March 2026 Newsletter

As we move into March, my office is hard at work advancing legislation and engaging with the community here in the district and in Sacramento.

The deadline to introduce bills has passed, and I am excited to share a package of 16 bills (with more to come) aimed at making housing more affordable, protecting privacy and civil rights, expanding renewable energy, and streamlining governmental processes. Check them out below:

2026 Introduced Legislation

Protecting Privacy, Consumers, and Civil Rights

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 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 2564 Surveillance Pricing Act – Prohibits businesses from using the personal information of a consumer to adjust the price of goods based on their individualized data profile, a practice known as surveillance pricing.

Strengthening Homeownership and Housing Stability

AB 1070 Building Standards – Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to create a working group to explore allowing "missing middle" developments between three and 10 units to be built under the requirements of the California Residential Code, rather than the California Building Code.

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 1684 HOA AC Installation Standards – Prohibits an HOA from restricting a homeowner's installation, use, or replacement of a home cooling system.

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 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.

Climate Smart California

AB 763 Timber Harvest Plan Permit Streamlining – This bill ensures water boards act on timber harvest permit requests when projects already meet approved environmental standards.

AB 864 Solar Recycling – Exempts solar PV modules, not identified as hazardous waste and treated as universal waste, from state hazardous waste requirements if the solar PV modules are transferred to a designated recycler for legitimate recycling as authorized under federal law and regulation.

Making Government Work Better

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 1954 Municipal Golf Course Reform – Prohibits the brokering and reselling of reservations or tee times at municipal golf courses without a written agreement.

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 2525 Mission Bay Park Surplus Land Act Exemption – Exempts San Diego's Mission Bay Park from the State Surplus Land Act.

Supporting Veterans

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.

Top Left: Met with constituents and advocates from the Alzheimer's Association to support families affected by Alzheimer's. Top Right: Had the team from the San Diego Natural History Museum in Sacramento to discuss their funding needs and the important work they do for our region. Bottom Left: Joined constituents from the Association of Regional Center Agencies during their lobby day to discuss the vital services their member organizations provide to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our district. Bottom Right: Discussed the importance of gun safety legislation with Moms Demand Action.

Now Accepting Nominations for Small Businesses, Teachers, and Nurses of the Year:

In preparation for May, when the State of California recognizes Small Business Month, as well as Teacher Appreciation Week, and National Nurses Week, our office has opened community nominations for teachers, nurses, and small businesses to be honored.

I want your input on who in the 78th Assembly District is making a difference - from teachers that are inspiring our students, nurses that make your doctor's visits easier, or a small business you can't go a week without stopping by.

Submit your nominees by Monday, March 23.

State & National Parks

With spring break just around the corner, some of you might be looking to explore some of the many state and national parks across California. Places like Big Sur, Lake Tahoe, Anza-Borrego, and Yosemite offer opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, utilizing affordable camping options. Additionally, if you have a child in fourth-grade, they are eligible to receive free access to all our state and national parks for the year!

For more information about California's State Parks, you can visit parks.ca.gov, and for more information on our National Parks, you can visit recreation.gov.

I hope you get the opportunity to explore all the great outdoor activities that this state has to offer!

Black History Month Honorees:

Last month, I honored Kamau Kenyatta and Dr. Suzanne Afflalo for Black History Month. Two stellar community members doing great work in the music and healthcare industries. Check out their interviews to learn more about the work they do to serve the 78th Assembly District, and why they were selected.

Women's History Month:

March is when we celebrate Women's History Month. This year, I have some fantastic honorees who will be honored both in Sacramento and in San Diego. I cannot wait to share with you their amazing stories and why I felt as though their work and dedication to our community deserved recognition. Follow me on Instagram to get the latest updates and be the first to see their honoree videos.

$14.2 Million Secured for the Kearny Mesa Transit Center

I'm pleased to share that the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has been awarded a $14.2 million federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration's Buses and Bus Facilities Program to help construct the new Kearny Mesa Transit Center!

My office was proud to support MTS's grant application, and I appreciate the federal investment in a project that will strengthen transit access for the Kearny Mesa community. This new transit hub will improve connectivity for workers, residents, and businesses while helping make our region's transportation network more reliable and sustainable.

Top left: Passed out roses and Valentine's Grams at North Park Seniors with the team from the San Diego LGBTQ Center. Top right: Hosted my Third Annual Civics Contest Reception in Balboa Park. The students were awarded many amazing prizes, from a PlayStation 5 to batting practice tickets with the San Diego Padres, signed jerseys from the San Diego Wave, tickets to local museums, gift cards to Barnes & Noble and AMC Theaters, and much more! Bottom left: Held my Annual Housing Roundtable with San Diego Housing Federation, to bring together advocates from across the district for a conversation surrounding the State Budget. Bottom right: Toured Promises2Kids new campus in Mission Valley.

San Diego leaders condemn harassment targeting Somali child care providers

Assemblymember Ward Reintroduces Legislation to Ban Surveillance Pricing

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