Here Comes the Sun: Budding Bills & Hometown Highlights

Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

As we welcome the warmth of June, I am excited to share some bright news from the Capitol and Senate District 15. This legislative session has been a busy one, and I am proud to report that several of my bills are moving forward, bringing us closer to meaningful progress in our communities. With the second highest number of bills authored in the State Senate, I’m proud to share that every one of my bills has successfully passed all policy committees in the Senate. I’m grateful for the support and collaboration that helped make this possible. Learn more about my complete 2025-2026 legislative package here!

From affordable housing and education equity, to a first-in-the-nation catastrophic wildfire model and cleaner streets, these efforts reflect my ongoing commitment to building a stronger, safer, and more vibrant California. I am deeply grateful for the support of my colleagues in the State Legislature and most importantly, for the voices of everyone here in our District, whose concerns and ideas drive this work. 

My 22nd Annual Sacramento Bus Trip for Education this past month was an extraordinary advocacy effort with over 230 community members, teachers, parents, students, and educational stakeholders in Senate District 15 who all came together to support public education as a state budget priority. Thank you to all who attended, stayed engaged, and became a vital part of this journey. 

For more ways to engage in our community, please take a look at the events below and be sure to stay up to date with all the new legislation and district initiatives that my office is coordinating this month. As the days get longer, let’s continue to stay involved and make our voices heard! 

With Gratitude,

Dave Cortese, Senator
California Senate District 15

 

Here In District 15

 

PLANTING WITH MASTER GARDENERS

Senator Dave Cortese pictured with four UC Master Gardeners and volunteers

With Spring in full bloom, thousands of people lined up to attend the Spring Garden Fair and plant sale fundraiser with the UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. I really enjoy going to this gardening event every year. It’s a perfect time to get the plants you need and support Master Gardeners at the same time!

 

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MARCHING FOR WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Hundreds of May Day marchers in downtown San Jose rallied for workers’ rights and better working conditions. These May Day rallies around the state of California and nation focused on supporting the rights of workers and the principles that make a fair and equal society. 

 

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SPEAKING TO THE GILROY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

I had a great conversation with the City of Gilroy Chamber of Commerce members joining Representative Zoe Lofgren, Mayor Greg Bozzo, and others.  I spoke against cuts to Medi-Cal, fire resilience & safety, and transportation projects such as Highway 152 and 25. I shared with members about how I’m convening County health officials from Los Angeles to the Bay Area, including those in Santa Clara County, and hospital system leaders to develop a unified strategy to safeguard funding, ensure continuity of care, and mitigate the impact of state and federal budget decisions around healthcare.

 

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PLAYING BALL!

Kids from the 15th Senate District had the opportunity to attend the San Jose Giants & Major League Baseball “Play Ball” Baseball Day at San Jose Municipal “Excite” Stadium, sponsored by my office. I had fun teaching a couple of kids how to catch & throw!

 

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TABLING WITH EVERGREEN VALLEY COLLEGE

The Evergreen Valley College Community Day was a big success. It was such a fun day for families, including pop-up booths with the San Jose Sharks, the San Jose Earthquakes, and more. 

 

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CELEBRATING A FIRESAFE COMMUNITY

The Villages Golf and Country Club is the first “Firesafe” Community in San Jose recognized by Firewise USA for being prepared for a natural disaster. I presented The Villages with a certificate of recognition by the State Senate acknowledging this high achievement and our previous partnership to help make this happen!

 

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IMMERSING IN NONPROFIT WORK

My staff attended a community fundraiser, hosted by the nonprofit Juma Ventures for a very worthy cause. Juma Ventures is an organization that works to help youth escape poverty through job training, educational resources, and career advancement opportunities. The nonprofit serves youth in San Francisco and has now expanded into San Jose.

 

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COMMENDING HUMANITARIAN WORK

My office commended Don Orozco and church members at Iglesia Ni Cristo for their Care for Humanity event. They gave away care packages, held blood drives, and more.

 

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CELEBRATING SCHOLARSHIPS WITH LIUNA LABORERS

The LiUNA Laborers Local 270 hosted an exciting awards ceremony for scholarship winners! The scholarship supports students pursuing higher education, often the first in their families to do so. 

 

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RECYCLING WITH THE LION’S CLUB

The Lion’s Club, in conjunction with the Vista Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, held their community service recycling event in San Jose with great success. I’m a proud member of the Japantown Lions! The event included a celebration of the one millionth eyeglass to be recycled at Vista Center. The glasses are distributed worldwide.

 

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COMMENDING HERITAGE AND HISTORY

The Palestinian Cultural Day and flag raising ceremony at the County Government Building has honored our local Palestinian community and their history, heritage, and contributions to Santa Clara County’s civic life, as well as the historical and cultural contributions of Palestinians throughout the world for 24 years. I was proud to be a part of it again this year. 

