Catching Up With Rick - Back in the District
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2025 Legislative Session has officially concluded. Earlier this year, I was proud to see AB 1138 — the California Film & TV Jobs Act — signed into law to modernize and expand our state's film tax credit program. More recently, Governor Newsom signed AB 1525 by the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which incorporates language from a bill I previously authored to protect attorneys from State Bar discipline when they assist clients in other states seeking access to reproductive care.
Now that the 2025 legislative year has concluded, I've been grateful to spend more time back home in Assembly District 51. Even as we prepare for next year's priorities on housing, climate, health care and civil rights, this month has been full of opportunities to celebrate the people and organizations that make our communities thrive.
I was honored to join SEIU Local 99 at the screening of "Make a Circle", which lifts the voices of childcare providers who are the backbone of our economy. We celebrated Latino Heritage Month at the NewFilmmakers LA Film Festival, recognizing the extraordinary talent of Latino creatives and the impact of our new California Film & TV Jobs Act. On the Assembly Floor, I was proud to speak in honor of Universal Music Group, whose global headquarters is in our district, for its cultural and economic contributions to California's music industry. I also rolled up my sleeves with Heal the Bay for Coastal Cleanup Day, joining neighbors to protect our coastline and environment for future generations.
Whether we're fighting hate in our schools, uplifting working families, celebrating our creative economy or protecting our coast, I'm proud to stand with our community. Thank you, as always, for the privilege of serving you.
Rick Chavez Zbur
Democratic Caucus Chair of the California State Assembly
Representing Assembly District 51
Signed by the Governor
AB 1138 - California Film & TV Jobs Act: As other states and countries lure productions away with aggressive tax incentives, California's iconic film and television industry has faced a steep decline in jobs and economic activity. AB 1138 strengthens and modernizes the Film and TV Tax Credit Program by increasing the base credit rates, expanding eligibility and updating qualified expenses. These changes, paired with the Governor's funding expansion of $330 million to $750 million, will keep productions in California, support small businesses, create jobs and reaffirm our state's role as the global leader in creativity and innovation.
AB 1525 - State Bar Act: Protects 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 may be illegal in other states, including access to reproductive rights and gender affirming care.
On the Governor's Desk
This year's legislative package is now in its final stage, with several key bills on the Governor's Desk awaiting his signature. These measures advance the priorities we share, tackling housing and homelessness, strengthening climate action, protecting LGBTQ+ health and civil rights and confronting antisemitism in our schools. You can read more about each of these bills below and find additional details on my website.
Housing & Homelessness
AB 648 - Streamlining Student & Staff Housing: With 25% of community college students experiencing homelessness, this bill gives community colleges the tools they need to create more housing so students and staff have a safe place to live, making it easier for students to stay in school and teachers to keep teaching.
Disaster Response
AB 478 - FOUND Act: Inspired by the story of Oreo the Pomeranian, who was reunited with his owner after the Palisades Fire, this bill requires cities and counties to adopt emergency rescue and reunification plans for pets during disasters.
Climate & Environmental Protection
AB 39 - Electrification Plans: Requires larger cities and towns to make plans for switching to clean electricity so renters, low-income families and people who park on the street can access EV chargers and upgrade their homes with electric appliances.
LGBTQ+ Civil Rights & Health Care
AB 309 - HIV & Hepatitis Prevention: Keeps in place life-saving access to sterile syringes to prevent the spread of disease.
AB 1084 - Accurate & Affirming Records: Speeds up the process for transgender and nonbinary Californians to update critical legal documents that they need to live safely and authentically.
Education & Antisemitism
AB 715 - Combating Hate in K-12 Education: Protects children who are facing alarming levels of antisemitism in K-12 schools by fostering safe and supportive learning environments for all students.
Bill Spotlight: AB 715, Combating Antisemitism in Schools
AB 715 bill authors, Jewish Caucus members, Jewish leaders, students and allies speak at a press conference about the need for AB 715 to combat growing antisemitism in California schools on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
I was honored to stand alongside fellow AB 715 bill author Asm. Dawn Addis, my colleagues in the Jewish Caucus, organization and faith leaders in the Jewish community and the two brave Jewish students who shared their experience about being bullied in schools, to talk about the need to fight antisemitism in schools.
AB 715 was written and passed overwhelmingly by the Legislature because Jewish students are increasingly facing rising antisemitic environments in schools. California's constitution guarantees every child's right to a safe school environment and a high-quality education and the California Legislature has a responsibility to deliver on that promise.
Jewish students are currently facing a crisis of hate that is widespread and growing in California schools. Jewish students have been bullied, threatened and ostracized and many reasonably fear for their physical safety. Students have been told there are "too many Jews" in our schools that the Holocaust never happened, endured antisemitic slurs and come to school to face swastikas and other symbols of Jewish hate and intimidation. When parents have complained, the response too often has been indifference and inaction. The statistics reinforce this. According to the California Attorney General, hate crimes targeting Jewish Californians have more than tripled over the past decade. The Jewish community ranks as the second most targeted group in the state, despite making up just 3% of the population.
