Hello, Assembly District 78! I’m your representative Chris Ward and now that the election is behind us, I wanted to bring you up to date on what has been happening in the last month with regard to state business for our district.

Since September, the legislative session wrapped up and I have been back in our district meeting with constituents and attending neighborhood events. As a recap, I wanted to share highlights of my bills signed into law this year.

Bills signed into law

In total, 12 of my bills made it through all the steps and votes in the Legislature, and I am proud to say the Governor did not veto any of them. These 12 bills covered improvements to areas like housing, civil rights, education, and district support.

As Chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee, five of my priority bills to reduce red tape and aid in the construction of more affordable housing will take effect beginning on Jan. 1, 2025.

AB 2005 enables California State University campuses, like SDSU, to utilize the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit for the development of affordable housing for CSU faculty, staff, and students on CSU-owned land.

AB 3093 requires local governments to account for the housing needs of people experiencing homelessness in their housing elements, and for HCD to include vulnerable residents into the Regional Housing Needs Allocation. 

AB 2694 expands the Density Bonus Law to include the development of residential care facilities for the elderly. This will ensure that we provide adequate affordable housing opportunities for our aging population.

We also passed critical legislation to protect communities from hate and harassment.

AB 1979: The Doxing Victims Recourse Act provides recourse for victims who have been harmed as a result of being doxed by allowing a victim to pursue civil action to receive restitution for the harm endured as a result of being doxed.

AB 3024: The Stop Hate Littering Act protects individuals from the distribution of hateful propaganda in the form of flyers, posters, or symbols with the intent to terrorize vulnerable communities.

Finally, AB 1858: The Safe and Prepared Schools Act will standardize the guidance for how school shooter drills are done at the K-12 education levels. This new guidance will add clarity, require parental notification, forbid simulated gunfire, and require age-appropriate practices. 

For a full list of my legislative accomplishments this year, visit my website.

Civics competition

I am thrilled to announce the launch of my second annual civics competition, open to all 4th, 8th, and 10th grade students in Assembly District 78! This contest is designed to engage our students in exploring important topics related to civic engagement, while also encouraging creativity and critical thinking.

Civic participation is at the heart of a healthy community, and by encouraging students to explore these ideas early, we help them develop the skills and knowledge necessary to be informed, active citizens in the future. This contest offers a fun and meaningful way for students to begin that journey.

Information has been provided to all schools in our district for them to opt in, but any student in the 4th, 8th, or 10th grade can participate. They will be eligible for prizes from the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wave, or other local organizations. In addition, the school with the most winners will be eligible for a $5,000 education grant from the Barona Band of Mission Indians for classroom materials, as was won this year by the Alice Birney Elementary School Students. If you know a student who would like to participate, have them visit my website.

Submit a bill idea

While we are gearing up for the next legislative session which begins in December, I want to remind you that my online portal for bill ideas is open. Visit my website and click on the “Resources” tab at the top of the page. Underneath it, you will find the “Submit a Bill Idea” page where you can submit a suggestion for something you think should be a law or a challenge you think needs to be addressed with new legislation.

Once your proposal is submitted, my staff and I will look it over and reach out if we need additional information. We look forward to reading through your responses.

Out in the community

Throughout the fall, I have been home full-time in our district meeting with constituents to report back on our work, listen to current needs and concerns, and take notes to develop the work plan for my office’s agenda next year. It is always meaningful to personally reconnect with our planning groups, town councils, neighborhood events, key organizations and civic leaders.

As always, I want to thank you for your support. I look forward to continuing to be out in the community these next two months and hope to see you at a neighborhood gathering, volunteer event, or holiday festivity.

I’m grateful to be your representative and work on these issues and more. One of the best ways to stay informed is to follow my social media accounts on Facebook, X, Threads and Instagram where you can know in real-time what developments are happening or what I’m working on every day.

If you need assistance, please know that my district office staff is available and ready to serve or answer any questions you may have. Feel free to reach out and a staff member will connect with you as soon as possible. Enjoy your Thanksgiving! I wish you, your family and your neighbors all the best.