Legislative Update

Just over a week ago, Gov. Newsom put his signature on the last piece of legislation for the year, having officially signed or vetoed hundreds of bills sent from our latest legislative session. I’m happy to report that, despite many pandemic-related challenges, I had nine pieces of legislation signed into law. These measures range from furthering environmental protections and defending our most vulnerable residents to crucial public safety measures that have been a priority for our district, including wildfire prevention and road safety. For this month’s piece, I’d like to take a moment to fill you in on some of the highlights of what we’ve been able to accomplish in Sacramento this year.

I’m excited to start with what has been one of my most impactful pieces of legislation: AB43, which reforms the way we set speed limits. It’s something I’ve been working on since first elected in 2016.

For decades, California has set its speed limits using a process known as the 85^th percentile. Under this framework, traffic surveyors measure the speed drivers are driving on a given roadway and set the speed limit to reflect the rate of speed that 85% of vehicles are traveling. As a result, communities have been forced to slowly raise speed limits on their streets year after year, regardless of traffic accidents, making our roads increasingly more dangerous for all users.

With my AB 43, localities will now have the power to set their speed limits using other factors, including traffic collision data, infrastructure and road uses. This effort started back in the 2017-18 Session when I wrote and had signed into law AB 2363, creating the Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force. The Task Force was made up of stakeholders from across the state who researched the topic and produced a comprehensive report that formed the foundation of AB 43. After years of work, I’m grateful to Gov. Newsom for signing the bill into law. 

It’s hard to think of a time when any of us are more vulnerable than when receiving medical treatment in a hospital. Late last year, as we were in another peak of COVID-19 infections, I was shocked to learn that many of California’s hospital patients were not being properly informed about the costs of their care or the assistance programs available to them. This was especially alarming considering that under the Hospital Fair Pricing Act (2006), hospitals in California are required by law to disclose and provide financial assistance, often referred to as charity care, to patients who receive medical services and are uninsured or underinsured. Charity care consists of full or partial discounts of medical bills and in some cases payment plans. Debt collectors, too, must follow strict rules when attempting to collect on unpaid medical bills. Yet, this isn’t always happening. In response, I introduced AB 1020, which strengthens the protections for healthcare consumers by expanding eligibility for financial assistance, providing greater transparency in hospital billing and stronger consumer protections coupled with substantial penalties for hospitals that fail to comply with the law. With this measure receiving the governor’s signature, low-income and uninsured Californians will have less to worry about when seeking essential medical care. 

Finally, I’d like to highlight an effort that I know is dear to many in the Crescenta Valley: wildfire prevention. For those of you who follow my work, you know protecting our communities from the ever-increasing risk of devastating wildfires has been one of my top priorities.

Wildfires in California are continuing to increase in frequency and intensity, resulting in loss of life and damage to public health, property, infrastructure and ecosystems. In 2020, wildfires burned more than 4.1 million acres. The August Complex Fire in Northern California, the largest fire in California’s modern history, burned over one million acres. In total, wildfires caused 33 deaths and destroyed over 10,000 structures in 2020. The land area burned in 2020 more than doubled the previous record, roughly 1.8 million acres, which was set in 2018. Furthermore, seven of the state’s deadliest fires have occurred since 2017, with over 100 fatalities in 2017 and 2018.

Building on my past wildfire measures and the work of my colleagues, I put forward AB 642, which will implement new tools for our firefighting professionals and communities to use to save property and lives. As a result, firefighting agencies will be able to utilize better forest management practices such as cultural and prescribed burns, updated wildfire severity maps and improved fire safety building standards.

In addition to the nine bills signed into law, I’m also proud to report that I was able to get our district $15,000,000 in state funding to go toward the completion of the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk Bridge and the Colorado Street Undercrossing. These are two vital infrastructure projects that will provide safe and convenient bike, pedestrian and equestrian access between Glendale and Los Angeles over the Los Angeles River.  

Needless to say, it’s been a whirlwind of a year. I’m continually grateful to have the opportunity to work on impactful measures that will improve the lives of all Californians.

Do you have an idea for a bill? Or do you have questions about this year’s legislation, or any general comments or concerns? If so, please reach out to me through my District Office; I’d love to hear from you. You can reach my District Office at (818) 558-3043, or by email at Assemblymember.Friedman@Assembly.ca.gov.