Creating Change - March 2026

March 2026

As we welcome March, a time of longer days and fresh momentum, we’re making progress on legislation to hold utilities like PG&E accountable, wildfire prevention, and energy affordability. Here’s a look at what we’ve been working on in the Capitol and throughout our communities:

1. Megafire Legislative Package
2. Mental Health Policy Award
3. Celebrating Student Champions from San Mateo College
4. Celebrating Ramadan Iftars throughout the District
5. Commonwealth Club Discussion on Justice Reform
6. Wildfire Prevention Town Hall
7. Java with Josh in South San Francisco
8. Community Highlight: Woman of the Year
9. Upgrade your Home with Clean Energy Appliances

Senator Becker announcing the Megafire Legislative Package with Senators Ben Allen and Henry Stern and Assemblymembers Steve Bennett, Damon Connolley, and Chris Rogers.

This month, I announced the introduction of SB 973 and SB 911 as part of a Joint Megafire Prevention Package, the most comprehensive set of wildfire prevention bills introduced in California’s history. These bills focus on strengthening community preparedness and helping homeowners reduce wildfire risk. SB 973 strengthens the Wildfire County Coordinator Program, directing CAL FIRE to develop statewide guidance to help counties assess wildfire risks and prioritize mitigation efforts. By improving coordination and planning, the bill helps communities move from reacting to disasters to preparing for them. SB 911 ensures that home buyers understand whether a home meets wildfire safety standards and encourages stronger home hardening practices in high-risk areas. While we can’t control when the next wildfire ignites, we can ensure our state and community are better prepared, and SB 973 and SB 911 are important steps toward making California safer and more resilient.

Expanding access to mental health care remains one of my top priorities The work I have been doing to expand access to mental health services was recently recognized by Mental Health America of California. I received an A, the highest score awarded in the Senate for my work advancing mental health policy in 2025. Thank you to Mental Health America of California for this recognition and for their ongoing work advocating for policies that strengthen mental health services and support communities throughout California.

Pictured here: Senator Becker with 2025 State Champions of San Mateo Bulldogs.

I had the privilege to welcome the 2025 State Champion College of San Mateo Bulldogs to the Senate floor—now three-time champions in four years. Under Coach Tim Tulloch’s leadership, these student-athletes continue to excel both on and off the field, earning a 3.40 team GPA. Many are first-generation college students, working every day to build a better future. Their success demonstrates that expanding access to higher education matters. These Bulldogs are champions in every sense, and it was a privilege to celebrate them at the Capitol.

What made the moment especially meaningful was recognizing two student-athletes who once played football alongside my son at Menlo-Atherton High School. Seeing them grow from local teammates into state champions reflects their hard work, discipline, and commitment to their education. 

Pictured here: Senator Becker joining members of the Menlo Park  and Atherton Muslim community to celebrate a Ramadan Iftar.

This year, I had the privilege of joining several Ramadan Iftar dinners across our region from Menlo Park to Palo Alto and San Francisco. More than just shared meals, these evenings were a profound reminder of the values that anchor us all: faith, compassion, service, community, and an unwavering commitment to one another.

In Palo Alto, I was moved by students who described Ramadan as a “spiritual reset”—a time to cultivate discipline and gratitude. Their words were so resonant that I shared them on the State Senate floor during our consideration of a Ramadan resolution; it was important to me that their voices were heard in the halls of our Capitol.

Reflecting on these moments, I am reminded of an Iftar I hosted at my home three years ago. Watching members of the Muslim community and Stanford students pray in my living room remains one of my most cherished memories. That year, Ramadan, Easter, and Passover overlapped—a beautiful convergence of faith that reminded us that our diversity is our greatest strength. Even in difficult times, seeing our community celebrate with such resilience and grace is a source of hope. I am deeply grateful to everyone who welcomed me into these sacred spaces.

Pictured here: Senator Becker with renowned author Emily Galvin Almanza.

