May Flowers & People Power: Budget, Bills, and Bus Trip Thrills 🚌

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As April showers bring May flowers, we welcome a busy stretch of our legislative year. Committee hearings are packed, priorities are taking shape, and we are advancing meaningful legislation focused on affordability, public safety, education, and opportunity for all Californians.

This month, our office is proud to continue moving key bills forward that reflect the needs and voices of our district, including SB 1246 on Autonomous Vehicle Emergency Response Standards, SB 1319 on Private Equity Transparency, SB 1250 on Preventing Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions, SB 1392 on Classic Cars (“Leno’s Law”), and more. Every proposal we carry is grounded in the experiences we hear from you, so please reach out to our District Office to make your voices heard! To stay up to date on my complete legislative package, see here.

Additionally, as we approach the Governor’s May Budget Revise this month, I encourage your civic engagement and urge you to and register for my 23^rd Annual Sacramento Bus Trip for Education – a completely FREE opportunity to hop on a bus from San Jose to Sacramento, engage directly with legislators at the State Capitol, watch session, and learn about the legislative process. The event will take place on Monday, May 18^th, 2025. Register HERE before May 4, at 11:59PM!

This month, we also honor the contributions of workers on May Day, and recognize Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day, among other celebrations. We also commemorate Memorial Day, paying tribute to the service members who gave their lives in defense of our country! May this month be another opportunity to come together in reflection and appreciation.

To stay updated with our work, look out for district initiatives on my website and check out the community events below! As always, if you need any help navigating state services, accessing emergency resources, or participating in local events this month, please don’t hesitate to call my District Office at (408) 723-4154 or send an email to Senator.Cortese@sen.ca.gov.

 

In Community,

Dave Cortese, Senator
California State Senate - District 15

 

IN THE DISTRICT & AT THE CAPITOL

 

As a Senator, one of my favorite things to do is to connect with young people who are interested and passionate about pursuing a public service career. I enjoyed welcoming students from both Bellarmine College Preparatory (my alma mater) and Presentation High School to my Capitol office and hearing from them directly about the legislative priorities rooted in social justice that they are passionate about. Their advocacy, thoughtfulness, and commitment to making a difference are a powerful reminder that the future of our communities is in good hands.

Check out more of my recent community involvement on my website’s Photo Gallery here!

 

MY WORK, IN THE NEWS

If you and/or your organization support any of the following bills, I urge you to submit an official Letter of Support here: California Legislature Position Letter Portal!

 

SB 1319: THE PRIVATE EQUITY SUNSHINE ACT

SB 1319 aims to increase transparency and accountability over how billions in public retirement funds are invested, enabling policymakers, workers, and taxpayers to better assess returns, risks, and the impacts of private equity-backed companies.

• The Wall Street Journal: California Lawmakers Advance Private-Equity Transparency Bill
• The Sacramento Bee: California unions push CalPERS to share data behind private equity investments

 

SB 1392: “JAY LENO’S LAW” - SMOG EXEMPTIONS FOR CLASSIC AND COLLECTIBLE VEHICLES

SB 1392 expands smog exemptions for certain collector cars used in parades, exhibitions, and charitable events.

• Auto Blog: Jay Leno Backs New Law to Exempt Classic Cars From Smog Checks
• Backfire News: Jay Leno Pushes Leno’s Law Again — Could California Finally Let Classic Cars Skip Smog Checks?
  • Repost by Yahoo! News: Jay Leno Pushes Leno’s Law Again — Could California Finally Let Classic Cars Skip Smog Checks?
• Car Buzz: Jay Leno's Classic Car Law Proposal Won't Go Down Without A Fight
• CediRates: Leno’s Law Returns With New Momentum for California Classic Car Owners
• CBT News: California’s war on classic cars just hit a wall– Thanks to Jay Leno
• Jalopnik: Jay Leno's Backing Another Bill To Exempt Classic Cars From Smog Checks

 

SB 1250: PREVENTING WILDLIFE-VEHICLE COLLISSIONS

SB 1250 makes wildlife connectivity a priority in state transportation planning, improving habitat access while strengthening coordination and public input in infrastructure decisions.

• Sierra Sun Times: California State Senator Dave Cortese Reports Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Prevention Senate Proposal Moves Forward, Aimed at Saving Lives (April 12^th)

 

SENATE RESOLUTION 93: RECOGNIZING JIM PLUNKETT

SR 93 recognizes former Mexican American Raiders quarterback and two times Super Bowl Winner, Jim Plunkett, for his recent induction into the NFL’s Hispanic Hall of Fame. It urges the NFL’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee to induct Mr. Plunkett into its Pro Football Hall of Fame for the Class of 2027.

