Creating Change

January 27, 2026

January 2026

Happy New Year! As we begin a new legislative session in Sacramento, I’m energized by the work ahead and deeply focused on delivering results for our communities. This January marks a moment to take stock of where we are and to recommit to building a California that is more affordable, more resilient, and more just, and I’m ready to get to work. In this edition of Creating Change, we will cover:

The DROP Tool Goes Live
New Year, New Committees
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Holding ICE Accountable
Senior Scam Stopper Seminar
Supporting Programs like GRIP to Reduce Recidivism

THE DROP TOOL GOES LIVE, LAUNCHING THE STRONGEST PRIVACY PROTECTION IN THE NATION

This month, we made a huge advancement in strengthening the privacy rights of Californians. The Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP), created by my Delete Act, launched smoothly and successfully. You can watch my announcement video here. DROP gives you a new tool to permanently delete your personal data and prevent it from being bought and sold by unknown third-party entities without your consent or knowledge. DROP is a free, easy-to-use, and fast way to protect your privacy. Already, over 160,000 people have registered. Take control over your data and visit Privacy.ca.gov/DROP to register.

NEW YEAR, NEW COMMITTEES

Senator Josh Becker speaking during committee meeting

With the beginning of the 2026 session comes new committee assignments, and I am excited to share that I am proud to take over the challenge of chairing TWO committees that are aligned in protecting our kids today and the planet they will live on in the future: Natural Resources & Water and Human Services. Both committees tackle huge issues that I have been working on for years. Last year, I secured $102 million for coastal resilience and bay restoration for the Bay Area. Such a large percentage of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties have protected open space. I represent more than 60 miles of the coast and coastal communities. My work in human services goes back to my days serving on the Childcare Partnerships Council of San Mateo County. My legislation has focused on vulnerable communities, expanding access to CALFresh, and improving childcare services. These new roles put me in a stronger position to dive deeper into these issues and advocate for more effective solutions.

HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY

(Left) Senator Becker with Alexis Lewis and Caroline Hoskins. participating in a tree planting in East Palo Alto with Canopy. (Right) Senator Becker speaking at the Peninsula Multifaith Coalition's Day of Service event at Peninsula Jewish Community Center in Foster City.

Pictured here: (Left) Senator Becker with Alexis Lewis and Caroline Hoskins. Participating in a tree planting in East Palo Alto with Canopy. (Right) Senator Becker speaking at the Peninsula Multifaith Coalition's Day of Service event at Peninsula Jewish Community Center in Foster City.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was truly a day of service across Senate District 13, and I was grateful to participate in a range of meaningful community events throughout the district.
On Sunday afternoon, I attended an inspirational program at the Domini Hoskins Black History Museum, organized by Links, Inc., where three youth activists delivered powerful reflections on Dr. King’s legacy and why his work remains deeply relevant today. The keynote speaker was Dr. Frank Omowale Satterwhite, who played a pivotal role in the movement to incorporate the City of East Palo Alto, and is currently the president of Leadership Incorporated, which focuses on building capacity for social change in communities of color.

Monday’s observance included a full day of service and reflection. I began with remarks at the San Mateo Caltrain Station Freedom Train gathering, where I highlighted excerpts from Dr. King’s Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? and drew parallels to the challenges we face today. From there, I joined Canopy for a tree planting in East Palo Alto, participated in several Peninsula Multifaith Coalition events, and concluded the day creating crafts alongside LifeMoves and community members at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center.

HOLDING ICE ACCOUNTABLE

Senator Becker speaking at a press conference on SB 747 along with Army Veteran George Retes, Senators Scott Wiener and Suzan Rubio

Pictured here: Senator Becker speaking at a press conference on SB 747 along with Army Veteran George Retes, Senators Scott Wiener and Suzan Rubio

I spoke at a press conference about a bill that I am co-authoring, the No Kings Act (SB 747), which affirms a basic principle: no one is above the law. This bill holds ICE accountable when it oversteps its authority and violates constitutional rights. It gives people a legal remedy to seek justice by closing a loophole in state law that has allowed abuses to go unchecked. In a democracy, there are no kings—only the rule of law, and it must apply to everyone.

SENIOR SCAM STOPPERS SEMINAR

Pictured here: Constituents watching a message from Senator Becker.

As cyber scams grow more sophisticated and harder to detect, seniors remain among the most frequent targets. That’s why my office hosted a Senior Scam Stopper Seminar at the Redwood City Public Library with experts from the Contractors State License Board, the California Department of Insurance, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and the California Privacy Protection Agency. The room was packed with interested residents who engaged in thoughtful conversations and had amazing questions, in which they learned best practices on how to identify and avoid scams, including using the new DROP tool. According to the FBI, Californians aged 60 and older experienced the highest financial losses from cybercrime, totaling more than $800 million. If you missed the event and would like to learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams, please visit my website for the recorded seminar and presentations from the four participating agencies.

SUPPORTING PROGRAMS LIKE GRIP TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM

Pictured here: Senator Becker holding his Trailblazer Award from GRIP

I’m passionate about ensuring that formerly incarcerated individuals have the tools they need to succeed after release. Guiding Rage into Power (GRIP) is one of the excellent programs in our prisons that shows what works: evidence-based rehabilitation that reduces recidivism and strengthens public safety. GRIP is a One-Year Accountability and Healing Program based on 25 years of work with thousands of incarcerated people and many victims/survivors.

With a recidivism rate of less than 2%, the program demonstrates how investing in accountability, skills, and dignity creates safer communities and real pathways to productive lives. We need to continue supporting efforts like this.

I was honored to receive the Trailblazer Award from GRIP for my efforts to address recidivism and expand pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals.