Governor’s Pen Completes AARP’s “Clean Sweep”

Governor Newsom has signed all eight of AARP’s top priority bills, completing a “clean sweep” of high-priority legislation for 2025. We went 8 for 8 this year — with seven priority bills passing the legislature and AB 470, which we opposed, falling to defeat. This achievement is a testament to the power of teamwork. From staff to volunteers and our members, everyone played a vital role, staying focused and giving it everything we had. AARP’s priority bills signed into law are: SB 607 (Wiener) – Cuts red tape for urban infill housing. (Signed in June) AB 609 (Wicks)  – Streamlines multi-family housing permitting. (Signed in June) SB 590 (Durazo) – Expands paid family leave to include chosen family, recognizing the diverse caregiving relationships in California. SB 71 (Wiener) – Accelerates improvements to public transit infrastructure, enhancing mobility for all Californians. SB 79 (Wiener) – Dramatically expands opportunities for dense housing near transit hubs, a critical step toward addressing the state’s housing crisis. AB 1167 (Berman) – Prohibits utility companies from using shareholder funds for lobbying and political advertising, ensuring transparency and accountability. AB 462 (Lowenthal, Rivas) – Speeds up the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in areas impacted by natural disasters, addressing urgent housing needs.

In addition to these legislative priorities, AARP secured a major victory with the defeat of AB 470 (McKinnor) , which would have prematurely removed AT&T’s designation as a Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) for landline phone service -- before the California Public Utilities Commission completed its review process — a move that would have jeopardized reliable phone service for many older adults.