Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis’s 2025 Priority Legislation Signed by Governor Newsom

SACRAMENTO, CA – In the 2025 legislative cycle, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis co-sponsored and supported 21 bills signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, continuing her strong record of championing policies that expand opportunity, equity, and safety for all Californians. Since taking office in 2019, Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis has sponsored and supported more than 170 bills across housing, reproductive health, higher education, and environmental protection — advancing California’s position as a national leader in progress and inclusion.

Building on her advocacy for housing access and affordability, the Lieutenant Governor co-sponsored AB 1154 (Carrillo) to eliminate outdated owner-occupancy requirements for Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) with their own bathrooms — a common-sense reform that will help expand housing options and reduce barriers for homeowners and renters alike.

As reproductive rights continue to face unprecedented attacks nationwide, Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis co-sponsored AB 260 (Aguiar-Curry) to ensure continued access to abortion medication in California and protect providers and patients from out-of-state interference. This law strengthens California’s standing as a safe haven for reproductive freedom and medical autonomy.

Furthering her commitment to safety and justice for all Californians, she co-sponsored AB 379 (Shultz), which enhances California’s ability to combat sex trafficking by increasing penalties for offenders and expanding critical services for survivors. Additionally, recognizing the importance of protecting youth and students’ mental health, the Lieutenant Governor co-sponsored AB 727 (M. Gonzalez), requiring student ID cards for grades 7–12 and higher education institutions to display The Trevor Project’s suicide prevention hotline — a lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis.

Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis also supported ACA 8 (Rivas/McGuire), also known as Proposition 50, a critical measure allowing Californians to adopt a new, temporary congressional map for elections through 2030. By giving voters the opportunity to directly shape representation, this initiative strengthens California’s democracy and ensures government remains accountable to the people.
Together, these bills advance the Lieutenant Governor’s long-standing priorities of equity, safety, and opportunity for all Californians, ensuring the state continues to lead with compassion and courage. 

“This year, our legislature has delivered meaningful reforms that protect Californians’ rights and strengthen our communities. From expanding housing opportunities and safeguarding reproductive freedom, to supporting students, survivors, and fair democratic processes, these laws reflect our shared commitment to a stronger, more inclusive California. I thank Governor Newsom and members of our legislature for their leadership in turning these priorities into action.” 

Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis

Housing

• AB 1154 (Carrillo) – Eliminates owner-occupancy requirements for Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) that have their own bathrooms.

Reproductive Health

• AB 260 (Aguiar-Curry) – Ensures access to abortion medication in California and protects providers and patients from out-of-state prosecution.

Public Safety

• AB 379 (Shultz) – Strengthens California law to combat sex trafficking by increasing penalties for offenders and expanding survivor services.

LGBTQ & Education

• AB 727 (M. Gonzalez) – Requires student ID cards for grades 7–12 and higher education institutions to include The Trevor Project’s LGBTQ+ suicide hotline and text line.

Democracy

• ACA 8 (Rivas/McGuire) – Allows Californians to adopt a new, temporary congressional map for elections through 2030. (To appear on the November 2025 ballot.)
• AB 604 (Aguiar-Curry) – Establishes temporary congressional district boundaries contingent upon passage of ACA 8.
• SB 280 (Cervantes) – Calls a statewide special election to be held on November 4, 2025, and appropriates funding to cover election costs.

Environment

• AB 581 (Bennett) – Designates the bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) as the official state shrub of California.
• SB 676 (Limon) – Expedites judicial review under CEQA for wildfire recovery projects in declared disaster areas.
• SB 484 (Laird) – Requires the California Coastal Commission to identify infill areas exempt from coastal permit requirements for affordable housing.
• SB 427 (Blakespear) – Extends the Habitat Conservation Fund’s $30 million annual allocation for five additional years, through July 1, 2035.
• SB 86 (McNerney) – Extends and expands the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority’s Sales and Use Tax Exclusion Program through 2028.

Higher Education

• AB 977 (Ramos) – Requires the CSU system to work with California Native American tribes to establish reburial sites for repatriated ancestral remains.
• SB 271 (Reyes) – Requires campus basic needs centers to help student parents access subsidized childcare and support services.

Housing

• SB 79 (Wiener) – Expands transit-oriented development (TOD) housing opportunities near major transit stops.
• AB 893 (Fong) – Streamlines mixed-income housing development on commercial land within campus development zones.
• AB 920 (Caloza) – Requires large cities and counties to provide centralized online housing application portals.
• AB 961 (Avila Farias) – Extends the California Land Recycling and Reuse Act to 2037 to promote redevelopment of underutilized land.
• AB 1007 (Rubio) – Accelerates permit approvals under the Permit Streamlining Act for residential and mixed-use projects.
• AB 1050 (Schultz) – Allows property owners to remove restrictive covenants that limit housing density.
• SB 489 (Arreguin) – Adds ministerial housing projects to the Permit Streamlining Act and increases transparency for local agency formation commissions.