Dear Neighbor,
I’m proud of our communities for coming together during these challenging times, and I’m deeply grateful for our first responders and public safety agencies. All evacuation orders have been lifted. Thank you to the more than 800 state and local emergency personnel who supported evacuation efforts, traffic control, shelter operations, environmental monitoring, and community assistance during the incident.
The Presidential Emergency Declaration that was issued will help ensure our communities receive the federal support, funding, and specialized resources they need.
At a briefing on Friday, May 22.
May is Military Appreciation Month, when we honor and commemorate our veterans, past and present. Please thank a veteran for their sacrifice, service, and bravery.
At the Seal Beach Rotary Club and the Seal Beach community on Memorial Day.
Here in Sacramento, this month also marks the May Revision budget discussions, as the Legislature will need to pass a budget by mid-June. It updates legislators like me on how much money the state expects to have and how the governor would like to spend it. It usually marks the start of an intense negotiation period between the Governor’s office and the Legislature before the constitutional June 15 budget deadline. I have concerns, and here’s why. Since 2019, spending has increased by 77%, while revenues rose by only 62%. Families must stick to a budget, and I firmly believe Sacramento must do the same. Click HERE to read my full statement.
Now, on to a legislative update. I am pleased to share that the following bills have successfully passed out of their respective committees and have now passed the Senate. These measures reflect my commitment to public safety, accountability, and delivering results for the communities I serve.
Senate Bill 985 (The Fix 911 Act) would require Newsom’s California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to provide regular, quarterly reports on the progress of the NextGen 911 project until it’s completed. Since 2019, Newsom’s Cal OES, which is responsible for the NextGen 911 project, has wasted nearly $500 million with little to show for it.
Senate Bill 1015 (The Protecting our Children from Online Extortion Act) would address the rise of predatory online networks that target minors through platforms such as gaming sites, social media, and messaging apps, and mark a critical step forward in protecting children from rapidly evolving and increasingly dangerous forms of online exploitation.
Senate Bill 1133 (Ready to Learn, Ready for Health Act) would ensure that when the Instructional Quality Commission revises the state’s Health Education Framework, it considers evidence-based preventative health instruction. The goal is to give students practical tools for food literacy, sleep and stress management, and responsible digital balance.
Click HERE to learn more about these bills and what they will accomplish.
Meanwhile, I am a coauthor of several bills with Democratic colleagues. Below are some noteworthy ones.
Senate Bill 1167 would regulate the e-bike market by creating new rules for electric bikes and similar electric vehicles based on speed, power, or design.
Senate Bill 1286 would establish the California sea lion as the official state pinniped.
Senate Bill 1392, also known as Leno’s Law, would expand smog check exemptions for later model (up to 1986) collector cars.
With affordability as a top concern for a majority of Californians, I voted in support of Senate Bill 1094, authored by a Democratic state senator from San Diego. SB 1094 would expand existing law to allow a pharmacist to replace certain expensive biologic drugs with similar lower-cost alternatives, called biosimilars. This means lower prescription drugs for you.
I signed a letter with a bipartisan and bicameral group of legislators, to tackle affordability and protect jobs in California. In a letter addressed to the chair of the California Air Resources Board offered, we offered solutions that could save Californians up to $15 billion through lower bills and reduced costs while protecting jobs. Click HERE to read the letter.
Click HERE to read the letter.
Small businesses are the backbone of California’s economy, and we must do everything we can to support them and preserve the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our communities forward. I am proud to co-author Senate Joint Resolution 15, urging Congress to stop federal tax increases on businesses. California is currently the only state that has not repaid its federal unemployment insurance (UI) debt, and our employers should not be penalized with higher taxes as a result. Click HERE to learn more about SJR 15.
Click HERE to learn more about SJR 15.
SACRAMENTO NEWS:
May is Military Appreciation Month, and Memorial Day will be an opportunity to commemorate our veterans for their sacrifice, service, and bravery. My district staff and I will be attending various district events to commemorate our hometown heroes. Freedom is never FREE.
When our veterans return home from deployment, many continue to face invisible wounds. An estimated 6% nationally are affected by PTSD, according to the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA), and those numbers translate to more than 97,000 veterans in California. These struggles can be difficult to talk about, but they have real consequences. In California alone, 570 veteran suicides were reported in 2024, an increase from 559 the year before.
I am a coauthor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 154, a bipartisan resolution recognizing May 4 as Green Star Veterans and Families Day. California is joining a growing number of states working to recognize Green Star families, to ensure that those impacted by veteran suicide are seen, supported, and never forgotten. Click HERE to listen to my floor remarks.
Click HERE to listen to my floor remarks.
May 3 – 9 was dedicated to Small Business Week, and I had the opportunity to share my vision about the business climate with the Leadership Council of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
At the NFIB Leadership Council meeting.
Thank you to the California Association of Realtors for inviting me to speak at their Legislative Advocacy Day. It’s always great to see so many gathered to discuss how we can move forward and help more Californians achieve the American Dream of homeownership.
At the California Association of Realtors Legislative Advocacy Day.
Sacramento commemorated the California Peace Officers Memorial Observance, where hundreds of law enforcement agencies were in attendance, including the Huntington Beach Police Department.
With members of the Huntington Beach Police Department.
The California League of Cities Orange County Delegation visited me in Sacramento to discuss key issues impacting our local communities. I am grateful for the strong working relationship and appreciate the perspective from the local city leaders.
With members of the OC Delegation.