 

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SERVING WITH PARENTS HELPING PARENTS

“Transforming Uncertainty into Hope” was the theme of the annual Parents Helping Parents (PHP) fundraiser and gala. Pattie and I always enjoy attending this event because the non-profit provides support, information, and training for families raising loved ones with any disability or diagnosis. PHP offers a wide range of services, including 1:1 guidance, webinars, online learning, resource directories and support groups typically at no charge. I serve on PHP’s Executive Leadership Council.

 

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In Our State Capitol

 

MY 22ND ANNUAL SACRAMENTO BUS TRIP FOR EDUCATION

Image Description: Senator Cortese speaking to audience, next to Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire

My 22nd Annual Sacramento Bus Trip for education this month was a big hit! Four buses and several cars carried 230 people from San Jose to the state’s Capitol to voice their questions and concerns about the state of education and to urge California lawmakers to prioritize supporting public education in 2025. The Sacramento Bus Trip for Education comes on the heels of the release of the Governor’s May Budget Revision that balanced a $12-billion dollar budget deficit but proposed some cuts and freezes in education. 

Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and I delivered opening remarks. I was thrilled to see so many community members, parents, students, and educational stakeholders show up to make their voices heard. 

 

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HONORING MOTHERS AND MILK DONORS

I joined the Mothers’ Milk Bank of California on the floor of the Senate to present my resolution co-authored by Senator Weber Pierson, SR 20, declaring May as California Human Milk Donation Month. This is in honor of the dedicated efforts of human-milk donors, milk banks, health care providers, and advocates who work tirelessly to ensure that all infants have access to life-sustaining breast milk.

Nonprofit milk banks serve these needs, address disparities in access and education, and ensure there are safe processes for those donating and receiving donor breast milk. There are only two non-profit milk banks in California: Mothers’ Milk Bank California in Santa Clara County and UC Health Milk Bank at UC San Diego.
 

 

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ADVOCATING FOR REHABILITATION AND REDUCED RECIDIVISM

Israel Garcia, Managing Director of Defy Ventures, testified in support of my bill SB 551: Principals of Incarceration to Reduce Recidivism.  He told members of the California Senate Public Safety Committee that it will improve the livelihood of correctional staff, promote rehabilitation, and reduce recidivism.

 

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EXPANDING EDUCATION

The Silicon Valley Chapter of the NCBW stopped by my Sacramento Senate office to support my bill, SB 550. It would integrate the first state accredited public law school in the California State University system into San Jose State University. SB 550 enables the development of an affordable public law school to serve the heart of Silicon Valley and diversifies California’s legal pipeline.

 

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CONVENING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS

The 2025 Lion’s Club Convention was held in Sacramento. The Lion’s Club is the world’s largest service organization spanning communities in my district from the South Bay all the way to the Central Coast. The organization has supported our youth, cared for the environment, assisted the visually impaired, and provided disaster relief when it is needed. My Office joined this Convention to present our local Lion’s Club District a Senate Certificate of Commendation.

 

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COMMEMORATING BLACK APRIL

This past April marked the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and South Vietnam, a day which is known as Black April. Events to commemorate this period in history were held all over the state of California, including a bus trip I co-sponsored from San Jose to Sacramento with Assemblymember Ash Kalra and Assemblymember Tri Tran of Orange County. 

As many as 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese civilians and nearly 60,000 American soldiers died during the Vietnamese War. For the first-time, the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag was flown across the street from the Capitol in Sacramento. It was a powerful message to future generations that the thousands who sacrificed their lives so they could have the opportunity of freedom will never be forgotten.

 

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MEETING WITH CALIFORNIA REALTORS

The California Association of Realtors recently held their Legislative Day. I spoke to a full house in the Sacramento Sheraton ballroom and answered questions about key legislation. I let them know how grateful we are for Realtors who devote their careers to placing families in safe communities.

 

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CLEARING THE WAY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

On a bipartisan, unanimous vote, the California Senate Judiciary Committee passed my bill, SB 750. This bill is a first-of-its-kind housing finance solution that will fast-track the construction of thousands of affordable homes needed throughout California without burdening taxpayers. With federal cuts to HUD and various housing programs, now more than ever, the state needs to use every tool it has to produce housing.

 

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SPEAKING WITH THE SUPPLY CHAIN FEDERATION

The Supply Chain Federation hosted a robust panel discussion on investing in and supporting the resiliency of California’s supply chain, from our ports to our transportation network. As Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, I heard from an interesting mix of perspectives. Tariffs are a huge concern for our ports I was joined on the panel by CalSTA’s Deputy Secretary of Freight Policy Christine Casey and State Deputy Treasurer Khaim Morton.

