Dear Neighbor,

Happy Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month! This month and every day we celebrate the achievements, diverse culture, history, and contributions of the AANHPI community and give special recognition to the dedicated AANHPI leaders in Senate District 33 who inspire us all and help us build a brighter, better future.  

At the Capitol, we are in suspense as we wait to hear what bills in my legislative package will make it out of the Senate Appropriations Committee “suspense file” on May 16. The Suspense File process was established in the mid-1980s as a way to consider the fiscal impacts of legislation to the state as a whole. Bills either move on to the Senate Floor for a vote or are held in the committee. Generally, if the cost of a bill is determined to be $50,000 or more to the General Fund or $150,000 or more to a special fund, the bill has to go through the Suspense File process, but bills that do not have a significant fiscal impact are sent directly to the Senate Floor and that is what we call a “28.8”. Stay tuned to learn what bills in my legislative package this year make it out of suspense!

In the District, we have a Senior Scam Stopper event on May 15. As your State Senator, I am committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our senior community. Join us to learn how to safeguard your finances and personal information against fraudulent activities. Whether you are a seasoned advocate for senior rights or want to learn more about protecting yourself and your loved ones, this event is for you, so make sure to save the date.

Lastly, there’s still time to file your taxes and claim your credits! If you don’t owe taxes, you have until October 15 to file with no penalties. Find out what you qualify for and find a free tax preparer near you using the link below.

As always, if you need any other information or assistance, please contact my office at (562) 256-7921 or send us a message here.

Sincerely,

Lena Gonzalez
33rd State Senate District