immigration court represents a failure of our justice system. The Children’s Holistic Immigration Representation Project (CHIRP) provides representation and social services to unaccompanied minors in California. CHIRP is a proven investment that fills a critical gap left by increasingly limited federal protections for unaccompanied immigrant children. I was proud to carry the budget request in the Senate for $15 million for the continuation of this program, and I am pleased to announce that this funding was included in the adopted budget. This will allow CHIRP to continue providing services through community-based organizations, helping children navigate complex immigration proceedings while getting connected to housing, education, and trauma-informed care. 

Advancing Housing Opportunities: Housing affordability is one of the greatest challenges facing our state. As a renter and housing advocate - housing production, affordability and ending homelessness - are among my top priorities as your State Senator. As the Chair of the Senate Housing Committee, I was proud to co-author legislation to place the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond on the November 2026 ballot, an $11.25 billion state bond measure to fund the construction of new affordable housing projects, help Veterans buy new homes, preserve existing housing, and expand homeownership opportunities.

As Senate Housing Chair we have also advanced hundreds of bills to streamline housing construction, enable the use of pre-fabricated housing, address homelessness, and support homeowners.

While policy is a critical lever to help jumpstart housing production, funding is also essential to help build new income-restricted housing in California. Unfortunately, previous bond funds have been spent, so the state has made one-time investments to housing finance programs. While the Governor did not include any funding for key housing programs in his initial budget, I helped lead efforts to secure $700 million for affordable housing funding, and $900 million for local dollars to address homelessness in the adopted 2026-27 State Budget.

Protecting Health and Wellness: The inhumane cuts to essential social services and health care that were approved by the federal government jeopardizes the lives of millions of Californians. Many of the 5.5 million people enrolled in CalFresh are at risk of losing access to essential food without state intervention. I am thankful that after calling for additional funds to support counties in implementing new administrative changes to CalFresh, the adopted budget includes $100 million for the CalFood program to support those who lose CalFresh coverage and $223 million to help counties maintain CalFresh eligibility. The adopted budget also reverses cuts to the Medi-Cal Dental Program which provides subsidized dental services for Californians.

Progress on My 2026 Legislation

Senator Arreguin speaks at a press conference highlighting worker protections proposed under SB 1330

We have passed the halfway point in this year’s legislative session, and I am pleased to announce that 15 of my bills have advanced, including one sitting on the Governor’s desk.

ON THE GOVERNOR’S DESK

SB 830 - Implementation of Regional Transit Measure: This bill makes clarifying changes to legislation I co-authored last year, SB 63, which allows for the placement of a regional Bay Area-specific sales tax measure to fund transit operations. SB 830 makes minor changes to improve election administration including a uniform ballot title across the region and allowing for different ballot arguments to be filed in different counties.

ON THE SENATE FLOOR FOR CONCURRENCE

SB 762 - Transaction and Use Taxes: Various Jurisdictions: Allows for various counties and cities, including the cities of Hercules and San Pablo, to levy transaction and use taxes if approved by the voters in excess of the 2% statewide cap.

IN THE ASSEMBLY

SB 239 - Protecting Local Officials from Threats and Violence: This bill increases criminal penalties for threats and acts of violence against local officials including election officials, county supervisors, mayors, councilmembers, school board members, and special district members.

SB 479 - Homeless Adult and Multidisciplinary Response Teams: Allows local health jurisdictions (including the City of Berkeley) to form Homeless Adult and Multidisciplinary Response Teams to better coordinate outreach, information sharing and services for persons experiencing homelessness.

SB 632 - California College Promise: Expands eligibility for the California College Promise, which provides for up to 2 years of free tuition at community colleges, allowing part-time students with 9 or more semester units to be eligible for the program.

SB 739 - Changes to California Clean Miles Standard and Incentive Program: Makes changes to the California Clean Miles Standard and Incentive Program to give state agencies implementation flexibility by adjusting targets and extending implementation timelines recognizing that unanticipated barriers exist in expanding the usage of zero-emission vehicles by transportation network companies (TNC). Additionally, the bill requires the CPUC to distribute existing driver incentive funds to help finance the purchase of zero emission vehicles for TNC drivers.