 

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REVIEWING THE STATE BUDGET

With the recent release of Governor Newsom’s May Budget Revise, I was motivated to speak out. I released the following statement: “The cost of the January wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area combined with deep, unacceptable federal cuts to medical care for California’s elderly, poor and undocumented residents and an economic upheaval caused by federal tariffs are no doubt contributing to our state’s increasing deficit. Still California must take a sober look at its own spending that contributed to the increasing deficit while maintaining our priorities for educating our children, protecting the vulnerable, and keeping the public safe. We must tightly manage our state’s resources to mitigate some of the federal cuts.” Read the full statement here.

 

 

My Bills, In the News

 

SENATE BILL 743: THE EDUCATION EQUALIZATION ACT

SB 743 addresses long-standing funding disparities between California’s public schools by creating the Education Equalization Account. This new fund would provide additional support to school districts that receive less local property tax revenue and not take away any funding from other districts, helping equalize per-pupil funding across the state. Check out these articles to learn more:
 

• NBC Bay Area: Proposed California bill aims to bridge gap in school funding The Mercury News: California bill aims to make school funding more equitable
• Vanguard News Group: San Jose Education Leaders Unite Behind Cortese’s Plan to Fix Inequities in School Funding
• San Jose Spotlight: Silicon Valley lawmaker wants to reduce school funding inequity
• CalMatters: Wide school disparities persist 54 years after California’s landmark funding decision

 

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SENATE BILL 602: EXPANDING ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE

SB 602 will make veterinary care more accessible by expanding access to low-cost veterinary care and reducing barriers for underserved pet owners and shelter animals. A public health measure, this bill will enhance disease control efforts by ensuring more pets are protected from common diseases in a timely manner. Sponsors of this bill include the California Veterinary Medical Association, the SF Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the San Diego Humane Society. Check out these articles to learn more:

• Sierra Sun Times: California State Senator Dave Cortese’s Bill to Expand Health Services for Animals in Shelters Clears First Legislative Committee

 

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SENATE BILL 753: ABANDONED SHOPPING CART RECOVERY

SB 753 modernizes state law to allow cities and counties to immediately recover and return abandoned shopping carts, eliminating blight. This bill is sponsored by the City of San Jose and Mayor Matt Mahan. Check out these articles to learn more:

• ABC7 News: San Jose rolls out stricter abandoned shopping cart rules for large retailers

• East Bay Times: San Jose approves stricter rules to combat abandoned shopping cart epidemic

• San Jose Spotlight: San Jose tightens abandoned shopping cart policies

 

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SENATE BILL 33: CALSOAR GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM

SB 33 establishes the California SOAR (Success, Opportunity, and Academic Resilience) Guaranteed Income Program, providing $1,000 in direct cash assistance monthly to twelfth-grade students experiencing homelessness for their first four months out of school. Check out this article to learn more:

• NewsNation: Democrats support bills guaranteeing cash for low-income

 

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SENATE BILL 429: THE NATION’S FIRST PUBLIC WILDFIRE MODEL

SB 429 establishes a first-in-the-nation Wildfire Catastrophe Public Model to assess wildfire risk, inform insurance rates, and educate the public. This bill will ensure transparency to help homeowners understand if they’re getting a fair deal on insurance. This bill will also improve wildfire preparedness and response through better data and planning tools. Check out these articles to learn more:

•  Sierra Sun Times: California State Senator Dave Cortese’s Bill to Establish the Nation’s First Catastrophic Model for Wildfires Moves Forward 

• LAist: California chases the nation’s first-ever public catastrophe model for wildfires

 

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SENATE BILL 550: EXPANDING ACCESS TO LEGAL EDUCATION IN SAN JOSE

California has nearly half a million CSU students—but no public law school in the CSU system. SB 550 changes that by authorizing the incorporation of a state-accredited, law school into San José State University. This would create the first public law school in San Jose and Santa Clara County, expanding affordable legal education and opening new pathways to legal careers—especially for working adults and underrepresented students in Silicon Valley and across the state. Check out these articles to learn more:

•  ABC 7: Could San Jose State get a law school? CA bill aims to make it happen

• San Jose Spotlight: State senator pushes bill for San Jose State law school

• Local News Matters: Silicon Valley lawmaker pushes to open CSU’s first public law school at San Jose State

 

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CHECK OUT OTHER NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

SB 750 establishes the California Housing Finance and Credit Act (CAHFCA), a state-backed credit enhancement program administered by the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA). By guaranteeing loans and wrapping municipal bonds, CAHFCA reduces financing risks for housing developers and accelerates the construction of multifamily housing at all income levels. There is no cost to the state’s General Fund, as fees cover program administration. Check out this article to learn more:

• KCRA 3: California Gov. Newsom announces $12 billion budget deficit

• OC Independent: OC Lawmakers Mark 50th Anniversary of Fall of Saigon To Communist North Vietnam

• The Mercury News: Santa Clara County Office of Education workers decry ‘DOGE-like’ layoffs impacting special ed, Head Start

• Mothers’ Milk Bank California: Senator Dave Cortese and Mothers’ Milk Bank California Announce Senate Resolution 20 Designating May as First-Ever California Human Milk Donation Month

• Los Angeles Daily News: California legislators form a new group to prepare for Olympics and World Cup. Here’s what they have planned

• Street Insider: Two Dozen State Legislators join National Guaranteed Income Coalition

  • I am thrilled to join and launch Legislators for a Guaranteed Income! The coalition is 23 legislators strong - across 17 states! Read more above!

