Welcome to "Catching Up With Cottie" - a weekly update about what I am working on as your representative in the California State Assembly.
I was honored to host my 7th Annual Women of the Year event—a celebration that always leaves me feeling inspired and emotional. It's a powerful reminder of the incredible women whose work uplifts our community and makes it a better place for all.
Congratulations to Sirisha Bandla, Yulan Chung, Katie Webb Brundige, and Meghan Clem—our 2025 Women of the Year! Your leadership and contributions are truly extraordinary.
Thank you to our event host, the City of Costa Mesa and to Girls Inc. of Orange County, Girl Scouts of Orange County, as well as Vineyard Offshore and Taylor Made Cuisine, for your partnership, helping us shine the light on women who deserve recognition for their invaluable contributions and leadership in Orange County.
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
Each year, I have the opportunity to honor nonprofit organizations for the essential work they do for Orange County residents as part of California Nonprofits Day. The services that nonprofit organizations provide continues to be essential.
I invite you to nominate a nonprofit that you believe should be honored for their positive impact. We are considering nominations for nonprofit organizations that are located in or serve the cities of Costa Mesa, Irvine and Tustin. Please submit your online nomination by April 9, 2025.
Our work on energy affordability continues in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee. This week, we dug into ways to lower transmission costs and bring down energy bills for Californians. Finding solutions to make our grid more efficient and reliable is key to easing the burden on ratepayers.
Californians pay the HIGHEST utility rates in the country, and the state's largest utilities want more! This week, I sent a letter that was signed by 33 of my Assembly colleagues urging the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to reject the investor-owned utility companies' proposed rate hikes to benefit shareholders at our expense. Higher electricity rates are simply unacceptable!
Thank you to the AB 366 supporters who rallied in Sacramento and on social media. To further amplify their voices, I turned my social media over to DUI victims' families to share their heartbreaking stories. California leads the nation in DUI rates, with 8 of the 10 worst cities. With the state's Ignition Interlock Device (IID) pilot program set to expire on January 1, 2026, we have a critical opportunity to extend and strengthen this life-saving law. AB 366 would require all DUI offenders to install an IID, stopping tragedies before the car even starts. To learn more about this bill, click here.
It was great catching up with Equality California this week! I'm also proud to share that I earned a 100% score on the 2024 Equality California State Legislative Scorecard. Together, we must keep fighting every day for a world that is healthy, just, and truly equal for all LGBTQ+ people.
I toured the Palisades Fire area with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to assess recovery efforts and discuss rebuilding critical infrastructure. Grateful for the work being done to restore and strengthen our communities.
We had another fantastic session with our Young Legislators who were learning how a bill becomes law from multiple perspectives! Our expert panelists, Kaitlyn Schallhorn (OC Register), Patricia Boe (Moms Demand Action), and Cori Takkinen (Townsend Public Affairs), provided invaluable insight into how their work influences and communicates public policy. Their perspectives sparked meaningful discussions, equipping the cohort with a deeper understanding of the legislative process as they continue to develop their own bill proposals.
Our Young Legislators spent the afternoon volunteering with Team Cottie, Irvine Councilmember Melinda Liu, and the Office of Councilmember William Go at Families Forward in Irvine. Their hard work helped restock the Community Market, ensuring it is ready to serve local families. Coming together in service reflects the strength and heart of our district, and I am grateful for everyone who contributed their time and effort to make a difference.
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
A cool new spot just opened in Irvine! Team Cottie stopped by Laventina's Big Cheese Pizza and Rose Bakery to congratulate them on the grand opening—delicious pizza and sweet treats worth checking out!
Mesa Water is doing amazing work! It was great to celebrate the grand opening of the Water Education Center, where students and the community can learn more about water and even explore careers in the industry. Congratulations on the ribbon cutting!
RESOURCES
Join Pretend City for the Good To Go Fair! This FREE event is perfect for families with children ages 0-5. Enjoy a variety of activities, resources, and services designed to support your child's development and overall well-being.
Don't let the April 15th deadline catch you off guard! Schedule your appointment at the Tustin Area Senior Center with AARP today to secure your spot. Call (714) 573-3340 now!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Apr. 8 - Costa Mesa Small Business Clinic
The OCIE SBDC is excited to host the SBDC Small Business Clinic, a program offered in collaboration with Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, the City of Costa Mesa, the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, and the Coast Community College District for Costa Mesa-based businesses.
During the program, business owners will get the opportunity to meet with an SBDC consultant at no cost for a 30-minute one-on-one session/meeting to answer their immediate needs pertaining to marketing, operations, or financial assessment. All participants will also be aligned with a primary consultant for follow-up assistance to receive continuous, no-cost support in an effort to help them grow and expand their business.
Apr. 19 - Irvine Earth Day Event
Visit Quail Hill Community Center to enjoy guided hikes, a composting demo, and interactive activities and presentations offered by the City of Irvine and partner agencies Saturday, April 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
