Dear Neighbors,
Quarter 3 (July—September) is in the books and as our accomplishments continue to grow, we have the most important update yet!
WHAT LEGISLATIVE BILLS MADE IT TO THE GOVERNOR AND WERE SIGNED INTO LAW?
That’s right—Quarter 3 marks the end of the legislative calendar. It’s the point when all the work in Sacramento that YOU elected ME to do is complete.
Seven Bills Signed into Law will Help Central Californians
It's official! I have had seven of my bills signed into law this year. Voters in Merced, Madera, and Fresno Counties elected me to make their lives better, safer, and more affordable in the Central Valley. These seven bills make progress toward those goals, but the work is far from over!
This year, we made housing more accessible not only by supporting historic CEQA reforms but also through two pro-housing bills. We secured greater protection for patients in hospitals and increased penalties for those who would seek to abuse them. We reduced the cost of delivering water from the Kings River to Central Valley farmers. We ensured fair and equitable elections for Merced County.
Every one of these accomplishments began with a conversation—one-on-one with my constituents. Each new law started by listening to community members about the challenges they face. These wins were only possible because so many people came together to make a difference.
I look forward to having more conversations with our community members and will work even harder next year to deliver more results for Central Valley residents and families. Adelante!
2025 Budget Wins
This year wasn’t easy — the state faced a tough budget — but I fought hard to make sure our community wasn’t left behind. I’m proud to say we brought home real wins for the Valley.
Most Successful Backpack Giveaway Campaign Happened in 2025!
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Thank you, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Los Banos, and all the parents and kiddos who made our back-to-school backpack giveaway a huge success! Over 3,000 backpacks were distributed, and constituents took advantage of the many community resources offered.
Securing Half a Million for San Joaquin Drinking Water
What a huge win for San Joaquin this year! Earlier this summer, we delivered a $500,000 check to the City of San Joaquin for the Clean Drinking Water Dispensing Facility and Community Center. I’ve been working hard to secure this funding for our community, and now it’s a reality! The water dispensing facility is a short-term solution, while the permanent water treatment facility is fully built out to provide safe drinking water to this hardworking community.
Standing Against the Targeting of Immigrants
I was proud to stand with my fellow Latino Legislative Caucus members at the west steps of the Capitol to DEMAND an end to the cruelty and the unconstitutional rounding up of our community members —in an attempt to complete these mass immigration raids carried out by the federal administration. Enough! Ya Basta! We need immigration reform!
Honoring Latino Heritage Month
I'm proud to be Latina, and I'm honored to serve with my exceptional Latino colleagues in the California Assembly. September is Latino Heritage Month, a time to celebrate our diversity, culture, and stories.
Our Latino population in California is about 15.6 million, the largest in the country. Through the creation of legislation, the California Latino Legislative Caucus is dedicated to representing the rights and advancement of this community, and we will continue to do so through any challenges we may face.
Celebrating Latino Pride in Fresno
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I participated in the annual tradition of Fiestas Patrias in the City of Fresno. It’s a day filled with pride where the community not only enjoys live music and all flavors and styles of Latino heritage but also reminds itself of the work ahead!
Thank you to all my fellow local leaders and stakeholders for always making this event possible!
Honoring This Year’s Latino Caucus Scholarship Winners
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Congratulations to Esmeralda Garcia & Ismael Rosales! They were the 2025 Assembly District 27 California Latino Legislative Caucus Scholarship winners!
Like me, Esmeralda Garcia shares the same name, and we are both daughters of immigrant farmworkers from Mexico. Garcia volunteers her time for her community, including advocating for immigrant rights in California. Her studies to become a nurse have had such an impact on her that she plans to return to the Valley upon completing her degree and credentials to serve her community.
Ismael Rosales is an incredibly hard-working young man who has already made many sacrifices as a student. Born and raised in the Valley, Ismael worked two jobs to put himself through school while securing financial aid and other grants at the same time. A proud graduate of Fresno State, he now attends UC Davis Medical School. Rosales hopes to return to the Valley after graduating to become a community-focused physician near Fresno.
Honoring This Year’s Women in Leadership Minerva Scholarship Winners
4 of July Celebration in Atwater
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It was a Fourth of July to remember in Atwater as we celebrated a safe and joyful Independence Day right here in beautiful Merced County!
Congratulations to the legendary Mr. Bill Pickle for being named this year’s Parade Grand Marshal. Thank you to the United Domestic Workers for joining us, and a special shout-out to Frankie Montgomery for driving us!
Going “Over the Edge” for United Way
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What an unforgettable experience this year rappelling off the Tioga Apartment Building at the “Over the Edge” event in Merced! It was both thrilling and inspiring to see our community come together for such an important cause. Thank you to United Way of Merced County for putting on this amazing event and for your ongoing commitment to supporting families across our Valley.
Important Conversations in the Community
In partnership with the Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, we hosted a Small Business Roundtable in August to hear directly from small business owners. It was an opportunity to hear about both the challenges facing our small business owners and the opportunities to improve the business climate and help these businesses grow. These intimate one-on-one discussions with the local communities I serve are vital to the overall health and future of our small businesses in Merced County.
Recognizing the 20th Anniversary of UC Merced
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This summer, we recognized UC Merced and celebrated its 20th anniversary! In 1988, the University of California Board of Regents began considering a proposal for a new university in the San Joaquin Valley to address long-term enrollment demands.
Fortunately, the location they chose happens to be in our own backyard, and UC Merced was born. The university opened its doors in 2005, and the rest is history.
As a two-time UC alum, UC Merced holds a very special place in my heart. For 20 years, it has been providing a world-class education for students who look like me and who live in an area that continues to be underserved in California.
UC Merced is the most diverse UC campus today. Over 60% of its students are Latino, and 70% are first-generation college students.
For the last four years, UC Merced has been a national leader, ranking #4 in the country for improved social mobility. Thank you to the current leaders of this university: UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz, UC Merced Associated Students President Manar Ahmed, President of UC Merced’s Alumni Association Miguel Lopez, Assistant Chancellor Cori Lucero, and Vice Provost Tom Hansford.