Creating Change October 2025

October 2025

Happy Halloween! With Fall in full swing, October is both a time to reflect on our progress so far as well as look toward the future. I’m excited to update you on the legislative wins we’ve shared this year, as well as the steps I’m taking to prepare for next year. In this issue, I’ll be covering:

• Legislative Update
• Success! El Camino Repaving in Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Los Altos!
• Speaking at “Now’s the Time:” Youth-Led Climate Rally
• Senator Becker visits the Los Gatos Farmers’ Market
• Celebrating 10 Years of Futurelab
• Fighting for the Money we’re owed
• Learn more about Home Electrification with our Local CCAS
• Recognizing UC Leadership in Research
• A New Twist on Political Art

Governor Gavin Newsom and Senator Becker following a bill signing ceremony.

October has seen Governor Newsom sign several of my other bills into law, bringing much needed reforms into our healthcare, transportation, housing, and consumer protections:

• SB 306: Finally! After years of effort by various colleagues, I successfully passed a bill to reduce delays and denials of care created by the use of prior authorization by health insurance companies. I worked with the California Medical Association and local peninsula doctors. We got it over the finish line!
• SB 338: The winner from my Ought-A-Be-A-Law contest; the governor signed this bill which will scale a successful pilot program from San Mateo County. The Equity Express bus takes tele-health, including mental health services, on the road to underserved rural farming communities. In San Mateo County, this was a partnership between the non profit, ALAS, and local life science companies including Gilead.
• SB 358: Promotes smart housing growth by reducing fees for housing developments near transit.
• SB 361: Builds on my Delete Act and strengthens the Data Broker Registration Law by providing consumers with more information about the personal information collected by data brokers.
• SB 390: I teamed up with the city council of South San Francisco on this bill that will make it easier for economic development in the city east of 101.
• SB 822: Clarifies that California's Unclaimed Property Law expressly includes unclaimed digital assets, including cryptocurrency.
• SB 272: Simplifies contracting for our transportation agencies.

Senator Becker at the ribbon cutting opening ceremony for the El Camino Real Pavement Rehabilitation Project.

Nearly two years ago, Assemblymember Marc Berman and I hosted a town hall in Mountain View with Caltrans to discuss much-needed repairs along El Camino Real between Menlo Park and Mountain View. We heard from residents and city officials in Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Los Altos about potholes, storm damage, and the need for safer bike and pedestrian access. Since then, Caltrans has worked closely with our local cities to deliver long-overdue improvements: repaving, ADA upgrades, and complete streets elements that enhance safety and mobility for all. I’m grateful to Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy and Dave Ambeuhl, local transportation staff, and city leaders in Los Altos, Mountain View, and Palo Alto, including Alison Hicks, Sally Meadows, and Lydia Kou, for their partnership in making this project a success. Congratulations to our city partners and Caltrans on a job well done!

Senator Becker speaking to a crowd of youth climate activists at 2025’s Now’s the Time: Youth-Led Rally.

I had the honor of speaking in front of my biggest cheerleaders and sources of inspiration at “Now’s the Time:” Youth-Led Climate Rally to a group of youth activists about the successes of this past legislative session, the importance of the work they do, and the changes they can affect with their communities. It’s the support of local groups like Citizens’ Climate Lobby Youth Group that enables me to fight for necessary climate and clean energy reform in the California Senate. I’m grateful to my constituents of all ages whose passion and enthusiasm makes all this possible, and to the work we can keep doing together.

Senator Josh Becker greeting market goers at the Los Gatos Farmers Market.

My team and I have been connecting with community members this month at farmers’ markets across District 13. So far, we have been in Los Gatos and Mountain View, answering questions, helping constituents navigate state programs, and sharing information about available resources — all while supporting our region’s local growers and small businesses. Look for our blue tent soon at the San Carlos Farmers’ Market, and feel free to stop by to say hello!

Senator Becker, top row, fifth from the left, pictured with community leaders, educators, and Genentech employees at the 10th anniversary celebration of Futurelab.