• Stanford Cardinals: Plunkett Honored with California Senate Resolution
  • Repost by Sports Illustrated: Stanford Icon Jim Plunkett Honored at State Level with Senate Resolution
• Las Vegas Raiders: California State Senate honors Jim Plunkett

 

SB 1246: AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE REMOTE OPERATOR AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE STANDARDS

SB 1246l standardizes AV remote operations, improves communication with local first responders, and provides first responders with the resources and assistance they need to deal with stalled AVs on our roads.

• San Diego Tribune: California bill would require robotaxi companies to hire humans for emergencies
  • Repost by East Bay Times: California bill would require robotaxi companies to hire humans for emergencies
• New York Post (California Post): California bill aims to put more human operators on robotaxis like Waymo’s; company says proposal would be crippling

 

CHECK OUT OTHER NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

• ABC 10 News: Lawmakers seek to reform California's medical vaccine exemption framework
• San Francisco Chronicle: Rod Diridon Sr., ‘father of modern’ South Bay transit, dies at 87
• Lassen County Times: Caltrans to honor 195 fallen highway workers April 23 at River Walk Park in West Sacramento
• East Bay Times: State doles out $50 million more for homelessness in South Bay

Check out my full 2025 legislative package HERE!

 

FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS

MY 23^RD ANNUAL SACRAMENTO BUS TRIP FOR EDUCATION

 

Register for my 23rd Annual Sacramento Bus Trip for Education – a completely FREE opportunity to hop on a bus from San Jose to Sacramento, engage directly with legislators at the State Capitol, and learn about the state budget and legislative process!

The event will take place on Monday, May 18th, 2025. The exact pickup location will be communicated to registrants prior to the event. Register HERE before May 4, at 11:59PM! For any additional questions or concerns, please contact my District Representative, Meghan Bedi, atMeghan.Bedi@sen.ca.gov.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESOURCE FAIR

 

Join Roots Community Health, PATH, and other community partners as they come together to connect the community with resources that support housing stability, affordability, and access to essential services.

This will be a lively and informative evening with empowering speakers and tabling opportunities to meet and learn from leaders dedicated to bringing housing justice to the Silicon Valley! Join on May 8^th from 5:30PM-7:30PM at 1811 S. 7^th St. Suite D. For more information, see here: Affordable Housing Resource Fair! Tickets, Friday, May 8 • 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Eventbrite

EDENVALE GARDEN PARK VOLUNTEERING

 

Join SJ Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services on Mother's Day, May 10^th from 9:45AM-12:30PM, for a fun-filled day of volunteering at Edenvale Garden Park! They’re coming together to help beautify Edenvale Garden Park grounds and make a positive impact on our shared community spaces!

Choose clothing you will feel comfortable moving around in. Sun protection is a must! Your clothing choices matter for this event. For more information, see here: Edenvale Garden Park Mother's Day Volunteering in the Park Tickets, Sunday, May 10 • 9:45 AM - 12:30 PM | Eventbrite

CAMPBELL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOOGIE MUSIC FEST

 

The Annual Boogie Music Fest is coming to Downtown Campbell on May 16th & 17th. Featuring non-stop live entertainment all weekend long, a KidsZone, and numerous food vendors, this is a full-blown community celebration.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 16th 10am - 6pm and Sunday, May 17th 10am-5pm and join in Downtown Campbell for what promises to be the best Boogie ever. For more information, see here: Boogie Music Fest 2026 Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite.

SANTANA ROW MAKERS MARKET

 

The Makers Market™ Local Artist Street Fair returns to Santana Row for another gorgeous Spring day in the Bay Area. Celebrate community, creativity, and small business while you shop from local makers, creators, and artists. Bring Mom for a Mother's Day celebration she'll love, on May 9^th and 10^th from 11AM-6PM !Makers Market™ Local Artist Street Fair @ Santana Row, Mother's Day Weekend Tickets, Saturday, May 9-Sunday, May 10 • 11 AM-6 PM | Eventbrite

 

SANTA CLARA COUNTY CAREER & COMMUNITY RESOURCE EXPO

 

The County of Santa Clara has a diverse workforce of over 24,000 employees serving an equally diverse population of over 1.9 million residents.