Check out my full 2025 legislative package HERE!

 

Free Community Events

 

TECHEX NORTH AMERICA 2025

Join TechEx North America at the Santa Clara Convention Center, CA on June 4-5, 2025 for this renowned tech event. Get ready to immerse yourself in the latest innovations, connect with industry experts, and explore cutting-edge technologies. Enterprise technology is evolving at lightning speed. At TechEx North America, senior IT leaders and decision-makers will converge to discover the latest tech trends reshaping the future of enterprise IT. Get your free pass and more information here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/techex-north-america-2025-tickets-964859529827?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1  

 

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SUPPLY BANK VOLUNTEER EVENT

SupplyBank.org will assemble school supply kits for low-income kids across Santa Clara and across the region, and they need your help to support the community. Volunteer with them on June 8th, from 9AM-4PM at the Santa Clara Convention Center to support quality education in our community. See more information here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/supplybankorg-santa-clara-volunteer-event-school-supply-kit-assembly-registration-1247548674669?aff=ebdssbdestsearch 

 

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FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND CAR SHOW

Join a fun-filled day celebrating dads and their love for cars at the 2025 Father’s Day Car Show on June 14th from 9AM-1PM at Venture Christian Church! Whether you're a car enthusiast or just looking for a cool way to spend Father's Day, this event is perfect for all ages. This family event is an opportunity to support local vendors and immerse in community. See more information here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fathers-day-car-show-tickets-1337179924149…;
 

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ROOTS COMMUNITY HEALTH FAMILY DAY

Step into a day of joy, connection, and empowerment at Roots Community Health: Roots Family Day—a vibrant celebration designed to uplift every member of our community. Dive into spirited conversations on Black wellness, move your body in energizing fitness sessions, and savor nourishing bites during a live culinary experience led by a Black dietitian and executive chef. With playful moments for the little ones, soulful games, and immersive offerings from our Family First, Doula, and Women of Wellness (WoW) programs, this is a whole-hearted experience you won’t want to miss. See more information here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/roots-community-health-roots-family-day-tickets-1320122555099?aff=ebdssbdestsearch 
 

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AAi BLOOD DRIVE

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, so join a small interfaith team at Abrahamic Alliance International to volunteer and assist Red Cross staff to check-in donors upon arrival, sterilize chairs and tables in donor waiting area, refill canteen tables for donors post-donation, and ensure donors are feeling well before departure. No experience necessary! American Red Cross staff will train you to accomplish these tasks easily and safely, providing everything you need. Sign up for a shift on June 4th, from 10:30AM-5:30PM at Lincoln Glen Church. See more info here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aai-blood-drive-registration-1312402293589?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. 

 

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COMMUNITY SAFETY FAIR

Join this Community Safety Fair on June 7th from 10AM-12PM at Washington Park. Explore hands-on activities, gain real-life safety tips, and meet local heroes from Sunnyvale’s public safety department. See more information here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-safety-fair-tickets-1318109985449?aff=ebdssbdestsearch 

 

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ROOTS COMMUNITY HEALTH FATHER’S DAY EVENT

Join Roots Community Health in partnership with Role of Men for Fathers: Grill, Chill, and Build Together! This event brings fathers together to celebrate fatherhood, share wisdom, and fire up the grill. It’s all about good food, great vibes, and real conversations on the joys and challenges of being a dad. Join on June 28th from 12PM-2:30PM at Emma Prusch Farm Park. See more information here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fathers-grill-chill-and-build-together-tickets-1302537357299?aff=ebdssbdestsearch 

 

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THIRD FRIDAY ART WALK

Join 6th Street Studios & Art Center the 3rd Friday of every month from 5 to 8 PM to discover new artists, explore Downtown Gilroy, and see performers and more on the streets of Gilroy’s charming downtown. Be sure to join this month on Friday, June 20th. For more information and to reserve a spot, see here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/third-friday-art-walk-tickets-1310630524179?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. 

 

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CHECK OUT OTHER FREE EVENTS IN DISTRICT 15: 

• Free San Jose, CA Events | Eventbrite
• Free Gilroy, CA Events | Eventbrite
• Free Morgan Hill, CA Events | Eventbrite