Padilla’s ‘Tyler’s Law’ to Fight Fentanyl Crisis Unanimously Passes Senate
U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) announced that the Senate unanimously passed Tyler’s Law, their bipartisan legislation to help combat the fentanyl crisis.
The measure directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide hospitals with guidance on incorporating fentanyl testing into routine emergency room drug screenings.
The legislation is named after Tyler Shamash, a Los Angeles teenager who died from fentanyl poisoning after he was admitted to the emergency room, where fentanyl was not included in the standard toxicology screen. Following Tyler’s tragic passing, California became the first state to pass Tyler’s Law in 2022.
“The fentanyl crisis has devastated hundreds of thousands of families in every corner of America,” said Padilla. “Named in honor of Tyler Shamash, an Angeleno who tragically lost his life when hospital screening tests failed to detect fentanyl in his system, Tyler’s Law would ensure that hospitals across the country screen for fentanyl in routine drug panels. Expanding fentanyl testing will bring us one step closer to preventing these tragedies, and I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this lifesaving legislation as soon as possible.”
Fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances are the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States, accounting for over 70 percent of all overdose fatalities in 2023. By expanding fentanyl testing in emergency rooms, this legislation aims to save lives and provide critical information to help combat the nation’s overdose crisis.
The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives, where U.S. Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Santa Monica, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Manhattan Beach) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Culver City, View Park-Windsor Hills, parts of South LA) are among the lead sponsors of the companion bill.
Hochman Levels Felony Burglary Charges on Social Media Influencer
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced felony charges against a Los Angeles model and social media influencer for allegedly burglarizing the homes of victims she had met online.
Prosecutors allege that from 2023 to 2025, Adva Lavie, 27, — who is also known as Mia Ventura — used dating apps and cultivated relationships to burglarize and steal from wealthy older men and younger women in Westlake Village, West Hollywood, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.
“At her trial, we will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that this defendant exploited trust built through online relationships to gain access to victims’ homes and steal from them,” said Hochman.
“Her ability to deceptively influence others, whether in person or online, has now come to an end. Our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who uses deception and manipulation to prey on others,” he added.
Lavie is accused of posing as a girlfriend and travel companion to gain access to victims’ homes and then stealing cash, gold and high-end designer items.
If convicted on all counts, Lavie faces up to 11 years, eight months in state prison.
Horvath, Sups Approve Motion to Evaluate Impact of Warner Bros. Acquisition
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath (D-Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Calabasas, Malibu, Sherman Oaks, Sylmar, Pacoima, Panorama City) saw the full Board of Supervisors approve her motion to analyze the potential economic impacts of the proposed Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. and advance efforts to protect the region’s entertainment workforce.
As the global hub of the entertainment industry, Los Angeles County supports more than 312,000 jobs across the creative economy. Recent production slowdowns, labor disputes, wildfires, and continued industry consolidation have heightened concerns about workforce stability and long-term job growth.
“Entertainment is more than what we watch on a screen—it’s part of who we are as Angelenos and a cornerstone of our economy. Thousands of families rely on this industry for their livelihoods, and we must protect their jobs and our signature industry,” said Horvath. “As the proposed merger moves forward, we need a clear understanding of its impacts on jobs, competition, and the future of storytelling. Today, we took action to support workers, strengthen our local economy, and keep Los Angeles at the center of the global entertainment industry.”
The motion directs the County’s Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), in collaboration with the Chief Executive Office and relevant County departments, to conduct a comprehensive economic impact analysis of the proposed Warner Bros. acquisition, including effects on direct, indirect, and induced employment.
Zbur Bill to Strengthen Consumer Protection Advances Out of First Committee
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D–Hollywood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu) announced that his legislation (AB 2039) to strengthen consumer protections and reinforce ethical accountability within California’s legal profession advanced out of the Assembly Committee on Judiciary.
Sponsored by Consumer Attorneys of California, this bill closes key enforcement gaps by strengthening disciplinary consequences for attorneys convicted of illegal client referral practices, creating whistleblower protections for individuals who report misconduct, and establishing consumer safeguards for financial advances between attorneys and their clients.
“Attorneys are fundamental players who protect consumers, safeguard our rights and seek justice in our legal system. Our system of justice depends on lawyers conducting themselves with integrity and in accordance with the rules. When that doesn’t happen, achieving justice is threatened,” said Zbur. “AB 2039 strengthens safeguards against misconduct, protects whistleblowers who report wrongdoing, and ensures Californians can trust that the attorneys representing them are acting ethically and in their best interest.”
The measure comes as recent reporting by the Los Angeles Times has highlighted allegations of attorneys engaging in unlawful client-referral practices, sometimes known as “capping,” in which compensation is exchanged for directing clients to specific attorneys. While such conduct is already illegal, current law does not always ensure consistent or automatic consequences following criminal convictions.
AB 2039 addresses these gaps by establishing stronger enforcement mechanisms and additional protections to ensure misconduct is reported and addressed promptly.
