| JUNE 2026 NEWSLETTER |
Summer is in full swing at the Capitol. As we head into the month of June, our office is hard at work advancing legislation and engaging with our community here in the district and in Sacramento.
| LEGISLATIVE UPDATE |
Currently we have more than several bills awaiting action in the Senate—legislation focused on protecting your privacy, lowering the cost of developing housing, and safeguarding our most vulnerable communities.
Those bills are:
AB 322 CA Location Privacy Act – Modernizes the California Consumer Privacy Act to close dangerous loopholes in how precise location data is collected, retained, sold, and disclosed. It ensures that Californians' movements—especially in sensitive spaces like protests, clinics, houses of worship, and legal service centers—are not quietly tracked or weaponized against them.
AB 1337 IPA Reform Act of 2025 – Updates California's Information Practices Act (IPA) of 1977, which governs how public entities handle our data, to respond to the challenges of today's digital environment.
AB 1406 Condo Deposits – Encourages condominium development by increasing the liquidated damages cap from 3% to 6% while maintaining strong consumer protections, giving lenders greater certainty, improving project feasibility, lowering development costs, and ultimately increasing the supply of condominiums and affordable entry-level homeownership opportunities.
AB 1542 CA Data Privacy Act – Closes a dangerous loophole in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) by banning businesses from the selling or sharing of sensitive personal information to a third party. Californians deserve the right to feel safe and protected while going about their daily lives, attending places of worship, seeking vital health care, exercising their right to free speech, or simply going to the grocery store to feed their families.
AB 1684 HOA AC Installation Standards – Prohibits an HOA from restricting a homeowner's installation, use, or replacement of a home cooling system.
AB 1775 Support for Discharged Service Members Act – Provides critical housing, employment, and transition-to-civilian-life support for service members being discharged from the U.S. military, particularly because of President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14183, which targets transgender service members.
AB 1793 CA Common "Cents" Act – Standardizes the symmetrical rounding of cash transactions to the nearest nickel, ensuring fairness and transparency upon the elimination of the penny.
AB 1813 Community Solar – Requires the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to create a community renewable energy program that prioritizes access and utility bill savings for low-income households and renters who cannot install on-site solar and storage for technical or cost-related reasons. This will expand access to solar to all Californians, while providing a valuable tool for achieving the state's ambitious energy efficiency and climate change goals.
AB 1954 Municipal Golf Course Reform – Prohibits the brokering and reselling of reservations or tee times at municipal golf courses without a written agreement.
AB 1921 Protect our Games Act – Requires companies selling server-connected video games to notify consumers before shutting down a game's servers, rendering it inoperable. Upon ceasing support for a game, a company must provide (a) a means of accessing a playable version of the game or (b) a full refund to those who purchased it.
AB 2089 Welfare Property Tax Exemption Reform – Reforms the State Property Welfare Tax Exemption to ease tax burdens on affordable housing providers during ownership or control transitions, preserving hundreds of thousands of dollars for affordable housing.
AB 2180 Prop 218 Reform – Provides clarity and consistency to water agencies and their customers in setting proportional rates to provide predictability and minimize unnecessary legal disputes over water rates.
AB 2222 Community Newsroom Employment & Workforce Sustainability Act (The Community NEWS Act) – Establishes a tax credit to incentivize local news organizations to retain and hire journalists in California, helping sustain local journalism and community reporting. The bill aims to address the decline of local newsrooms by supporting newsroom employment and strengthening access to reliable local information.
AB 2559 Deposit Reform – Creates a standardized timeline in which consumers can request a deposit refund for meeting the recycling requirements of local construction and demolition programs, mandated by state waste diversion laws.
