Central Coast Legislative Caucus’ Bill Package
The California Legislative Central Coast Caucus, co-chaired by Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) and Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) and vice chaired by Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), unveiled its bill priorities for the 2025 legislative session.
“From protecting our coasts from offshore drilling to protecting our homes from wildfires, this year’s package aims to not just defend the residents of the Central Coast, but also people all over the state of California,” said Addis in a news release. “This year’s package takes a holistic view of the natural disaster landscape through bills that address the root cause of these disasters, climate change, while also making our environments and homes more resilient to storms, wildfires, and other natural disasters.”
The legislative package is poised to address critical issues facing the region and include the following and more:
AB 1243 (Addis) requires fossil fuel polluters to pay their fair share of the damage caused by fossil fuel emissions to relieve a portion of the burden borne by current and future California taxpayers.
AB 1143 (Bennett) requires the State Fire Marshal to create a holistic home hardening certification program that incorporates home hardening techniques, materials, and defensible space to reduce wildfire losses.
AB 14 (Hart) creates the California Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program, a voluntary vessel speed reduction program to incentivize ocean-going vessels to reduce their speed.
AB 1448 (Hart) prohibits changes to oil leases that would increase the amount of oil transported through state waters, protecting our coast from additional oil infrastructure.
AB 452 (Irwin) allows local governments to identify conservation measures to protect and restore the ecosystems and natural resources surrounding surf breaks.
AB 996 (Pellerin) establishes a process for local governments to seek consultation from the California Coastal Commission on sea level rise planning and establishes the California Coastal Planning Fund to help local governments adequately plan for the protection of coastal resources and public accessibility to the coastline.
Further updates on the progress of these bills are anticipated as they move through the legislative process in the State Assembly and State Senate.
Cal Poly Partners Plaza Recognized
Cal Poly Partners Plaza — the 14,200-square-foot hospitality area at the university’s Alex G. Spanos Stadium — received two awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers San Luis Obispo Branch.
The three-tiered pavilion on the north end of the stadium received the ASCE branch’s Outstanding Community Improvement Project award for its significant enhancements to the community and was honored as the Outstanding Urban or Land Development Project for providing value and benefit.
Cal Poly Partners — the university’s nonprofit auxiliary — worked with Wallace Group on the civil engineering, Maino Construction and Ten Over Studio, all based in San Luis Obispo, to transform the formerly unused and restricted space into a vibrant, multilevel plaza featuring concessions, a turf play and picnic area, and landscaped pathways.
The walkways provide Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant access to all levels of the plaza and includes new ADA parking spaces on California Boulevard adjacent to the site.
Moreover, the plaza provides a significant upgrade to stadium concession offerings. All game attendees have access to two different culinary and beverage venues and a standalone drink concession. The large picnic area, available to game attendees, also provides space to run around, a popular feature for young Mustang athletics fans.
During the academic year, the food, seating and picnic areas are open Monday through Thursday as another place for Cal Poly community members to gather and eat on the west side of campus.
With exclusive, private hospitality spaces, customizable catering and beverage service, Cal Poly Partners Plaza offers a turnkey VIP experience for company picnics and employee or corporate events.
League of Women Voter’s Blocks Part of Executive Order
A federal court judge has issued a ruling in League of Women Voters et. al. v. Trump et. al., temporarily blocking the US Election Assistance Commission (EAC) from implementing a provision in the President’s executive order adding a requirement to show a passport or similar document proving citizenship when registering to vote via the federal form. While the case proceeds, this injunction preserves the status quo where would-be-voters already affirm under penalty of perjury that they are US citizens on the federal form.
“The League of Women Voters is heartened by this ruling, which is a major victory for voters across the country,” said Marcia Johnson, chief counsel of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “While the fight is far from over, we’re glad the court agreed that a president cannot ‘short-circuit’ Congress and unilaterally use an illegal executive order to obliterate the rights of millions of voters. Broadly, this executive order and the SAVE Act try to make it more difficult for American voters, particularly women voters, to participate in our elections — but the League hasn’t and will not back down. The League of Women Voters will continue to fight to defend our democracy from those who seek to restrict it.”
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