Hello and happy March to the Fighting 48th! Time flies by, doesn’t it? It is my pleasure to represent the 48th Assembly District in the California State Legislature. This term serves as my 10th year as a Legislator in the California State Assembly. It is an honor to serve over 498,000 residents in our district and collaborate with nine cities in the San Gabriel Valley. I am excited to share our February 2026 Newsletter, ensuring our communities stay up-to-date with state related matters.
District Updates
2026 Young Legislators and Mentees Cohort
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Please give a warm welcome to our 2026 Young Legislators and their mentors! This program is something I look forward to every year. During their time in this six-month program, our students will enhance their professional skills, explore public service careers, and learn about the legislative process. Special congratulations to our mentors: Angel Rodriguez, Katalina Mora, Rodney Martinez, Joey Hou, and Jesse Fernandez! I can’t wait to see how they will grow through these leadership roles. As a public-school teacher of 16 years, l am committed to continue expanding our youth's learning opportunities and support our next generation of leaders. Stay tuned to see our students in action!
Azusa Excellence Awards Gala
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Earlier this February, I had the honor of attending the Azusa Excellence Awards Gala and supporting the Azusa Police Department. Congratulations to all the honorable officers and their canine colleagues! The community and I thank you for your vigilance, your support and the work you do to ensure we are protected. The awards given at this event are just a small token of our gratitude for your service.
20th Annual Azusa Casino Night
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It was an honor to attend the 20th Annual Azusa Casino Night! This lively, fun-filled event helped raise funds for the Azusa youth sports programs. I can’t think of a more worthy cause and a better way to support this important organization. Thank you to the Azusa City Council, Azusa Connects, and Azusa VFW Post 8070 for hosting this exceptional community event.
Lunar New Year Celebration in Baldwin Park
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Team Rubio had the opportunity to attend the 2026 “Lunar New Year Celebration” in Baldwin Park. It was a wonderful community event that unites people from diverse backgrounds in celebration, culture and fun. Attendees had a great time seeing all the fantastic performances from our local organizations. Happy New Year of the Horse!
Capitol Updates
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I am not one who is easily surprised, but this month, I was awarded the 2026 “Legislative Leadership Award” from the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), for advancing water priorities in California. As a former member of the Valley County Water Board, I know firsthand how vital the planning of infrastructure, management and storage of water is especially in Southern California. Receiving this award was such a delight and a unique way to bridge my past experiences with my current ones. Thank you to ACWA for your acknowledgement and this generous award.
YMCA the Power of Y Reception
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Recently, the YMCA held a reception, “The Power of Y”, which allowed leaders across the state to gather, celebrate and uplift the mission of the YMCA. The YMCA is an integral part of communities across the country, advancing a sense of connection, health and leadership. I am deeply grateful for the role they play locally and nationally.
Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACC)
Legislator of the Year Award
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A few days ago, the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACC) awarded me as the Legislator of the Year. This award is so meaningful to me, especially as a product of the community college system (shoutout to East LA Community College). The time I spent there helped me learn discipline, grit and prepared me for the rest of my academic journey. I am so grateful for my time at a community college. I celebrate the faculty who encourage students to persevere and chase their academic dreams. Your work is invaluable, you show up for students from all walks of life and push them to excellence, no matter the circumstances. Thank you to the FACC for this award, but the recognition truly belongs to you!
Legislative Updates
The February 20th legislative deadline mentioned in the previous newsletter has come and gone. As a reminder, all bills were required to be introduced by February 20th. This means, the bill’s language had to be finalized and submitted, sponsored by a legislator, and accompanied by a letter formally requesting its introduction. My legislative team has spent many months connecting with stakeholders, constituents and doing research to develop our bill package. This year, we have 11 substantive bills, 3 spot bills and 2 resolutions. The substantive bills are what you will hear the most updates on, and the pieces of legislation we look to advance all the way to the finish line. Below is a list of the 11 substantive bills we will be working on for the rest of the legislative cycle:
- AB 1602: Foster Youth: Disaster Aid Assistance
- AB 1622: Electrified Security Fences
- AB 1773: Medi-Cal: Prerelease services for Inmates
- AB 1894: Fish and Wildlife: Aquatic Invasive Species: genus Caulerpa
- AB 1983: Continuing Care Retirement Communities: repayable contracts
- AB 2131: Hospitals: Seismic Standards
- AB 2226: Reusable Grocery Bags
- AB 2238: Mobile Home Residency Law: commencement of actions: notices
- AB 2429: Childcare: Mental Health Consultation Services
- AB 2439: Common Interest Developments: Assessments
- AB 839: California Environmental Quality Act: expedited judicial review: SAF
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School Breakfast Changes Lives, Celebrating the Most Important Meal of the Day
Happy National School Breakfast Week! From March 2-6, 2026, we are joining No Kid Hungry California in celebrating school breakfast and the school nutrition professionals preparing them.
By feeding kids a healthy school breakfast, schools are providing the foundation for kids to succeed. School breakfast is intertwined with student success. Studies show that kids who eat school breakfast are more likely to excel academically, be more alert, and have better concentration, memory and attendance and fewer behavior problems. School breakfast is a win for families too and can help lighten the load during busy weekday mornings.
School Breakfast Facts:
- Students with regular access to nutritious food tend to have significantly lower levels of behavioral, emotional and educational problems.
- Students who eat breakfast have significantly higher test scores in spelling, reading, and math.
- Providing students with breakfast in the classroom helps to reduce chronic absenteeism by 6%.
- Students who attend class more regularly are 20% more likely to graduate from high school.
- It’s free for all California students!
CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Project
The CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable (CF&V) EBT Pilot Project was restarted on November 17, 2025. Eligible CalFresh households will once again receive a dollar-for-dollar match up to $60/month when purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables at participating retailers and farmers’ markets. You can now start earning incentive dollars at any Mother's Nutritional Center. You can spend your nutrition incentive dollars that you have earned anywhere you can use your CalFresh EBT card. For more information please visit the Mother’s Nutritional Center website.
Medical Managed Care Information
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Changes to Medi-Cal are coming. Here are some helpful tips to ensure continuity of coverage:
- Keep your contact information current so you receive all notices and renewal forms.
- Check your mail regularly and respond immediately to any letters.
- Know your renewal date and complete renewals on time, even without reminders.
- Attend your medical appointments to maintain continuity of care.
- Visit DHCS Medi-Cal Changes and Medi-CalManagedCare.org for additional resources.
Drop: A Free and Fast Way for Californians to Protect Their Privacy
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Californians now have a simple, free way to protect their personal information with the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP), a new tool from CalPrivacy. Instead of tracking down hundreds of data brokers that collect and sell your data, you can visit one state website and send a single request directing all registered data brokers to delete your information and stop selling it.
Using DROP can help reduce spam and scams, limit tracking and unwanted ads, and shrink your digital footprint, all while keeping your information secure. Data brokers start processing requests August 1, 2026. Get started today: privacy.ca.gov/drop.
While we are proud to showcase our efforts which bring needed services to our communities -- the work does not stop here! Each month, we will be sharing additional information regarding upcoming legislation, community events, and highlighting local leaders in the 48th Assembly District. Be sure to check your inbox for the next newsletter. Want real time updates? Follow our social media platforms to get timely updates and all things about the #Fighting48th. See you then!