Senior Tax Credit Stalls, but Effort Continues

Senate Bill 1096 would support grandparents who are raising grandchildren 

Last week I had the privilege of presenting Senate Bill 1096 in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. This bill’s goal was to create a tax credit for seniors with no earned income who are the primary caretaker for their grandchildren‚ akin to the Earned Income Tax Credit for working families. 

Unfortunately‚ the bill failed passage – though it was granted reconsideration‚ so it can come up again for a future vote.

While this outcome is disappointing‚ that does not mean the work stops. I am continuing conversations with members of the committee and stakeholder groups to see how we can move this cause forward. This assistance is vital and I will continue the work to win grandparents raising their grandchildren some concrete financial relief.

I am very grateful for the partnership of the California Senior Legislature in advocating for the bill‚ and for the witnesses who testified in committee — Jennifer Rexroad‚ executive director of the California Alliance of Caregivers‚ and Raelene Nunn‚ a senator with the California Senior Legislature. I believe that with continued advocacy we can make progress for these elders doing invaluable work to raise yet another generation. 

Fallen Marysville Officer Honored at State Memorial

Monday at the state Capitol brought one of the most solemn moments we experience in Sacramento‚ as the California Peace Officer Memorial Foundation held its annual Enrollment Ceremony‚ honoring officers who died in the line of duty in the past year. Twelve officers killed in 2025‚ in addition to one from the more distant past‚ were honored in the ceremony. All are tremendous losses‚ but especially in the North State we grieve and remember Officer Osmar Rodarte of the Marysville Police Department.  Officer Rodarte was killed while serving a search warrant on a suspected drug trafficker in Olivehurst on March 26‚ 2025. A U.S. Army veteran in addition to his service in law enforcement‚ he left behind a wife and two young children.  We will never forget Officer Rodarte’s service.

Students from School for the Deaf Advocate for Peers

I had a moving meeting this week with students from the California School for the Deaf — one of several specialized schools the state operates to educate students with disabilities. 

I am not deaf‚ but since my stroke I have been working through aphasia‚ which makes my speech challenging. So I have learned firsthand the difficulty of struggling with communication. 

The students came to the Capitol to advocate for Senate Bill 1381‚ which will add a requirement in law that students who are deaf or blind be informed of the option of the special state schools‚ when their home schools are developing individual education programs. This is a commonsense measure to share important information with families whose children have unique educational needs for which the state has specialized help. The least we can do is tell families about it.

I am very proud of these students and honored to spend time with them. 

CalFire Offers Grants to Protect Homes‚ Communities

CalFire announced this week that up to $70 million in grants for wildfire prevention are available for local groups to help keep their communities safe‚ as the Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District did with the Osgood Fuel Break (pictured here). The deadline to apply is July 8.  Projects can include community chipping programs‚ work to help elderly and disabled homeowners improve their defensible space‚ reducing roadside vegetation to improve safety‚ and other fuel‑reduction work. Interested in learning more about the criteria and how to apply? Go to CalFire’s website.