As this year’s legislative session concludes, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made — but even more determined to confront the urgent challenges ahead, with California’s affordability crisis at the forefront of my focus.

When I took office as state senator, my mission was clear: tackle the affordability crisis that weighs on so many families, make our communities safer, and open doors of opportunity across California.

This year, I’m proud to report that I authored or co-authored 89 bills and resolutions, with 53 passing through the Legislature and now awaiting the governor’s signature. The fact that many of these passed with strong bipartisan support underscores that when we come together, real progress is possible.

We made important gains, especially in areas like public safety and expanding vital services for vulnerable populations. But I won’t sugarcoat it: Affordability remains an urgent and unresolved crisis for Californians. Despite bold declarations from the majority party calling this “the year of affordability,” this session was anything but.

Many critical bills designed to bring tangible relief to residents — my proposals to exempt tips from taxation for service workers, provide tax breaks for veterans and teachers, and offer property tax relief for families affected by the Chiquita Canyon........

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