Welcome to "Catching Up With Cottie" - a weekly update about what I am working on as your representative in the California State Assembly.

As your representative, my top priority is addressing the issues that matter most to you and ensuring your voice is heard in Sacramento. I deeply value your input on the public policy decisions that shape our lives and remain committed to transparency and accountability in everything I do. It's important to me that you stay informed about the progress we've made together in 2024 and throughout my previous terms in Sacramento. Please take the time to review my 2024 annual report for updates related to legislation passed, budget wins and a roundup of community events and engagements.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I am committed to addressing the issues that are important to you. As always, if there is anything that my team or I can do to assist you with a local or state issue, if you have questions or concerns about what I am working on, or anything in between, please contact my office. My team and I are here to help!

Yours faithfully,

Cottie Petrie-Norris
California State Assemblywoman

Last week, I visited Los Angeles and toured the communities of Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu. The scope and scale of the devastation is hard to comprehend. It was absolutely heart-wrenching. It was also inspiring to meet with local leaders and with firefighters from across California. These people are heroes – and we owe a profound debt of gratitude to the firefighters and first responders who are working tirelessly to extinguish the flames and keep our communities safe.

I also had the chance to meet Ember, part of the Pet Partners Therapy Team, who provide support for both residents and first responders.

I joined our Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and my colleague Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin for a roundtable discussion with local officials and impacted residents. The Assembly is 100% committed to ensuring a swift and effective response, and providing necessary resources to help these communities rebuild and recover.

These fires are a stark reminder of the terrible risks posed by climate disasters and the need for decisive action to safeguard California from these growing threats. I have introduced three pieces of legislation to strengthen wildfire prevention and enhance emergency response. These bills will:

• Establish a pilot program within the Orange County Fire Authority to equip the nation's first autonomous firefighting helicopters. This will improve pilot safety, reduce response time, and enhance fire suppression targeting at night and in strong winds.


• Make Southern California's Quick Reaction Force (QRF) a permanent program, supported by State funding. The QRF has been a pilot program in Southern California – funding the largest helitankers in the world. These helitankers have been deployed in more than 100 responses, including in the Eaton and Palisades fires – and the program has protected lives, property, and infrastructure. The fire agencies within the fifteen counties that the QRF serves have come to depend on it.


• Allocate $10 million from last year's Climate Bond to complete the ALERTCalifornia Wildfire Mapping System. Based at UC San Diego, ALERTCalifornia manages over 1,000 cameras and sensors to help first responders react to natural disasters.

It was an honor to meet with Alberta's Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Rebecca Schulz, to exchange ideas on clean energy, affordability, and wildfire mitigation. Grateful for a collaborative discussion on tackling our shared challenges.

Thank you to the Orange County Business Council for the opportunity to join your government affairs meeting. It was a pleasure to discuss my legislative priorities for the 2025-2026 session and share insights from my role as Chair of the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

On January 1, 2025, my bill AB 1974 officially became law! This important legislation requires court-connected child custody mediators and evaluators to participate in continuing education programs focused on domestic violence issues. AB 1974 also expands the scope of these programs to include the risks associated with firearm access and strategies to mitigate those risks, helping to ensure greater safety for families and children.

Learn more about this critical step forward here:

Congratulations to the Orange County Water District (OCWD) for securing a $30 million grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation through the WaterSMART Title XVI WIIN Act. I'm proud to have supported OCWD's application for this transformative funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to advance its critical PFAS treatment program removing harmful substances from local groundwater.

Fifteen of OCWD's 19 water retailers are affected by PFAS, impacting over 100 drinking water wells. To date, OCWD has invested over $230 million in addressing this challenge, demonstrating remarkable leadership by designing the nation's largest PFAS pilot program and covering significant treatment costs for impacted wells. Thanks to their efforts, 41 wells have already been restored.

RESOURCES

California has launched a dedicated website to provide comprehensive support for everyone impacted by the wildfires. This centralized hub offers real-time updates on fire conditions, evacuation orders, and air quality, ensuring you stay informed during these critical times. In addition, the website serves as a vital resource for those seeking assistance, whether you need to apply for disaster relief, locate emergency shelters, or find support for rebuilding and recovery efforts. 

Additional Resources:

• Cal Fire Incident Information: Get updates on wildfires, evacuation orders, and safety tips at www.fire.ca.gov.
• Alert Systems: Sign up for local alerts (e.g., AlertOC for Orange County) and ensure your phone is set to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts.
• Shelters: Locate evacuation shelters online through the Red Cross or call them directly at (855) 891-7325.
• Department of Insurance: Check these resources if you've suffered a loss in the recent wildfires.
• Relief Accommodations & Resources: A list of hotels and restaurants in OC offering discounted meals for those impacted by the fires in LA at Travel Costa Mesa.
• Business Resources: If your business has been impacted by the wildfires check these resources from CalOSBA.
• Donations: A list of local and regional organizations supporting wildfire relief efforts.
• Public Safety Power Shutoff: to receive alerts or to report an outage on SCE.