Discover what it’s like to work at the County of Santa Clara and explore the exciting opportunities that could shape your future. Hear from speakers and learn more about the County’s mission, values, and career paths.

Attendees will be able to speak directly with department management, learn more about employment opportunities and benefits from human resources professionals, and connect with community services and programs. Join on May 7^th at 70 W. Hedding Street from 11AM – 2PM. For more information, see here: County of Santa Clara Spring 2026 Career & Community Resource Expo Tickets, Thursday, May 7 • 11 AM - 2 PM | Eventbrite.

 

SJSU GROWING TOGETHER COMMUNITY EVENT 

Join Growing Together, a free community event hosted by SJSU’s Healthy Development Community Clinic and the SJSU Human Rights Institute!

Join at Payne Avenue Friendship Park on May 1^st from 5-7PM to make tacos, eat paletas, learn Ballet Folklórico, and participate in other fun activities for the whole family! They will also have free hearing screenings! For more information, see here: Growing Together / Creciendo Juntos Tickets, Friday, May 1 • 5 PM - 7 PM | Eventbrite

 

SANTA CLARA COUNTY 2026 HARM REDUCTION SHOWCASE

 

Join the fifth annual Harm Reduction Showcase, co-hosted by the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department and valued community partners. This year’s theme, “Harm Reduction in Uncertain Times,” centers on a powerful truth: harm reduction remains constant in its core values of compassion, equity, and evidence.

As a platform for connection and learning, the Showcase will uplift proven strategies, strengthen collaboration, and inspire resilience across programs and individuals. Open to community organizations, healthcare providers, and county staff, this gathering reinforces that consistent, non-judgmental care is essential for sustaining lives and communities through ongoing challenges. Join on May 7^th from 10AM – 3PM at 110 W Tasman Dr Room 1060. For more information, see here:2026 Harm Reduction Showcase Tickets, Thursday, May 7 • 10 AM - 3 PM | Eventbrite.

 

FOLKLOREADA CELEBRATION

 

Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Mexican folklore at Folkloreada 2026, where traditions come to life!

Folkloreada returns for a vibrant celebration of Mexican culture through baile folklórico, music, and community. This special showcase brings together folklórico dance groups from across California, each representing traditional dances from different regions of México.

This family-friendly event welcomes audiences of all ages to come together, support the arts, and celebrate the richness of Mexican folklórico traditions. Join on May 17^th from 12PM – 6PM at the School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. For more information, see here: Folkloreada 2026 Tickets, Sunday, May 17 • 12 PM - 6 PM | Eventbrite.

 

TECHEX NORTH AMERICA 2026

 

TechEx North America 2026 is the ultimate exhibition and conference for industry leaders, visionaries, and tech enthusiasts.

Explore groundbreaking technologies from hundreds of exhibitors, including IBM, HP and Deloitte and gain insights from 250+ expert speakers sharing real-world experiences and industry-defining strategies.

Network with 8,000+ attendees, including CTOs, IT Directors, Developers, Startups, Investors, and Government Officials from diverse sectors such as finance, healthcare, retail, energy, real estate, and more. Join on May 18^th and 19^th at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. For more information, see here: TechEx North America 2026 Tickets, Monday, May 18-Tuesday, May 19 | Eventbrite.

 

3^rd ANNUAL SAN JOSE CINCO DE MAYO CULTURAL PARADE & FESTIVAL

 

The 3rd Annual San Jose Cinco de Mayo Celebration is happening on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 12-5PM, at Emma Prusch Park and King & Story in East Side San Jose! Start the day with a parade in the morning at Alum Rock & King, followed by a cultural celebration at King & Story, filled with live performances, traditional dances, lowriders, and much more to celebrate! For more information, see here:3rd Annual San Jose Cinco de Mayo Cultural Parade & Festival | Visit San Jose.

LINCOLN LAW SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

 

Thinking about law school? Join me on April 30^th from 6-8PM at 384 S. 2^nd Street for an evening at Lincoln Law School of San Jose. This Open House and MCLE Program will include remarks by me and Assemblymember Kalra, as well as the premiere of “A Day in the Life of a Lincoln Student” by Emmy Award–winning videographer Peter Nissen. RSVP here for the Open House and MCLE Program at Lincoln Law School of San Jose!

SANTA CLARA FAMILY HEALTH PLAN DIABETES CARE EVENT

 

On May 20^th, join Santa Clara Family Health Plan’s South County Resource Center for a Diabetes Care Conversation at 150 Leavesley Road, Gilroy CA 95020 from 11AM-12PM to learn how to monitor your health, make lifestyle changes, and explore other SCFHP offerings. Together, build a strong foundation for your diabetes care.

