Creating Change

September 2025

What a finish! The end of session brought an incredible rush of progress, and I’m thrilled to share some of the highlights with you. Together, we delivered historic wins for clean energy, coastal resilience, community safety, and more. I’m so proud of what we achieved and grateful to everyone who stood with us to make it happen. In this issue, I’ll be covering:

• Massive legislative victories for clean energy and climate
• End of session legislative update
• Doubling funding for coastal resilience and bay protection
• Team Becker at your farmers market
• New York Climate Week
• Standing against ICE
• Alpine Championship – Celebrating our local Little League State Champions, the Alpine All-Stars!

From left to right, Senate President pro Tempore-Elect Monique Limón, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire, Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Josh Becker, and Senator John Laird.

This month, Governor Gavin Newsom signed my bills SB 254 and AB 825 into law — the most impactful clean energy affordability package in a generation. Together, these bills will deliver tens of billions in savings for Californians, strengthen our electricity grid, and expand access to clean, reliable power.

SB 254 will save Californians $20 billion over the next decade by reforming wildfire liability costs, holding utilities accountable, and cutting through red tape to speed up clean energy projects.
•    AB 825 expands California’s ability to share clean power across the West, reducing costs for families and improving grid reliability.

I’m deeply grateful to Governor Newsom, Pro Tem Mike McGuire, Speaker Robert Rivas, Senator Monique Limón, and Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris for their partnership in making this happen. This is a once-in-a-generation victory for Californians — lowering bills, cutting pollution, and creating jobs while continuing California’s global leadership in climate action.
 

Senator Becker in his Capitol Office.

In addition to some of the biggest clean energy and climate wins in recent history, I advanced a broad range of bills that will improve everyday life for Californians. Here is a summary of the bills that were passed by the Legislature: 

• Electricity Affordability (SB-254): Creates $20 billion in savings to Californians, makes wildfire spending cost-effective and accountable, and requires utilities to justify rates.
• Independent Regional Organization (AB-825): Creates a voluntary, regional energy market with other states to expand clean, cheaper energy while protecting California’s climate priorities.
• Defending Physician Decisions (SB-306): Eliminates bureaucratic red tape for necessary medical treatments that are almost always approved by health plans.
• Wildfire Strategic Planning (SB-326): Makes wildfire response spending more efficient and effective.
• Mobile Health for Rural Communities (SB-338): Establishes a mobile healthcare pilot program that expands access to health services for farmworkers in rural communities.
• Delete Act 2.0 (SB-361): Expands California's data broker registration requirements in order to further protect communities from surveillance and privacy risks, including immigration status and biometric data.
• Modernizing the Electrical Grid (SB-541): Reforms how California’s grid operates to promote shifting electricity use away from peak periods to times of lower demand, making our electrical grid more efficient and cost-effective.
• Reclaiming Digital Currency (SB-822): Clarifies that California's Unclaimed Property Law expressly includes unclaimed digital assets, including cryptocurrency.
• Protecting the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador (SR-51): SR 51 commends the advocacy of native groups in Ecuador for protecting the Amazon biome and commits the Senate to investigating the impact of California's role in the destruction of the Amazon region through consumption of fossil fuels.

Senator Becker with Bay Area Council Policy Director Julian Lake, San Mateo County Supervisor Lisa Gauthier, and Assemblymember Diane Papan. Not pictured: representatives from Save the Bay, Oneshoreline, Pacifica Mayor Sue Beckmeyer, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, and the Coastal Conservancy. 

I’m proud to share some incredible news: we’ve doubled state funding for coastal and Bay resilience and secured $102 million to protect our communities from sea level rise and flooding. This investment will restore wetlands, strengthen levees, and support nature-based solutions like the Colma Creek Adaptation Project and South Bay Salt Pond Restoration. San Mateo County is the most vulnerable county in California to shoreline flooding, and the Bay Area is expected to bear two-thirds of the state’s sea level rise impacts in the decades ahead. By acting now, we’re safeguarding families, jobs, and infrastructure while reducing future disaster costs. This is exactly why we passed Proposition 4 — to deliver smart, forward-looking investments in our climate future.

Field Representatives for Senator Becker - Isabel Agustin, Anthony Yoshida, Alice Hill, and Saúl Miranda

We’re excited to connect with you at upcoming community farmers’ markets across District 13. Our District Office team will be available to answer your questions and provide assistance with a wide range of service issues and state agencies—whether it’s navigating state programs, resolving concerns, or connecting you with resources. Our first stops will be: 

Mountain View Farmers’ Market
Sunday, October 5
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Mountain View Caltrain Station
600 West Evelyn Ave.

