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Man Who Reunited With Dog Amid la Fires Inspires New Bill Protecting Pets

TODAY

One of the enduring scenes of the devastating fires in January was Pacific Palisades resident Casey Colvin sharing his unbridled joy at being reunited with his Pomeranian, Oreo, who ran away when Colvin's home was engulfed by the wildfire.

NBC News national correspondent Liz Kreutz reported in a TODAY exclusive on March 18 that Colvin's heartwarming moment sparked Los Angeles Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur to file the "FOUND" Act, which stands for Friends of Oreo Uniting During Disasters.

Viral Video of Oreo the Dog’s l.a. Fire Reunion Inspires Lawmaker to Help Save Pets During Disasters

NBC News

The proposed law, which has been filed in the California State Assembly but is not yet publicly available for viewing, is called the FOUND (Friends of Oreo Uniting During Disasters) Act.

"The FOUND Act is something that embraces what we all understand, how important our pets are and that they are parts of our family," California Assemblymember Rick Zbur, who authored the bill and represents portions of Los Angeles, said in an exclusive interview with NBC News.

Viral Video Spurs Legislative Action to Improve Pet Rescue During Disasters

KROQ

A viral video has led to the creation of the FOUND Act, aimed at giving residents an avenue to rescue their pets during disaster situations.

California Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) was compelled to draft the proposed law after seeing a video of Casey Colvin reuniting with his dog Oreo after it ran off and was missing for five days during the Palisades fire.

Zbur Releases Statement on AB 1333

SACRAMENTO, CA—Assemblymember and Democratic Caucus Chair Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) has released the following statement regarding AB 1333, sponsored by Everytown for Gun Safety.

Zbur, Allen Seek Expanded l.a. Film Production

Beverly Press and Park Labrea News

Since 2009, the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program has sought to incentivize production to move back to L.A. Senate Bill 630 and Assembly Bill 1138 are now working through the state legislature to strengthen that program further. The bills were introduced by Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood), Assemblyman Issac Bryan (D-Culver City) and Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica).

The legislation would expand tax incentives for productions from $300 million to $750 million annually. In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the initiative, and the legislation was introduced on Feb. 26.

Zbur Introduces Legislation Requiring Quick-Build Bike Lanes on State Highways

Streetsblog California

Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Santa Monica) introduced AB 891, a bill that will require Caltrans to develop quick-build bike lane and intersection projects to improve safety on state highways for cyclists and pedestrians.

A "quick build project" is a temporary, easily adjustable infrastructure improvement that can be installed rapidly using readily available materials to either solicit feedback from a community or put a smaller improvement in place while a larger one is planned. Quick build projects often rely on paint, signage, and plastic barriers, when concrete or other stronger materials will be needed for a permanent improvement.

NewsConference: Saving Hollywood

NBC 4 Los Angeles

NBC4's Conan Nolan speaks with Rep. Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) and Sen. Bill Allen (D-Hollywood) about legislation they have introduced in Sacramento to save the film and television industry.

Entertainment Union Coalition Launches 'Keep California Rolling' Campaign To Bolster State's Film & TV Jobs

Deadline Hollywood

The announcement of Keep California Rolling comes one day after state lawmakers introduced a pair of bills that are meant to "amend, update, and modernize" the current Film & TV Tax Credit Program, sponsored by Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymembers Rick Chavez Zbur and Isaac Bryan. Details on how the program might be reshaped were not revealed yet, but Chavez Zbur vowed it would include "expanding the kinds of productions that qualify for the program, again, focusing on those productions which we are losing and that provide the best jobs."