Hello and warm August greetings to everyone!
We are seeing our way out of summer break and Summer Recess in the legislature, too. I hope the summer was enjoyable, relaxing, and fun.
It is my pleasure to represent the 48th Assembly District in the California State Legislature. This term serves as my 9th year as a Legislator in the California State Assembly. It is an honor to serve over 498,000 residents in our district and collaborate with nine cities in the San Gabriel Valley. I am excited to share our July 2025 Newsletter and ensure our communities stay up-to-date with state-related matters.
District Updates
Fourth of July Celebrations
A wonderful celebration in Covina was hosted by the Covina Concert Band and the Covina Rotary Club. Thank you to everyone who helped put this event together and made it so joyful and fun.
It was definitely a party in Duarte! A special thank you to the City of Duarte, as well as the participants and community members who came out for the 4th of July celebration—you’re what make it a true celebration!
Capitol Updates
Legislative Updates
Leading up to July 17, legislators have been in full swing with committee hearings. All committees in both the Assembly and Senate have been hearing and discussing bills ahead of the legislative Summer Recess.
Upon the return of the legislative recess, all bills will be eligible for their “third reading” or "concurrence", which means they will be heard by the opposite house. All of my bills have either already been heard or will be when we return later this August in the Senate.
AB 373 (Client Directed Representation for Non Minor Dependents) has passed the Senate Judiciary and Human Services Committee, which means it is eligible to be heard on the Senate Floor.
AB 428 (Joint Powers Agreements: Water Corporations), AB 481 (Clinical Laboratory Personnel), AB 689 (Foster Youth: Disaster Aid Assistance), AB 1007 (Land Use: Development Project Review), AB 1009 (Teacher Credentialing), and AB 1454 (Pupil Literacy) are currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee and will be heard upon our return from recess.
I am extremely proud of how far my bills have gotten, and I look forward to having them heard in Committee and on the Floor.
Select Committee on Domestic Violence Hearing
This past month, I chaired the Select Committee on Domestic Violence for our hearing.
"Examining the Generational Impact of Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships: Teen Dating and Long-Term Outcomes for Children". Here, a group of incredible panelists from various Domestic Violence Advocacy organizations educated the committee on teen relationships; how to address unhealthy ones and uplift and cultivate healthy ones.
Thank you to Jenica Morin-Pascual of Jenica Speaks, Taylor Stommel of Black Women Revolt, Dr. Paméla Michelle Tate of Black Women Revolt, Joyce Bilyeu of Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center, and Susy Flores of Children's Advocacy Centers of California. Your work is critical in shedding light on an issue that will continue to remain pervasive unless we talk about it and address its root causes.
Educating and teaching our children how to create healthy relationships and recognize the signs of unhealthy ones are powerful steps we can take to improve their quality and outcomes.
Introducing our District Interns
Meet our 2025 summer intern, Ingrid Vargas, who is a recent graduate of Los Altos High School and has participated for two years in our Young Legislators Program! She will be attending Northeastern University this fall as a Political Science and Communications major. Team Rubio is delighted to welcome her back as she continues her journey in civic engagement!
Meet our newest intern, Ana Lua Martel, a Baldwin Park native and UCLA Master of Public Policy student. She’s an inaugural Field Fellow for the Monica Salinas Field Fellowship, a leadership initiative by the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute. Look out for her in the community and join me in welcoming her to the 48th Assembly District!
Saying Goodbye to our Summer Capitol Office Intern
At the end of the month, our Capitol Office staff and I sent our fabulous summer intern, Santiago Gutierrez, into his Junior Year of High School– for which he is now even MORE prepared.
Santiago, you are the definition of excellence; you arrive at work early and are eager to help everyone you meet. You are kind, helpful, and take on every assignment with an open mind. You will go far in your life. Thank you for all you have done to support the 48th Assembly District and your colleagues.
Resources
BrightLife Kids supports parents, caregivers, and children alike through free one-on-one virtual coaching for kids ages 0–12 and their caregivers. The program focuses on emotional wellness, school readiness, social skills, and everyday challenges—no referrals, no insurance required. Just real support for real life.
California launched the CalAssist Mortgage Fund to provide grants up to $20,000 to homeowners whose homes were destroyed or left uninhabitable in recent fire, floods, and other disasters. This includes those individuals whose homes were destroyed by the LA-area firestorms earlier this year. These grants do not have to be repaid, and applying to the program is free. Grants will be sent directly to the approved homeowner’s mortgage servicer.
While we are proud to showcase our efforts, which bring needed services to our communities, the work does not stop here! Each month, we will be sharing additional information regarding upcoming legislation, community events, and highlighting local leaders in the 48th Assembly District. Be sure to look out for our August 2025 newsletter. Want real-time updates? Follow our social media platforms to get timely updates and all things about the #Fighting48th. See you then!