As 2025 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together and the important work that still lies ahead.

This year brought real challenges, yet across our district and throughout California, we saw resilience, courage, and community power rise to meet the moment. We stayed focused on uplifting our communities through Know Your Rights outreach, wildfire recovery efforts, food drives, Cash for College workshops, Tacos & Taxes, neighborhood and Earth Day cleanups, and sharing resources when families needed it most.

Even as diversity and inclusion efforts came under attack at the federal level, here at home we continued to celebrate the richness of our communities, from Black History Month and Sankranta to Women’s History Month and Día del Niño. 

Together, we showed up, honored our shared values, and move into the year ahead grounded in our collective strength and commitment to supporting one another.

2025 in Review

Watch our end-of-year video highlighting the moments, milestones, and stories that shaped 2025.

CA DOJ Launches New Online Portal

The California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) has launched a new online portal to assist members of the public in sharing information regarding potentially unlawful activity by federal agents and officers across the state. The portal, which allows Californians to submit video and photos, will help the CA DOJ capture and create a record of potentially unlawful conduct by federal agents, such as the use of excessive force, and inform actions the Department may take to protect the rights and safety of all Californians.  

You can access the portal at: https://oag.ca.gov/ReportMisconduct. Please note that submitting information or filing a complaint in the portal does not mean that the Office of the Attorney General will necessarily take any particular action on your complaint. The Attorney General is prohibited by law from representing private individuals or providing legal advice, legal research, or legal analysis to private individuals. For legal referrals, contact the State Bar at 1-866-442-2529 or visit https://www.calbar.ca.gov. If you cannot afford a private attorney visit https://www.lawhelpca.org and click on the Find Legal Assistance tab to find local legal aid. If you are a victim, witness to a crime, or experiencing an emergency, you should contact your local police department or call 911. 

Medi-Cal Updates 

Most people with Medi-Cal will not see changes to their benefits, but some eligibility rules will change in 2026. Key information to keep in mind: 

• Application deadline for some adult immigrants: Adults 19 and older without satisfactory immigration status must apply for Medi-Cal by December 31, 2025, to be considered for full-scope coverage. Applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, will be evaluated for restricted coverage only.
• Asset reviews beginning in 2026: Starting January 1, 2026, asset reviews will apply to some adults when applying for or renewing Medi-Cal. 

For more information on eligibility, requirements and more, you can: 

• Review eligibility information and updates on the Department of Health Care Services website.
• Watch LA County’s Department of Social Services past webinars on Medi-Cal changes online.

CalFresh Updates 

Due to new federal policy, changes are also coming to CalFresh. These updates include new work requirements for some recipients, changes to eligibility for certain lawfully present immigrants, and updates to how households qualify for the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) deduction. For more information visit the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services’ Keep Your Benefits page and fact sheet, and the CA Department of Social Services FAQ page. 

Health & Food Assistance Resources, Upcoming Events & More

To help you find support visit our Resource Corner for information on:

• free and low-cost community clinics
• help understanding your health coverage options
• food bank and pantry locators
• utility assistance programs

You’ll also find information on the GoBiz California Competes program for small businesses, as well as upcoming holiday events across the district.

As always, if you need any other information or assistance, don't hesitate to get in touch with my office at (562) 256-7921 or send us a message here.

Sincerely,

Lena Gonzalez
33rd State Senate District