Welcome to "Catching Up With Cottie" - a weekly update about what I am working on as your representative in the California State Assembly.
June marks Gun Violence Awareness Month, a solemn reminder of the lives lost and the families forever changed by senseless acts of gun violence. It's also a call to action—to stand with survivors and work toward real, lasting change.
As your representative, gun safety remains one of my top priorities and I am taking proactive measures to ensure our communities are safe. My bill AB 451, recently passed the Assembly floor. This legislation requires all California law enforcement agencies to adopt clear, standardized policies for serving and enforcing restraining orders that include firearm restrictions. These policies ensure firearms are relinquished immediately upon service—or transferred to law enforcement or a licensed dealer within 24 hours—with proof of compliance submitted within 48 hours. This is a vital step in keeping guns out of dangerous hands and ensuring that protective orders truly protect.
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
It's been a productive and fast-paced year in the Legislature—driven by a deep commitment to tackling the issues that matter most to Californians. From advancing energy affordability to accelerating our transition to clean energy and protecting our climate.
I'm proud to share that 10 of the bills I authored are now headed to the Senate for further consideration—bringing us one step closer to delivering real solutions for our communities.
The Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce's Celebrate Irvine event brought together community and business leaders for an uplifting afternoon recognizing those making a difference in Irvine. This year's honorees included Peter Cline of Service to Success, Kathy Azeez Narain of Hoag, and the team at Doing Good Works—each applauded for their outstanding contributions and leadership.
City of Hope Orange County celebrated a special Key Ceremony marking substantial completion of Orange County's only cancer specialty hospital, opening late 2025. The hospital Key Ceremony was part of the inaugural THIS IS HOPE event honoring the survivorship journeys of the first City of Hope Orange County patients. Congratulations to Annette Walker, President of City of Hope Orange County and our 2024 Woman of the Year, along with the leaders, clinicians, and donors for bringing Hope to cancer patients throughout Orange County.
Wonderful turnout at this weekend's Costa Mesa Community Health Resource Fair! Hundreds of residents came out to connect with local services, access free food, diapers, and dental care, and learn more about the resources available in our community. Thank you to our incredible partners—CalOptima, City of Costa Mesa, OC Social Services Agency and Supervisor Katrina Foley—for helping make this event such a success!
An afternoon well spent with our incredible partners at Sabil USA! My team, along with some of our dedicated office interns and young legislators, rolled up their sleeves to help pack food boxes for Sabil's monthly distribution. In just two hours, we packed 141 boxes filled with canned and dry goods—each one headed to a local family in need. Thank you, Sabil, for your tireless efforts to support our community. We're proud to stand alongside you in the fight against food insecurity.
Join me and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County at the Harvest Solutions Farm Volunteer Event to help harvest seasonal produce or plant crops so that our neighbors have consistent access to nutritious food creating a foundation for community health and well-being.
Join us this summer for the IgniteHer Summit — an inspiring day of workshops, speakers, and empowering conversations designed to help you lead with confidence and spark change in your community. You'll connect with visionary leaders, hear from an incredible keynote speaker, and leave with the tools and support to turn your ideas into action. Don't miss this chance to ignite your future!
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
Our first responders face unimaginable challenges—and they deserve the strongest support in return. Grateful for the incredible work of First Responders of California in providing critical mental health services to those who show up for us in our most difficult moments.
Congratulations to Ed Reynolds and Tammis Berkheimer—named Tustin Area Man and Woman of the Year by the Tustin Community Foundation! Your incredible leadership, unwavering dedication, and countless hours of volunteerism have made a lasting impact on the Tustin community. Thank you for being shining examples of what it means to serve with heart.
RESOURCES
June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month. Every 66 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer's. Over 164,000 people in Orange County are affected by dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Whatever your age, now is the right time to take actions that help promote a healthy brain. Get familiar with brain health and learn what steps you can take if you or someone you love has memory concerns. It is important that we raise awareness about the impact of Alzheimer's and continue to support one another. Learn more from our partners at Alzheimer's Association and Alzheimer's Orange County.
Missed our Protect Yourself From AI Scams webinar? We teamed up with the Department of Financial Protection & Innovation to share important tips on how to spot and avoid common scams. Click the link to watch the full webinar or view the presentation to catch up on what you missed!
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 21 - Harvest Solutions Farm Volunteer Event
Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County invite you to Harvest Solutions Farm to help harvest seasonal produce or plant crops so that our neighbors have consistent access to nutritious food creating a foundation for community health and well-being.
July 9 - Protect Yourself from ID Theft Webinar
Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris and the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) are hosting a free webinar to help you learn how to protect yourself from identity theft. Topics will include cybercrime, bank fraud, online scams, and phishing attacks.
July 18 - IgniteHER Girls Summit
Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris and Girls Inc. of Orange County invite 7th-11th Grade girls to participate in a FREE IgniteHER Girls Summit on Friday, July 18, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Irvine Valley College.
Imagine being surrounded by amazing visionaries, thought leaders, and trailblazers, all there to inspire you. With engaging workshops and discussions focused on fueling your success, you'll leave with all the tools, knowledge, and support to spark change in your community and beyond!
Students will also have the opportunity to hear from a keynote speaker and panelists sharing their experiences in fueling their futures.
Movies on the Lawn:
Hicks Canyon Community Park | Food trucks at 6 p.m. | Movies begin after sunset
Watch family-favorite films under the stars on a giant outdoor screen. Guests are invited to bring low-back chairs, blankets, and picnic meals, or enjoy gourmet options from food trucks on-site. Movies begin after sunset and are weather permitting.
- Friday, June 13— Harold and the Purple Crayon (PG)
- Friday, July 18— Mufasa: The Lion King (PG)
- Friday, July 25— Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (PG)
- Friday, August 8— Inside Out 2 (PG)
Summer Concerts:
Mike Ward Community Park — Woodbridge | Concerts begin at 5:30 p.m.
Enjoy live performances that bring a range of musical styles to the park, from soulful blues to classic rock and '90s throwbacks. Guests can bring their own snacks or purchase food from gourmet trucks available at each event.
- Saturday, July 19— Family Style Blues and Soul
- Saturday, July 26— 1969 The Tribute '60s Rock and Roll
- Saturday, August 2— Your Mom '90s and more
- Saturday, August 9— DW3 R&B, Soul, Old School Funk