What AB 715 does is simple, it requires the state to step in when school districts fail to address incidents of antisemitic conduct, just as we already do for other forms of discrimination. Due to the bill's critical importance, it is the only Jewish Caucus priority bill of the year. I‘m proud to share that AB 715 passed the State Senate 35-0 and passed the State Assembly 71-0. I'd like to thank my joint lead author, Asm. Dawn Addis, Jewish Caucus Co-chairs, Asm. Jesse Gabriel and Sen. Scott Wiener, members of the Jewish Caucus, the leaders and members of the Diversity Caucuses, Senate and Assembly Education Committees and all the people who showed up, spoke up and stayed the course to help get this bill to the Governor's Desk.
Ed Source: Bill to reduce antisemitism awaits Governor's signature
Jweekly AB 715: California's K-12 antisemitism bill, passes overwhelmingly after last-minute press
Sacramento Bee: With rising antisemitism in California schools, here's how leaders can act | Opinion
SEIU "Make a Circle" LA Screening
Assemblymember Zbur attends the screening of "Make a Circle," which follows a group of early educators who are determined to change a child care system in crisis, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.
I had the honor of meeting some of the amazing childcare providers represented by SEIU Local 99 at a screening of "Make a Circle", which is a documentary that highlights the essential role childcare providers play in California's economy and in the lives of families. These providers primarily women, women of color and immigrants, make it possible for parents to work, businesses to thrive and children to grow with the love and early learning they need. Yet too often, these providers struggle to afford health care, save for retirement or keep their doors open when costs rise. That's why I was so proud that the Legislature passed AB 151 and SB 151, which ratified a landmark agreement with Child Care Providers United. This agreement delivers $90 million in stabilization payments, $37 million in annual cost-of-living adjustments and continued funding for health and retirement benefits. It also takes an essential step toward paying providers by enrollment rather than attendance, helping to build a more sustainable system for the future. Behind every policy are real families and real futures and I urge the Governor to sign this agreement without delay.
Assemblymember Zbur speaks about the importance of supporting our children and the people who care for them at the screening of "Make a Circle" on Wednesday, Sept. 17. 2025.
"Make a Circle" panelists on Wednesday, Sept. 17. 2025. From Left: Pat Levitt, PhD, Simms/Mann Chair in Developmental Neurogenetics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles; Alana Levitt, ECC Director at Kehillat Israel; Jen Bradwell, Co-Director, MAKE A CIRCLE; Cristian Paloma Corona, Family Childcare Provider and Union Member Leader; Eve Rodsky, NYT Bestselling Author; Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood); and Rosemary Miller, Senior Director at Early Learning PBS SoCal.
Annual Latino Heritage Month Film Festival
Asm. Zbur stands with members of NewFilmmakers LA at their annual Latino Heritage Month Film Festival on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
This Latino Heritage Month, I was honored to join NewFilmmakers LA (NFMLA) at their annual Film Festival, celebrating the extraordinary talent of Latino directors, writers, producers and actors who are shaping the future of our industry. As I shared at the event, we took a historic step forward this year with the passage of my bill, AB 1138, the California Film & TV Jobs Act, which Governor Newsom signed into law in July. This legislation raises base credits to keep productions in California, expands support for independent films and for the first time establishes a Career Pathway Program to bring trainees from historically underrepresented communities into the industry. Combined with Governor Newsom's historic expansion of the film tax credit from $330 million to $750 million, this bill is about more than film it's about protecting good jobs, helping small businesses thrive and ensuring that Latinos and other underrepresented creatives have a fair shot both on-screen and behind the camera. Film festivals like this one showcase why that work matters, because representation in media is not only about storytelling but about economic opportunity, dignity and equity for our communities.
Honoring California's Music Industry
Asm. Zbur stands with representatives of Universal Music Group (UMG) with Assemblymembers Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles) and Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) after honoring their contribution to California on the Assembly Floor on Monday, August 18, 2025.
I was proud to speak on the Assembly Floor in honor of California's music industry and especially Universal Music Group (UMG), whose global headquarters is right here in Assembly District 51. UMG is home to legendary labels and artists that have shaped our culture for generations, while supporting thousands of jobs and small businesses across our state.
Celebrating Coastal Cleanup Day
Asm. Rick Chavez Zbur presents nonprofit organization Heal the Bay's CEO Tracy Quinn with a California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition for the organization's dedication to serving the community and preserving and protecting the natural world on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
I had the opportunity to roll up my sleeves and work alongside the hundreds of volunteers at Heal the Bay for Coastal Cleanup Day! We saw a great turnout across greater Los Angeles:
- 6,772 volunteers took action across Los Angeles County
- 19,139 pounds of trash were removed from our neighborhoods, rivers and beaches
- 610 pounds of recyclables were collected and kept out of our ocean
I also want to thank Heal The Bay for its forty years of transformative work cleaning up Santa Monica Beach and safeguarding our environment, our health and our future.
Asm. Rick Chavez Zbur at Santa Monica Beach with Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn and volunteers on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
To My Constituents
Please know that my office is always here to serve you. Please reach out to my district office for assistance at (323) 436-5184 if we can be of service.