For more information and to register for the event, see here: 05.20.2026 Diabetes: Small Change, Big Difference - Spanish | Santa Clara Family Health Plan

 

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

 

To get all state and local resources, from health insurance to building permits, click here: Resources | Senator Dave Cortese.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions‚ comments‚ or concerns. I can be reached at senator.cortese@sen.ca.govor by calling (408) 723-4154.

 

IMPORTANT UPDATES & RESOURCES

SUBMIT YOUR WORK TO THE 2026 EARTH DAY YOUTH ART CONTEST

This year, young artists may enter their creations for the Santa Clara County Parks Earth Day Youth Art Contest in these categories:

1. Illustrate the beauty of native wildflower displays and their pollinators
2. Illustrate how you celebrate Earth Day

Artwork will be featured on County Parks social media and parkhere.org, and every participant will receive a small thank you gift. In addition, one grand prize winner and finalists from each age group will receive a special prize. Winning artwork will be displayed at a special reception at Martial Cottle Park on June 13.

The deadline to submit your child's artwork is extended to Friday, May 22, 2026. Visit the submission page here!

 

APPLY TO SILICON VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY COMMUNITY GRANTS!

SVCE has launched its newest round of grant funding, the Community Grants Program. The grant program will provide a total of $3.2 million in capital funding for schools and community organizations in the SVCE service territory to support building electrification, transportation electrification, and energy resilience projects. SVCE will offer opt-in technical assistance to address financial and capacity-related barriers, and to make the transition to all-electric more affordable and feasible for mission-driven organizations. No matching contribution is required.

You can access the grant application here (on the SVCE solicitations page). The Application Submittal Deadline is July 22^nd.

 

 

ATTEND AN UPCOMING COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS TRAINING

Learn the skills needed to help yourself and others during a disaster. The CERT training promotes basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.

Upcoming classes are listed below. Each class consists of the following:

• A Zoom session on a Friday from 6pm - 10pm
• An in-person classroom session the following Saturday from 8am - 5pm.
• An in-person skills day the next Saturday from 8am - 5pm.

More details, including information about self-paced online education, is available here: https://sjncert.org/basic-cert-training/.

 

 

APPLY FOR THE CALASSIST MORTGAGE FUND

The state's CalAssist Mortgage Fund provides much-needed relief from mortgage payments for families whose homes are destroyed or severely damaged to the point they have been deemed uninhabitable as the result of a qualified disaster. Eligible homeowners can qualify for 3 months of mortgage payments, up to a maximum of $20,000. Funds never have to be repaid and it’s free to apply. Learn more about the program and apply here.

 

CALIFORNIA’S CALRX® INSULIN IS AVAILABLE TO CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS!

Following the Governor’s Executive Order N-01-19 and Senate Bill 852 (Chapter 207, Statutes of 2020), we are pleased to announce that CalRx^® Insulin Glargine pens are now available to Californians at a maximum recommended price of $55 per five-pack of pens. This milestone significantly expands access to this lifesaving insulin medication at an affordable price, supporting efforts to combat diabetes across California. This CalRx^® insulin product is interchangeable with Lantus^® and will be available to any pharmacy in the state. You can find more information about the Insulin Initiative here.

 

STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE’S SAVINGS PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS

The State Treasurer’s Office's Savings Programs for Individuals (SP4I) offer free tools to build financial security across life stages. These are free, life-changing resources, and many families are unaware they are eligible and have free money waiting for them. Check out the following programs:

• CalKIDS: Savings account with funds for public school students and newborns - over two billion dollars available today!
• CalSavers: Retirement accounts for workers without employer plans
  • For employers with 1-4 employees, be sure to register by December 31^st, 2025!
• CalABLE: Tax-free savings for people with disabilities

 

JOIN THE CALIFORNIA SERVICE CORPS

Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-Serve) Director Josh Fryday announced California is seeking people to join the California Service Corps. California Service Corps programs offer participants meaningful work experience while making a real impact in their communities — while reducing the burden of college debt.

The California Service Corps is the largest service force in the nation, consisting of four paid service programs: #CaliforniansForAll College Corps, California Climate Action Corps, Youth Service Corps, and AmeriCorps California.

Learn more and join at http://www.CAServiceCorps.com. *Please note that recent federal funding cuts to this program may limit capacity.