Unable to make it or don’t see your city on the list? More “Talk with Team Becker” events are coming soon to farmers’ markets and community locations throughout District 13. We look forward to seeing you under our brand-new blue tent!

I’m in New York City for Climate Week NYC, joining a delegation of Senators and Assemblymembers to engage with thought leaders, policymakers, and business leaders from around the world. Together, we’re championing comprehensive strategies to combat climate change and accelerate the clean energy transition. And I’m bringing big news with me. California has passed the biggest affordability and climate legislation in decades, and I was proud to help lead the way as Chair of the Senate Energy Committee.

• $60 billion to lower electric bills and deliver real savings to families.
• $4 billion to reduce wildfire risk and keep communities safe.
• $12 billion to expand and improve transit.
• $16 billion to build more affordable housing.

This is a once-in-a-generation investment in affordability and climate action — lowering costs, protecting communities, and creating jobs. California is showing the world that we aren’t waiting for the future. We’re building it.

Senator Becker being interviewed by Anchor Stephanie Lin (KRON 4).

As President Donald Trump continues to weaponize ICE to intimidate and divide our communities, I am calling out this harassment. We’ve seen masked ICE agents in unmarked vehicles staking out schools, walking into hospitals, and patrolling our neighborhoods — tactics designed to sow fear, tear families apart, and distract from the unlawful and unconscionable actions of his administration. The Legislative Bay Area Caucus firmly declared that this is an injustice and only harms families, public safety, our communities, and our economy. I will keep speaking out, pushing back, and working to ensure California remains a place where families feel safe and communities stay united. I invite you to join me — because only together can we stop these abuses and protect the values we hold dear. The Bay Area Council recently released a report concluding that mass deportations would take a $275 billion hit to California’s economy; causing a $23 billion loss in taxes with $13 billion directly impacting state finances. You can read the report here. 
 

(From left to right) Supervisor Ray Mueller, Coach Dave Levinson, Former MLB Player and Oakland A’s player Eric Byrnes, Senator Josh Becker.

On September 7, I had the honor of celebrating our 12U Northern California Little League State Champions, the Alpine All-Stars! The Alpine Little Leaguers made history by being the first team in the League’s sixty-five years to make it to the West Region Semifinal. That’s pretty amazing, and impressive! It doesn't seem that long ago, but being here this weekend reminded me of when my son played for the Alpine All-Stars and I helped coach the team. It was great to see all of the community come together not just today, but over this past season, and help support all of the players. I am looking forward to next season and continuing to cheer on our Alpine All-Stars! 

Newsom Signs Climate, Energy Bills Charting State Course Through Perilous ‘Mid-Transition’

(KQED, September 19, 2025)

California just passed a suite of bills to tackle rising energy costs

(Canary Media, September 17, 2025) 

Newsom signs major energy, climate package into law

(San Mateo Daily Journal, September 24, 2025) 

Effort to tie CA grid to other states is not a deregulation redux

(Capitol Weekly, September 12, 2025)

Opinion: As D.C. retreats, California must lead on affordable clean energy 

(The Mercury News, September 9, 2025) 

Becker at Center of Major Energy Reforms

(The San Mateo Daily Journal, September 16, 2025)

Guest Opinion: To build housing, we need to fix RHNA

(Palo Alto Online, September 12, 2025)

Push to protect Bay Area coastlines from rising seas

(NBC Bay Area, September 16, 2025)

San Mateo County to get climate cash

(The San Mateo Daily Journal, September 16, 2025)

Newsom to decide on health care proposals targeting insulin prices, privacy rights and more

(CalMatters, September 17, 2025)

California Medical Association-sponsored Prior Authorization Reform Bills Head to Governor Gavin Newsom’s Desk

(California Medical Association, September 11, 2025)

Opinion: Take action to slow California’s out-of-control energy costs

(The Mercury News, September 3, 2025)

Newsom strikes climate deal extending California cap and trade, boosting oil production

(CalMatters, September 10, 2025)

Newsom to decide on health care proposals targeting insulin prices, privacy rights and more

(CalMatters, September 17, 2025)

California wants to prevent utility bankruptcy and contain PG&E bills. Can it do both?

(SF Chronicle, September 12, 2025)

Trump is doing everything he can to raise your energy bills

(Los Angeles Times, September 26, 2025)

If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact my district office at (650) 233-2724.

Sincerely,
Senator Josh Becker