Pushing for Prop 36 Funding, Other News from Sen. Blakespear

Greetings!

We’re back in legislative session‚ and off to a fast start in 2026! I have lots of updates for you‚ but first I want to start with the Governor’s proposed budget for 2026-27‚ which was unveiled last week. 

Overall‚ the Governor’s proposal reflects a cautious and responsible posture in a time of economic uncertainty. With revenue projections fluctuating and future costs on the horizon‚ this budget prioritizes stability and protects core services Californians rely upon. However‚ it needs some additional negotiations to address the $3 billion deficit the Department of Finance is projecting.

I support the Governor’s approach. He is prudent to hold to the state’s baseline commitments without proposing any significant non-mandated new spending. 

I especially appreciate the strong support for education‚ an essential investment in creating a bright future for California. Per-pupil spending will be pushed to a record high – $27‚418 – and key initiatives are being funded for after-school programs and school meals.

This slide from the Department of Finance’s presentation on the budget summarizes progress on education initiatives. Watch the presentation here. 

I have concerns‚ though‚ with the lack of funding to support Proposition 36‚ the 2024 voter-approved measure cracking down on retail crime that mandates drug and alcohol treatment for those who need it. The budget suggests that $52 million in state savings from Proposition 47 could be used for this‚ but I know in talking with local agencies that is far short of what is needed. 

I am also concerned about the elimination of funding for the largest cities to use for addressing homelessness. We can’t cut their homelessness funding and expect homelessness numbers to go down. I will be advocating to add more to the budget for the state’s Homeless Housing‚ Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program. 

There is a lot to review‚ digest and decide on in a $348.9 billion spending plan. The Legislature will spend the next four months digging into the details‚ and I will be part of that‚ as a member of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and Budget Subcommittee #2. 

In May‚ once the state receives tax revenues for 2025‚ the Governor will revise his proposal. The Legislature is required to approve a final budget for the year beginning July 1 by June 15. 

You can go to the Department of Finance website to learn more about the Governor’s proposed budget. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) differs with the Governor on revenue projections‚ and you can read LAO’s take on the proposed budget here.

I aim to be as transparent as possible‚ as your elected representative. In addition to my newsletter‚ I produce an annual report each year summarizing my work. You can read the 2025 Annual Report here‚ watch my 3-minute Year in Review video here‚ and read annual reports from previous years on my website. Contact me at the email address below if you’d like a printed one and I’ll mail one to you!

I am committed to serving‚ and I welcome your feedback and input!

On a recent Saturday‚ I welcomed shoppers to Seaside Market in Cardiff and offered them reusable canvas bags to use. 

Effective Jan. 1‚ grocery stores can no longer offer plastic bags at checkout counters. That’s thanks to my SB 1053‚ which was co-authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in 2024. It closes a loophole in California’s ban of single-use plastic bags that was first passed by the Legislature in 2014 and then reaffirmed by the state’s voters in 2016. 

Under the new law‚ grocery stores may offer recycled paper bags at checkout or consumers can use their own bags to carry out their purchases. The law does not prohibit the sale of any type of bag‚ rather it simply provides that only paper bags can be available at the point of sale. 

The new law helps reduce the immense plastic waste created by California that is polluting the ocean and environment‚ killing wildlife and endangering public health. This will eliminate millions of plastic bags from our waste stream‚ and using paper bags‚ when shoppers don’t have a reusable one‚ is a more renewable and recyclable resource that doesn’t require drilling for oil in its creation‚ as plastic bags do.

The original law allowed stores to provide consumers with thicker plastic bags at checkout provided they were recyclable and reusable‚ but the reality was that the thicker bags were not being recycled – no places in California would do it – and they were seldom reused. 

As a consequence‚ the amount of grocery and merchandise bags disposed by Californians grew from 157‚385 tons of plastic bags - the year California voters passed the bag ban - to 231‚072 tons by 2021 – a 47% increase. This is detailed in CalPIRG’s “Plastic Bag Bans Work” report‚ issued in January 2024. The table below‚ from the report‚ is based on data from CalRecycle.

A plastic bag has an average lifespan of 12 minutes and then it is discarded‚ afflicting the environment with toxic microplastics that fester in oceans and landfills for up to 1‚000 years.

MEDIA COVERAGE
The Coast News: State ban on plastic grocery bags takes effect
CBS 8 San Diego: California law banning plastic bags at grocery stores takes effect
Sacramento Bee: Here’s what to know about new law banning plastic bags

On the NBC 7 set with Joey Safchik. 

