Creating Change - April 2026

April 30, 2026

Creating Change

April 2026

During April, we commemorate Earth Month and reflect on our responsibility to protect our planet and take meaningful action to preserve our environment for future generations. And in this month’s newsletter highlights the progress we’re from advancing clean energy and conservation efforts to launching my Good News Climate Blog, convening a 30×30 town hall, and bringing our community together for my Birthday Beach Cleanup. It also underscores how environmental stewardship connects to broader priorities like housing, public health, and economic opportunity, and the work ahead to build a more sustainable and resilient California.

In the Capitol:
1. Announcing the Good News Climate Blog
2. First Hearings as Chair of Two Committees! Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee and of Human Services Committee
3. Receiving the Enduring Champion Award from the California Biotechnology Foundation
4. D.R.O.P. Collaboration with Attorney General Rob Bonta
5. Working with Chelsea Clinton to Stop Underage Marriage
6. Awarded Climate Action Caucus Member Recognition

In the District:
8. Calling for a Permanent Fix for Unfair Vehicle Licensing Fees
9. Earth Month and Senator Becker’s Birthday Beach Cleanup
10. Breaking Ground on 316 New Student Housing Units
11. 30x30 Town Hall

ANNOUNCING THE GOOD NEWS CLIMATE BLOG

This month, I launched my Good News Climate Blog to highlight something we don’t hear enough about: measurable momentum in the transition to clean energy. In a time of global uncertainty and volatility in energy markets, it’s important to talk about the real progress happening every day. This idea came to me at COP30 in Brazil, where I heard inspiring stories of climate progress from places like Pakistan and Australia and saw firsthand how eager others were to learn from California’s success. My blog will highlight:

•    Growth in renewable energy and storage
•    Expansion of EVs and charging infrastructure
•    Policies advancing affordability and access
•    Innovation driving jobs and economic growth

Check out the Good News Climate Blog here.

FIRST HEARINGS AS CHAIR OF TWO COMMITTEES! SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES & WATER COMMITTEE AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

Senator Becker Speaking on Natural Resources and Water, and Human Services

Pictured here: Senator Becker serving as committee chair.

This session, I’m taking on a new challenge as one of the few Senators chairing two committees: Natural Resources and Water, and Human Services. Both are deep passions of mine, focusing on humans and the nature that surrounds us. The Human Services Committee focuses on the strength of our social safety net, supporting families through affordable childcare, foster care, and efforts to address homelessness. At the same time, the Natural Resources and Water Committee is about protecting the world those families depend on, ensuring clean air and water, preserving our natural landscapes, and safeguarding our environment for future generations. There is much more to do, and I’m ready to keep working on issues that are my passions. Grateful for this recognition and for the work ahead.

RECEIVING THE ENDURING CHAMPION AWARD FROM THE CALIFORNIA BIOTECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION

Pictured here: Senator Becker receiving the Enduring Champion Award from the California Biotechnology Foundation.

This month, I received the Enduring Champion Award from the California Biotechnology Foundation. For 20 years, CBF has helped strengthen the connection between science, policy, and public health, ensuring that innovation translates into real-world impact. My work in biotech, focused on advancing cancer research, has shaped how I see innovation and not just as an economic driver, but as a way to save lives. It’s guided the work I’ve done throughout my career. I’ve seen firsthand what’s possible when we bring together technology, research, and purpose, especially in Senate District 13. We lead because of collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. I'm grateful for this recognition and for the work ahead.

D.R.O.P. COLLABORATION WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB BONTA

As California's newest privacy tool takes off, I partnered with Attorney General Rob Bonta to get the word about the smooth execution of the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (D.R.O.P.) and announce that the number of Californians that are registering to have their personal information deleted from data brokers' files was approaching 300,000. If you haven't registered and would like to reclaim control over your online information, visit CalPrivacy's website here. Check out my chat with Attorney General Rob Bonta about D.R.O.P here.

