News

Last week, Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood), State Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), and joint author Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Culver City) announced the introduction of AB 1138 and SB 630, legislation aimed at modernizing California's Film & Television Tax Credit Program.

The bills are aimed at expanding and enhancing the state’s $750 million film tax credit program, which Gov. Gavin Newsom initially proposed last year.

Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) on Feb. 18 introduced Assembly Bill 715 – the California Attorney Protection Act – which will safeguard attorneys from disciplinary action when providing legal services to patients, medical providers and others seeking or offering health care services that are lawful in California but illegal in other states.

Sponsored by the Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Equality California and the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, AB 715 strengthens California’s leadership in protecting reproductive rights and gender-affirming care.

"This bill is aimed at addressing housing insecurity for our community college students and staff and preventing homelessness. California's community college students face some of the highest rates of housing insecurity and homelessness in the state. By eliminating barriers to the construction of critical housing projects, California will take another bold step toward tackling our affordable housing crisis," said Assemblymember Zbur. "Housing is a fundamental need for community college students and staff. This legislation will cut through red tape and ensure that students can focus on their studies and staff can focus on their work without the stress of not knowing where they will sleep at night."

On Jan. 23, Vice Mayor Sharona Nazarian attended the California Assembly Floor Session in Sacramento. Nazarian attended the conference as a presidential appointee to the League of California Cities Public Safety Committee.

"It is with great pleasure that I welcome Vice Mayor of Beverly Hills, Sharona Nazarian, to the gallery," California State Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur told attendees. Chavez Zbur represents District 51, which includes the city of Beverly Hills, among others.

Lawmakers announced they will soon introduce bills to fastrack development for accessory dwelling units so that those displaced can live on their property while they rebuild.

"This bill is more than about rebuilding structures, it's about restoring a sense of stability, dignity and hope to those who have lost so much and it is about doing it expeditiously," said Democratic Assembly member Rick Chavez Zbur of Santa Monica.

Full details of the negotiations had not been released as of press time. However, Biden took credit and cited the May 2024 deal brokered by him and Blinken.

"After 15 months of unimaginable pain, there is some hope that hostages and their families may be reunited," Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles) said. "Hamas began a conflict that has caused untold suffering for Israeli and Palestinian civilians. I pray this is the beginning of a better path forward."

"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."