The Governor's Final Budget
I'm proud to have voted for the Governor's final budget, which reflects our commitment to protecting the health, dignity, and well-being of Californians. We stood firm against harmful cuts to Medi-Cal and IHSS, ensuring that millions of families, seniors, and people with disabilities can continue to access the care and support they rely on. This budget also makes critical investments in reproductive health care and establishes the nation's first dedicated funding to protect and expand access to gender-affirming care. At a time when these essential services are under attack across the country, California continues to lead by putting people first.
| CAPITOL HAPPENINGS |
Top Left: Met with actor Tim Robbins to discuss the importance of funding the arts. Top Right: Had a special surprise visit in Sacramento from one of our district's Top 10 winners in this year's civics contest. Bottom Left: Kicked off the FIFA World Cup in style. Bottom Right: Honored to receive the "Ally Award" from Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California!
| IN THE DISTRICT |
Craft Brewery Nominations
California is the birthplace of craft brewing, and with the introduction of HR 116, I am proud to recognize the industry's contributions statewide for "California Craft Beer" week starting July 17-26. To help celebrate craft brewing in the San Diego region, my office is now accepting nominations for "Brewery of the Year". Everyone has their favorite craft brewery, whether you're out celebrating with friends, gathering to watch the big game, or just wanting to get out of the house for an evening. Nominations have already started and will continue to be accepted until Sunday, June 21. Be sure to nominate your favorite brewery using the link below!
Small Business of the Year
Congratulations to our most recent small business of the year honorees! We received hundreds of nominations from communities across the district, and your winning businesses are the Ekobe School of Learning, Dietsch's Hearing Aid Center, Native Poppy, Flor's Farm to Table, and Camera Exposure/Safelight Labs! It was a pleasure getting to meet with these amazing and unique businesses, who all shared the same goals of providing excellent customer service and giving back to their communities. Feel free to visit my Instagram page to watch the full video highlighting this year's winners!
AAPI Honoree
In observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I was honored to recognize the remarkable contributions of Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan. As an accomplished author, dedicated educator, and Executive Director of AANHPISI Affairs & APIDA Center at San Diego State University, Dr. Loh-Hagan is a champion for student advocacy and the preservation of APIDA cultural history. Her unwavering commitment to empowering local voices makes her a cornerstone of our community. Please click the link below to view our interview and learn more about her vital service to the 78th District.
Nonprofit of the Year Honoree
At this year's annual CalNonprofit Luncheon, I was able to honor KPBS as the Assembly District 78 Nonprofit of the Year. KPBS is committed to providing reliable news and programming serving the Assembly District and San Diego County as a whole. In a time when our local news is experiencing attacks despite being a critical piece of infrastructure, it is an honor to uplift KPBS for the amazing work they do. Click the link below to watch my office's interview highlighting their work.
Jewish Heritage Month Honoree
This year, the Legislative Jewish Caucus was proud to host and celebrate its first annual Jewish American Heritage Month celebration up in Sacramento. As a member of the caucus, I was proud to welcome Rabbi Devorah Marcus from Temple Emanu-El up to the capitol to celebrate her contributions to not only the Del Cerro community, but also the Greater San Diego Region as well! Since becoming Rabbi in 2013, she has helped foster a community of inclusion, resilience, and joy. Click the link below to watch my office's interview highlighting her story!
| DISTRICT HAPPENINGS |
Top left: Participated in this year's Kensington Memorial Day Parade, a wonderful annual tradition that brings our community together to remember our fallen heroes. Top right: Presented a certificate to my district office's spring intern, Reese O'Driscoll, for completing her internship and for her work and dedication to the 78th Assembly District. Bottom left: Joined PFLAG San Diego for their annual scholarship luncheon, which allows LGBTQ+ individuals to continue their education and pursue their dreams. Bottom right: Held a press conference at the San Diego LGBT Center in support of my bill AB 1775, which expands housing, employment, and transition support for discharged service members.
| IN THE NEWS |
'We are on the front lines': Asm. Ward and veteran groups spotlight bill protecting trans troops
A California bill that preserves access to video games achieves its first victory
San Diego leader urges unity after mosque attack: 'We are broken'
| CLOSE OUT |
As always, I want to thank you for your support. I'm grateful to be your representative and work on these issues and more. One of the best ways to stay informed is to follow my social media accounts on Facebook, BlueSky, Threads, and Instagram where you can know in real time what developments are happening or what I'm working on every day.
And if you need assistance, please know that my district office staff is available and ready to serve or answer any questions you may have. Feel free to reach out to the contact information at the end of this email, and a staff member will connect with you as soon as possible. I wish you, your family, and your neighbors all the best.
Sincerely,
Christopher M. Ward
Assemblymember, 78th District