I recently joined Joey Safchik‚ the host of NBC 7 San Diego’s “Politically Speaking” weekend public affairs show‚ to talk about what I worked on in 2025‚ what I’m expecting in 2026 and what we need to do to reduce homelessness. You can read the transcript or watch the show here.

I presented SB 99 to the Senate Judiciary Committee with Kelli May Douglas (on the right)‚ from the U.S. Department of Defense. 

My Senate district includes the U.S. Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton‚ one of the largest bases in North America‚ with about 42‚000 active-duty military personnel. San Diego County‚ with an estimated 115‚000 active-duty military personnel‚ has the largest concentration of military members of any county in the nation. 

Many members of the military and their families live off base‚ and I want to make sure they get the support they need. That’s why I have authored legislation to improve coordination among military and civil authorities to protect against interpersonal violence. 

SB 99 would require law enforcement officers to notify military authorities if they believe a military protective order (MPO) – the equivalent version of a restraining order issued by a civil court for domestic violence – has been violated off base. It also would allow MPOs to be used as evidence in court. 

There are distinct differences between MPOs and restraining orders issued by civil courts for domestic violence. MPOs are issued directly by a base commander‚ whose primary concern is maintaining mission readiness and safety for its members and families‚ including interpersonal violence. 

This bill was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. 

SB 99 this week passed the Senate Public Safety and Judiciary committees‚ and goes next to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.

I was appalled by a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on California’s law banning open carry of firearms in counties with more than 200‚000 residents‚ handed down on Jan. 2.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is appealing this decision‚ and I remain hopeful that it will be overturned. 

We must do everything possible to reduce gun violence. California has some of the toughest gun laws in the nation‚ and that’s why we have significantly lower gun violence in our state than in others. 

I am happy I have helped play a role by passing legislation to keep guns out of the hands of people experiencing mental health crises and to prevent parts from firearms turned in to gun-buyback programs from being sold off. I continue to advocate for strong gun laws and doing everything possible to reduce the risk of gun violence in our schools and communities.

Cindy Wright

For December‚ I recognized Cindy Wright as the Senate District 38 Community Champion of the Month. For more than 36 years‚ Cindy has advocated for seniors and mature adults as Minister of Care and Mature Adults and has served as the Director of the Mature Adult Center at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church. 

In this role‚ she ensures that older adults are not only cared for‚ but deeply valued‚ included and supported‚ impacting those far beyond the church walls. Cindy’s ministry is personal‚ hands-on and tireless. She gives rides‚ delivers meals‚ visits homebound individuals‚ provides comfort in times of illness and loss‚ and walks faithfully alongside people through some of the toughest moments of their lives. 

At the Mature Adult Center‚ Cindy has created a welcoming space where seniors experience belonging‚ purpose and joy. The center offers educational programs‚ discussion groups‚ classes‚ games‚ entertainment and a weekly lunch. Under Cindy’s leadership‚ it has grown into a trusted hub of connection and community throughout the region.

Thank you for all you do Cindy! I am thrilled to honor you for your compassion‚ dedication and impactful work.

On Monday (Jan. 19)‚ we will celebrate the birthday of legendary civil rights leader and activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.‚ who used peaceful means to advance social justice across the country. Dr. King is a towering figure in American history‚ an inspiration to everyone working to overcome injustice and make the world a better and more equitable place. 

I marvel at Dr. King’s grace and wisdom‚ and I encourage you to watch his famous “I Have A Dream” speech or read his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail‚” if you haven’t. 

MLK Day is the only federal holiday officially designated as a National Day of Service. I hope you will consider volunteering or undertaking some service activity to honor Dr. King and his legacy of working for the common good. Here is a listing of local opportunities for service in the San Diego area and in Orange County. 

A Martin Luther King Day Parade and Festival will be held in San Diego on Sunday (Jan. 18) that will include a 5K run and walk. In addition‚ the City of San Diego is hosting its 16th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Parade and Celebration on Jan. 24. There are also several events being held in Orange County.

In partnership‚

Email me at Senator.Blakespear@Senate.ca.gov
Call my Carlsbad district office at (760) 438-2005
Call my Laguna Hills district office at (949) 598-5850
Call my Capitol office in Sacramento at (916) 651-4038