WORKING WITH CHELSEA CLINTON TO STOP UNDERAGE MARRIAGE

Pictured here: Senator Becker with Chelsea Clinton. Photo credit: Eleakis & Elder Photography

I recently met with Chelsea Clinton to raise awareness about an issue that too often goes unseen: forced child marriage. It’s easy to think this is a problem that exists somewhere else, but it’s happening here in California and across the United States, often hidden in plain sight and rarely acknowledged. I also want to recognize the leadership of former Senator Jerry Hill, who worked on this issue before I came into office. This conversation was a powerful reminder that we have more work to do to protect women, girls, and vulnerable individuals and to bring this issue out of the shadows and into the public awareness it deserves.

AWARDED CLIMATE ACTION CAUCUS MEMBER RECOGNITION

EnviroVoters has recognized me as a Member of the Climate Action Caucus for the energy and climate work we advanced last year. This recognition highlights legislators who are championing bold policies to address the climate crisis and accelerate California’s transition to a cleaner, more affordable energy future. I earned one of the highest scores for my work as Chair of the Senate Energy Committee, where I focused on expanding clean energy while protecting ratepayers.
One key effort was my SB 254 to improve electricity affordability and help lower energy bills for low- and middle-income families.

CALLING FOR A PERMANENT FIX FOR UNFAIR VEHICLE LICENSING FEES

Pictured here: Senator Becker’s District Director, Joan Dentler, speaking to a large crowd of first responders, community leaders, and non-profit organization representatives.

San Mateo County is being treated unfairly and is not receiving the funding it was promised. Despite contributing about 15% of California’s income tax revenue, the county continues to be shortchanged by a flawed Vehicle License Fee (VLF) backfill formula, costing tens of millions of dollars each year that should be going to essential services like public safety, health care, housing, parks, and early education. While 55 of California’s 58 counties are made whole, San Mateo County is not. Without this funding, we face significant cuts to these services. I’m fighting to get what we were promised. I’m working with the County, its 20 cities, my legislative colleagues and the Governor to avoid these cuts. Last year, we secured $76.5 million in partial relief, but for this year alone, the County is still owed $119 million, plus an additional $38 million for local communities. Partial fixes are not enough. I’m working on a permanent solution.

EARTH MONTH AND SENATOR BECKER’S BEACH CLEANUP

Pictured here: Senator Becker with community volunteers participating in the Pacific Beach Cleanup.

April is Earth Month when we come together and take action to protect our environment. For my birthday, I brought community members and volunteers across the district together for a coastal cleanup in partnership with the Pacific Beach Coalition. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, we collected more than 100 pounds of trash and recyclable materials, helping protect local ecosystems and beautify our coast. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this event such a success.

BREAKING GROUND ON 316 NEW STUDENT HOUSING UNITS

Pictured here: Senator Becker joining local and state officials, including Assemblymember Diane Papan, and representatives of San Mateo County Community College District.

San Mateo County Community College District is getting 316 affordable student housing units thanks to $12 million in state funds. We broke ground this month with administrators, supporters, and students. San Mateo County Community College District has stepped up in a big way, contributing $9 million to cover rising costs and investing millions more to keep the project on track despite delays, inflation, and increasing construction costs. This project also reflects strong community collaboration. After working with local residents to adjust the site, the district was able to move forward while also expanding the project to serve even more students.

30 X 30 TOWN HALL

I recently convened a town hall on our “30×30” goal to conserve 30% of our lands and coastal waters by 2030. It included regional and state leaders to discuss the progress and the path forward rooted in collaboration and community-driven solutions. California is making strong progress on its 30×30 goal, and in San Mateo County, that progress is already visible through restored habitats, protected open spaces, and stronger, more resilient landscapes. Across the state, more than 26% of land and nearly 22% of coastal waters are already under long-term conservation. As Chair of the Bay Area Caucus, I fought and successfully doubled Prop 4 funding for coastal resilience and bayside restoration, totaling $102 million and moving us closer to our 30x30 goal. The expanded funding will accelerate shoreline resilience projects across the Bay Area, including nature-based solutions. I’m also authoring SB 949 to designate the Santa Cruz Mountains as a Site of Statewide Significance to protect one of California’s most ecologically vital landscapes and strengthen coordinated conservation, climate resilience, and watershed protection efforts statewide.