Earlier this month, I joined community leaders, educators, and Genentech employees to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Futurelab, a groundbreaking partnership between Genentech and the South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD). Since its launch in 2014, Futurelab has provided every K–12 student in SSFUSD with access to hands-on science learning opportunities — helping inspire curiosity, confidence, and career pathways in biotechnology and beyond. Through programs like Gene Academy, Helix Cup, Science Garage, and Futurelab+, students are introduced to real-world science, mentorship, and valuable opportunities to explore higher education and STEM careers. I’m always open to hearing from any of our tech and biotech employers who are helping students in our K-12 schools!

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors recognized me and my colleagues in the state legislature for our efforts to secure state funding necessary to maintain essential county services. We secured $76.5 million in state funding to offset the Vehicle License Fees (VLF) funding shortfall. This is funding promised to San Mateo County and its 20 cities in the FY 2025-2026 state budget. The Board of Supervisors graciously presented each member of the San Mateo County state delegation with a resolution. It was an honor to receive this acknowledgement and I will continue to fight for the resources needed to fund all of San Mateo County’s priorities.

Join Acterra at the Green@Home Tours, sponsored by SVCE and PCE, for a free, community-powered event that invites you to explore innovative, electrified homes. On Saturday, November 8, from 11AM to 3PM, your neighbors throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties will open their homes to share valuable insights on appliance selection, contractor decisions, installation processes, tax credits and incentives, and making your transition to electric living informed and cost-effective. You can see firsthand a wide variety of electric appliances and environmentally conscious home upgrades, including energy-efficient heat pumps for heating and cooling, heat pump water heaters, induction cooktops, rainwater catchment systems, compost bins, electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, battery storage systems, and more. Registration is required; register at Green@Home Tour: Peninsula & South Bay - Acterra.

Senator Becker celebrating PCE and SVCE receiving honorable mentions from the Electric Innovation Awards at NY Climate Week. With SVCE Board Chair George Tyson, SVCE CEO Monica Padilla, and SVCE Director of Decarbonization Policy and Community Strategies Zoe Elizabeth.

The importance of the University of California to our state and history of innovation is why I’ve always fought against the Trump administration’s harmful cuts and threats to the U.C. system and diminished access for California students. The awarding of Nobel Prizes to five Californians is another reminder of the tremendous impact of the U.C. system and their faculty and alumni. The UC has always used the federal funding it receives to find ways to better our understanding of the world and to improve our lives, which is why we need to work hard to preserve funding for our UC and CSU systems.

Interdisciplinary artist Lisa Van Dusen and Senator Josh Becker at the opening of the Public Benefit Art Exhibition

Did you know that there are 12 privately owned public spaces (POPOS) in Palo Alto? Neither do most Palo Alto residents.

Recently I learned about these spots – many of which are “hidden in plain sight” – during a talk with artist Lisa Van Dusen at her new exhibition called Public Benefit, which is currently on display at Avenidas in Palo Alto through October 31st. These spaces became public as the result of ordinances written between 1989 and 2013 and are under-utilized, used as unintended, or not used at all. She uses all the actual ordinances as part of the art exhibition!

The conversation, which took place between Ms. Van Dusen and Palo Alto Art Center director Karen Kienzle, was also attended by current and former local leaders. The informative talk covered the importance of public spaces and the usage policies surrounding them, as well as the need for signage notifying the public of their existence. It was an important first step in shining a light on some of the treasures here in Senate District 13. For more information, visit paloaltopopos.org.

Newsom calls on regulators for new solutions to California’s insurance crisis

(Silicon Valley, October 2, 2025)

Officials celebrate El Camino bike lanes, but few appear to use them

(Mountain View Voice, October 6, 2025)

CMA-sponsored bill to eliminate redundant prior authorization barriers signed into law

(California Medical Association, October 7, 2025)

Governor Newsom signs data privacy bills to protect tech users

(Governor Gavin Newsom, October 8, 2025)

Pair of new laws aim to help ease health care access

(San Mateo Daily Journal, October 9, 2025)

California will no longer liquidate unclaimed crypto

(Cryptorank, October 14, 2025)

California Enacts Nation’s First AI Companion Chatbot Safety Law

(AI Insider, October 14, 2025)

California Expands Data Broker Registration Requirements

(National Law Review, October 17, 2025)

Sincerely,
Senator Josh Becker