SB 948 - Improving Gun Safety: This bill will ensure that lawful gun owners have basic training to improve gun safety, and requires people who move to California to obtain a firearm safety certificate within 6 months as currently required for existing California residents.

SB 1166 - Supporting AC Transit Employees: This bill authorizes employee organizations within AC Transit to adjudicate unfair labor practice charges at the Public Employment Relations Board. This would align AC Transit with current practices at other major transit agencies.

SB 1218 - Illegal Dumping Accountability: This bill creates a new enforcement mechanism for those that dump illegally in our neighborhoods by authorizing the immobilization of a vehicle if the owner has outstanding illegal dumping fines.

SB 1257 - Shining Light on ICE Activity: This bill requires the Attorney General to provide an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor on immigrant enforcement incidents in the state at safe locations, such as schools, healthcare facilities, and courts.

SB 1299 - Providing Professional Fire Suppression: This bill, known as the State Fire Marshal Fire Suppression Education and Training Safety Act, ensures that only professionals handle the installation and maintenance of critical life-safety fire suppression systems.

SB 1330 - Protecting Utility Workers: This bill addresses increased incidents of violence against utility workers by providing utility workers the same protections as other workers involved in health and public safety work by increasing penalties for assault or battery.

SB 1383 - Preserving Labor Standards: This bill clarifies that labor standards for construction workers cannot be waived in housing projects that utilize the state’s density bonus.

SB 1400 - Supporting Local Hospitals: This bill modernizes the governance structure of Alameda Health System to strengthen local oversight and fiscal sustainability.

SB 1408 - Improving Contra Costa County Transportation: This bill authorizes the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to renew Measure J, which is set to expire in 2034.

For a full list of bills I have introduced since I began my term, check out my Legislation page at my website.

Spotlight on East Bay Heroes

The East Bay is full of amazing people who continue to inspire and uplift our communities. I recently had the honor to recognize two incredible leaders for their tireless work. 

Senator Arreguín welcomes Latino Spirit Awards recipient Lipe Gallegos-Diaz at the Senate Chambers.

Every year, the California Latino Legislative Caucus presents the Latino Spirit Awards, recognizing prominent Latinos for their contributions to the State and communities they serve.

This year, I had the honor of recognizing Lupe Gallegos-Diaz for her contributions in education. Gallegos-Diaz currently serves as the Director of the UC Berkeley Chicanx Latinx Student Development Office and is the Co-Founder of the UC Berkeley Latinx and the Environment program. Her dedication to expanding educational access, equity, and opportunity for students, especially first-generation, low-income, and those from historically marginalized communities has helped develop a new generation of leaders. 

Senator Arreguin joins Urban Tilth Executive Director Doria Robinson for a site tour.

Every year, all Senators and Assemblymembers get to recognize a local nonprofit that has gone above and beyond in giving back to their neighborhoods, lifting up others, and advancing novel solutions to the issues we face. 

This year, I selected Urban Tilth as our Nonprofit of the Year. Founded in 2005, the Richmond-based organization has become a leading force in advancing food equity, environmental justice, and community empowerment in Contra Costa County. Urban Tilth has helped the community grow its own food, taught residents about the relationships among food, health, poverty, and justice, and forged partnerships with local small farmers to increase demand for their produce. I had the privilege of touring Urban Tilth last year, where I got to witness firsthand the successful efforts in advancing sustainable and healthier food options in communities historically impacted by pollution and food deserts. 

SUN Bucks Provides Summers Meals for Children

The deadline to apply for 2026 SUN Bucks is August 31, 2026.

With schools on summer recess, California’s SUN Bucks program helps families with school-age children buy groceries while their kids do not have access to school meals. In June, July, and August, qualified families can receive a benefit of $40 per child per month, for a total of $120 per child. In 2025, California provided approximately $507 million in food benefits to over 4.2 million children throughout the state.

Most children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals through a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application, or get CalFresh, CalWORKs, and/or Medi-Cal, including homeschooled kids and kids experiencing homelessness or who are part of a migrant family, are automatically enrolled. More information is available at SUN Bucks California.