Recently, I had a conversation with author Emily Galvin Almanza on stage at the Commonwealth Club to discuss her book, The Price of Mercy. It was a thoughtful and important conversation about the role of public defenders and the broader pursuit of justice in our legal system.
There was great appreciation at the event for the things California has accomplished, including my work to address conditions in correctional facilities, including three current bills I am authoring to give employment credit to incarcerated individuals upon reentry, free text messages to preserve connections with loved ones, and ensuring that juveniles are detained only when they pose a public safety threat. My free prison phone call bill has become a national model, resulting in over one billion minutes in conversations with loved ones and increasing family connections that better prepare formerly incarcerated individuals for reentry.

I was especially grateful to be joined by my friend Paul Bocanegra, whose work supporting youth in the juvenile justice system is deeply informed by his own lived experience. Paul’s journey—from incarceration to advocacy—underscores the importance of building a system rooted in fairness, equity, and second chances. Hearing Emily’s perspective as a public defender, alongside Paul’s work on the ground, reinforced the need for continued reform. Their insights highlight both the challenges within our system and the opportunities to create a more just and effective approach—one that prioritizes rehabilitation and supports young people in reaching their full potential. If you’d like to learn more, you can watch the full conversation with Emily here.

I convened a virtual town hall focused on wildfire preparedness and mitigation to hear from local fire authorities and a CZU wildfire survivor about practical steps to protect your property, and state and local initiatives and resources. 51,733 dwellings across our two counties are deemed high or very high risk for wildfires. A 2025 study from UC Berkeley found that wildfire mitigation strategies can reduce wildfire destructiveness by up to 50 percent; preparation and prevention saves lives and homes. In addition to the legislation I am carrying this year, these town halls are an important way to prepare our community for any future wildfires. To watch the full town hall, visit my website. 

Pictured here: Senator Becker speaking with constituents from South San Francisco.

We had a full house at our recent “Java with Josh” community conversation in South San Francisco at Antigua Coffee Shop on March 13th, with discussions ranging from revitalizing downtown businesses to affordability for seniors to AI and privacy concerns. Participants arrived with well-informed questions and ideas for legislation, resulting in an engaging and thoughtful dialogue. My team organizes these casual coffees in cities throughout Senate District 13 to provide opportunities for constituents to tell me what’s on their minds and ask questions. Look for an announcement about another “Java with Josh” in a city near you soon!

Pictured here: Senator Becker with SD 13’s Woman of the Year Honoree Lynn Adams

I’m proud to recognize Lynn Adams as Senate District 13’s Woman of the Year and to congratulate her on an extraordinary career of service to our coastal communities. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, I know how critical it is to protect our coastlines, and Lynn’s work has set the standard for what that commitment looks like in action.

On January 23, our community gathered to celebrate Lynn’s retirement as President of the Pacific Beach Coalition, a role she held for 18 years. During her tenure, Lynn led countless beach and creek cleanups and helped spearhead major habitat restoration efforts along our coastline. Beyond this hands-on work, Lynn created a school assembly program that has helped educate thousands of young people about the importance of protecting our oceans and keeping our environment clean. Under Lynn’s leadership, volunteers have removed over one million cigarette butts and hundreds of tons of garbage from beaches and waterways that would otherwise have polluted our oceans. Her work has also highlighted the importance of protecting the wildlife that depend on these ecosystems. Lynn’s dedication has inspired an entire community of environmental stewards, and her impact will be felt for generations to come. Please join me in congratulating Lynn on this well-deserved recognition and wishing her a wonderful retirement.

If you’d like to continue Lynn’s legacy of service, you can learn more and get involved with the Pacific Beach Coalition here: Ocean Conservation Non-Profit - Pacific Beach Coalition.

Opinion: E-bikes are here to stay. Now it’s time for our safety laws to catch up.
(The Mercury, March 13, 2026)
  

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

Sincerely,
Senator Josh Becker