Assemblymember Sade Elhawary Introduces 2026 Legislative Package Centered on Equity, Safety, and Community Needs

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (AD-57) has introduced 13 bills this year that are moving through the legislative process, each aimed at addressing the needs of California's most underserved communities.

In addition to her legislative package, Assemblymember Elhawary has been an advocate for increasing taxes on the wealthiest Californians to help offset federal cuts that threaten to devastate essential services relied upon by the state's most vulnerable populations.

Guided by a commitment to protecting and uplifting those most impacted, this bill package reflects her continued focus on equity, access, and community-centered solutions. Below is a list of the bills that she has introduced:

• Assessing Inmate Classification (AB 1759): requires the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to assess the current security classification system
• Hepatitis C Treatment Access (AB 1843): removes prior authorization requirements for Hepatitis C treatment among commercial insurance plans in California
• End Endless Probation for Foster Youth (AB 1886): restores equity and accountability with clear, evidence-based standards for foster youth facing probation
• R.I.S.E.S Act 2.0 (AB 1932): expands support of culturally informed, community-based responses to emergencies
• Gender Justice Act (AB 2014): requires judges to take a closer look before allowing evidence or arguments in trials that rely on gender stereotypes. This includes evidence about a defendant's sexual history, orientation, partners, reproductive choices, or romantic relationships
• Adaptive Reuse (AB 2079): expands flexibility to transform vacant office space into new development projects
• Peer Partner Background Checks (AB 2126): exempts foster youth who have committed certain offenses before age 21 from disqualification from community-care licensed facilities
• H.R.I.V.E Act (AB 2247): establishes funding for mental health resources accessible to victims and witnesses of gun violence age 25 years and younger
• Ensuring Accountability After Tragedies (AB 2318): requires law enforcement officers to document when emergency medical care is denied or delayed
• Commercial tax credit (AB 2403): incentivizes creation of TV commercials in California with a new tax credit
• Pathways to Employment for Incarcerated Firefighters (AB 2483): establishes a pathway to employment for formerly incarcerated individuals who served as California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) hand crew members and as firefighters
• Behavioral Health Affordability Act (AB 2593): prohibits CDCR from interfering with or refusing to implement prescribed health care for prisoners

To follow these bills through the process, please visit the following: Assemblymember Elhawary's bill package.

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Assemblymember Sade Elhawary represents the 57th Assembly District, including the communities of Exposition Park, South Los Angeles, and Downtown Los Angeles, within Los Angeles County. Website of Assemblymember Sade Elhawary: https://a57.asmdc.org/