Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas’ (D-Los Angeles) 2026 legislative package that advances worker protections, expands pathways to good jobs, improves access to healthcare, and invests in communities across California.
“At a time when working families are being asked to do more with less, we stayed focused on what matters: Protecting workers, creating pathways to good jobs, and strengthening the communities that too often get left behind,” said Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. “These bills turn those priorities into action.”
Despite significant budget constraints, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas worked to preserve critical programs for working families and ensure targeted investments across California. Statewide, the Legislature’s 2026–27 budget protects resources for worker education and enforcement, and expands immigration-related services for underserved communities. The budget also invests directly in Senate District 28, supporting workforce opportunities, the Historic South LA Black Cultural District, and community development and environmental restoration projects.
“This was a tough budget year, but we stayed focused on protecting the programs and priorities that matter most to working families,” said Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. “We protected critical worker programs statewide while securing investments that expand opportunity and invest in communities here at home. These are important steps forward — but there is much more work ahead.”
The following are 10 bills authored by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas that were signed into law today:
Delivering for Workers – SB 1203: Stand for Security Act – Security officers help keep our communities safe, and they deserve the training and protections to do that work well. SB 1203 requires security officer training to take place on paid time and strengthens training standards, helping build a safer, more professional workforce. SB 1316: Worker Wage Recovery – Strengthens labor enforcement so workers can more effectively recover unpaid wages and penalties they’re already owed. SB 1405: Retirement Protections – Helps reconnect Californians with unclaimed retirement funds by creating a clearer process to return the money to its rightful owners. SB 909 – Public Works Enforcement – Strengthens enforcement of public works laws to ensure workers are paid the wages they earn, protect responsible contractors, and safeguard taxpayer dollars.
Creating Pathways to Opportunity – SB 1012: Fire Camp to Career Pathways – People who have served our communities through fire camp deserve a meaningful pathway to a better future. SB 1012 creates equitable access to stable, union-affiliated skilled trades careers for formerly incarcerated fire camp participants, turning training and service into lasting economic opportunity.
Supporting Working Families – SB 1030: End the CalWORKs “Man in the House” Rule – Modernizes the CalWORKs program by repealing the outdated “Man in the House” statute, a discriminatory policy rooted in the 1950s and 1960s that has historically penalized low-income mothers and families of color.
Improving Healthcare Access – SB 626: Maternal Health Screenings and Treatments – Addresses California’s fragmented perinatal mental health system by requiring consistent screening, diagnosis, follow-up care, and insurance coverage for critical mental health services during pregnancy and postpartum. SB 964: Medication Dose Optimization Act – Helps patients get medically necessary dose adjustments for medications they are already approved to take, without unnecessary prior authorization delays.
Building Stronger Communities – SB 1073: Black Cultural District Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund – California’s cultural districts are engines for community pride, small businesses, and economic opportunity. SB 1073 creates a voluntary way for Californians to support designated cultural districts, including the Historic South LA Black Cultural District, and invest directly in the communities that built them.
Strengthening Transparency and Accountability – SB 1100: Civil Grand Jury Reports – Improves how the Secretary of State’s office receives civil grand jury reports and responses by supporting more timely public access, clearer court compliance, and stronger long-term preservation of oversight records.
Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas represents the 28th Senate District, which includes the communities of South Los Angeles, Mid City, Culver City, West Los Angeles, Century City and Downtown Los Angeles. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas spent more than two decades serving as a worker rights and racial equity advocate before her election to the State Senate. She resides in the View Park community of South Los Angeles with her family.