I enjoyed my meeting with the Harbor Association of Industry & Commerce, including key stakeholders from the San Pedro Bay Area. We discussed their 2026 legislative priorities, including the importance of the critical roles the ports play in California and our country’s economy. Thank you for the engaging and thoughtful dialogue!
With members of the HAIC.
The California State Senate recently celebrated and recognized a respected leader who has served on the front lines for 30 years in Sacramento. Brian Rice, former president of the California Professional Firefighters, is retiring after three decades of service with the Sacramento Metro Fire Department. Click HERE to listen to my floor remarks.
With Brian Rice following the floor acknowledgment.
I voted in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 170 (SCR 170), a bipartisan resolution recognizing May 25 – 29 as Firefighter Mental Health Awareness Week. Firefighters do more than fight fires. They are often the first to arrive on the scene when someone calls 911, responding to emergencies at a moment’s notice. SCR 170 supports firefighters’ mental health and sends a clear message that California cares about the well-being of those who protect our communities.
With members of the firefighter’s community after SCR 170 passed.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with a group of bright and inquisitive students from Rancho Santa Margarita Elementary School during their visit to the State Capitol. Their curiosity and thoughtful questions made the experience especially rewarding. I have always enjoyed sharing knowledge and inspiring our future leaders to learn more about state government. Thank you for visiting Sacramento.
With the students during their tour of the State Capitol.
DISTRICT HAPPENINGS:
Congratulations to GameChanger Charity based in Dana Point, selected as California’s Senate District 36 Nonprofit of the Year! Jim Carol and a board of advisors from the nonprofit joined me in Sacramento to celebrate their recognition.
Senator Strickland with Jim Carol & Brent Carlson with GameChanger Charity.
Community Recognition Day for Nonprofits of Distinction and Community Leaders:
Senate District 36 is home to so many outstanding nonprofits and incredible people. Thank you to all those who joined me at the Community Recognition Day event in May. Congratulations to the 16 organizations and 40 individuals who were recognized, including USMC Gunnery Sgt. Marcus Lewis, for his outstanding service, exemplary leadership, and unwavering dedication to the United States of America. I wish him the best in his retirement after 20 years of honorable service. Click HERE to view additional photos.
With USMC Gunnery Sgt. Lewis.
La Palma Festival of Nations was spirited and had an amazing turnout with the community coming together to celebrate the people and traditions that make Senate District 36 so special. Thank you to all who celebrated with the community.
At the La Palma Festival of Nations event.
The Vietnamese American community, along with our broader community, commemorated April 30, 2026, as the 51st anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. Black April stands as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by Vietnamese refugees who escaped oppression in pursuit of freedom and opportunity in the United States. I’m proud to have coauthored Senate Resolution 106 (SR 106), a bipartisan measure passed by the California State Senate commemorating April 30, 2026, as Black April. Team Strickland joined the City of Westminster at its annual Black April Remembrance Ceremony.
Team Strickland’s wreath at the Fall of Saigon event in Westminster.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: THE STRICKLAND SPOTLIGHT
The California High-Speed Rail has dominated the news. As Vice Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, and since my return to the California State Legislature in March 2025, I have been encouraging my colleagues to have an honest and serious conversation about the project. I believe it will go down as one of the most wasteful government projects in history, as it will not be built as proposed to voters in 2008. We should redirect transportation dollars to shovel-ready infrastructure projects that will deliver real results.
I joined hosts Brian Brenberg and Lisa Boothe on FOX Business News, The Bottom Line, to provide my analysis. Click HERE to watch the interview.
Click HERE to watch the interview.
I also talked to FOX News Digital about the high-speed rail as I told them, "This is a project that will never be built, and everybody in this building knows this project will never be built for the people of California and we keep wasting billions of dollars at a time where we have budget deficits.” Click HERE to read the FOX News Digital article.
I talked to the California Post about the high-speed rail. “I’ve been saying this for years now, but this is the most wasteful government project in probably world history,”
State Sen. Tony Strickland told The Post. Click HERE to read the story.
Nexstar Capitol Correspondent Eytan Wallace also interviewed me about the high-speed rail. Click HERE to watch the story, airing in both Sacramento and on KTLA 5 in Los Angeles.
Click HERE to watch the story.
California spent nearly $500 million on an updated 911 system. The original plan for the NextGen 911 system has been scrapped and now California’s Office of Emergency Services are back to the drawing board. The Sacramento Bee interviewed me about the NextGen 911 system as I have a bill, Senate Bill 985, the Fix 911 Act, that would require the Cal OES to submit quarterly reports to the Legislature on the progress of the NextGen 911 system. Click HERE to read the story.
Click HERE to read the article.
Yahoo News picked up the story that was first reported in an online publication, Reason Magazine, about my legislation, Senate Bill 985, the Fix 911 Act. Click HERE to read the article.
Click HERE to read the article.
June will also be a busy month, with Election Day on Tuesday, June 2. The Orange County Registrar of Voters is a resource available to help voters find their polling location, track their ballot, and access other information. Click HERE for the OCVote website.
In addition, the Legislature will need to pass a state budget by June 15, 2026. I remain committed to fighting for an affordable California, which means lowering your grocery, utility, and gas bills, and ensuring our communities are safe.
As always, my district office is here to help you navigate state government. You can contact me at Senator.Strickland@senate.ca.gov or call (714) 374-4000.
In Friendship,
Tony Strickland
Senator, California 36th State Senate