"The special session is primarily to provide resources to the attorney general's office to both do research and to defend essentially California programs," Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles) said.

Zbur said that the funding will undergo committee consideration in the following weeks, which will likely be considered by the legislature at the beginning of the new year.

Rick Chavez Zbur — WeHo’s new voice in the Assembly hit the ground running two years ago and has not slowed down since, authoring significant pieces of legislation and making sure WeHo always has a seat at the table.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's expansion of the state's film and TV tax credits program to $750 million is still on track despite warnings from the state's legislative analyst that budget deficits could balloon to as much as $30 billion by 2028-29.

Last week, the California Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) projected a deficit of $2 billion for the 2025-26 fiscal year in its annual fiscal outlook, a massive improvement from the $68 billion deficit the Golden State faced this past year. The budget is expected to be balanced with minor changes.

One of the most powerful voices championing the RDAC bill was California state Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur, who has a personal connection to ALS. In advocating for the council, he recalled his late sister Jackie’s battle with the disease, describing her bravery through profound challenges:

"ALS is one of the cruelest conditions there is," said Zbur. "It's a disease that results in a gradual shutdown of one's body. Over two years, Jackie lost her ability to move her legs, then lost strength in her arms, and ultimately lost her ability to swallow and even communicate. That period of her life literally haunts me, as I watched her struggle, but with so much bravery and incredible dignity."