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Building a Resilient California: A Conversation with Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris

California Water Association

Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris represents California’s 73rd Assembly District, which includes the cities of Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Tustin. As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy, she has championed efforts to strengthen California’s infrastructure, protect natural resources, and make energy and water systems more affordable and sustainable. We invited Assemblymember Petrie-Norris to share her vision for addressing California’s water challenges including climate change, water resilience, and affordability.

State, Costa Mesa make progress in Fairview Developmental Center redevelopment

Orange County Register

State and local leaders are taking big steps this month in the redevelopment of a former state hospital campus in Costa Mesa.

The state broke ground last week on a new emergency operations facility using a portion of the sprawling Fairview Developmental Center property and on Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Costa Mesa City Council is preparing to review plans that would outline the construction of thousands of new homes on the remaining land.

California Takes Decisive Action to End Deadly DUI Loopholes

CPN At AB 366 Press Conference

SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 366 into law, solidifying California’s renewed commitment to ending the state’s deadly drunk-driving crisis. AB 366, by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), extends California’s current ignition interlock device (IID) program, which contains a loophole by only applying to drivers convicted of two or more DUIs.

Senior Scam Stopper Seminars Help Protect Older Adults from Financial Fraud

Senior Scam Stopper Seminar

Irvine, CA – Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris hosted a series of Senior Scam Stopper℠ Seminars in Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Tustin to help older adults and their caregivers recognize, prevent, and report financial scams. The seminars, held in partnership with the Contractors State License Board, California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and Council on Aging – Southern California, provided valuable education and resources to protect constituents from fraud and financial exploitation.

Volunteers Unite to Tackle Hunger in Orange County

Harvest Solutions Farm Volunteer Event

Irvine, CA — Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County hosted Hunger Action Month volunteer events at the Second Harvest Distribution Center and Harvest Solutions Farm in Irvine. September is Hunger Action Month – a nationwide campaign uniting food banks, anti-hunger organizations and community members to raise awareness and inspire action against hunger. Over 100 volunteers harvested and packaged 16,000 pounds of mixed produce.

Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris Champions Legislation to Cut Energy Costs and Strengthen Grid Reliability

CPN presenting AB 825

Sacramento, CA — Affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges for Californians. This year, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) delivered major wins to lower costs for ratepayers and accelerate California’s clean energy transition. Working closely with colleagues in the Legislature, she championed landmark legislation that puts money back in families’ pockets while building a more reliable and sustainable energy future.

California's Environmental Past Confronts Economic Worries of the Present

New York Times

California has long prided itself as an environmental trailblazer. It was the first state to set its own vehicle emission rules and the first to outlaw plastic shopping bags.

In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, went so far as to seek a ban on the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Standing in front of several electric cars, he warned automakers against being on “the wrong side of history.”

California legislature approves bill to create Western regional electricity market

Solar Power World

The California legislature recently approved AB 825, a measure that will enhance grid reliability and enable the creation of a West-wide regional electricity market. It is now on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.

AB 825 will help California develop more renewable energy to sell to other states and expand market access for renewable energy across the Interior West, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.