Zbur fights to give Californians the right to reach a real human within 15 minutes
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D – Hollywood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu) last week saw the Assembly pass his Right to Human Customer Service Act (AB 1609), requiring large businesses to connect consumers with a live human representative within 15 minutes of a request and prohibiting companies from passing off artificial intelligence as a real person.
The bill, sponsored by the Communication Workers of America District Council 9, addresses what has become one of the most universal consumer frustrations in modern life — being trapped in automated phone trees, AI chat loops, and endless hold times when trying to resolve problems with medications, health care services, utility accounts, travel arrangements, and other essential services.
“Technology should make our lives easier — not trap consumers in endless phone trees, AI chat loops, and hours-long hold times,” said Zbur. “Whether someone is trying to refill a prescription, resolve a billing issue, or address a problem with a service they paid for, they deserve the ability to reach a real person who can help. AB 1609 establishes a basic consumer protection: the right to human customer service.”
Under the bill, large businesses offering online customer service must make a good-faith effort to connect consumers with a human representative within 15 minutes of a request.
Businesses offering telephone customer service must adhere to the 15-minute standard and limit extended hold times after a call is answered. The bill also requires businesses to clearly disclose when consumers are interacting with an AI-powered system and prohibits companies from representing an artificial intelligence system as a human being. Businesses must also prominently display their customer service phone number on their website.
AB 1609 now moves to the Senate.
Harabedian gets passage of post-wildfire safety standards bill
Assemblymember John Harabedian (D – Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia) saw the Assembly last week pass his legislation (AB 1642) directing the Department of Toxic Substances Control to create comprehensive statewide standards for post-wildfire environmental testing and contaminant remediation in and around homes, schools, and residential areas — filling a gap that has left Eaton and Palisades fire survivors without reliable guidance on whether their properties are safe to inhabit.
The bill’s urgency is backed by alarming data. Eaton Fire Residents United — a community advocacy organization representing Altadena survivors — reported that independent testing found 96% of professionally remediated Altadena homes still had detectable lead and 36% still had detectable asbestos after cleanup was completed.
Under current California law, there are no enforceable statewide standards for post-fire contamination testing, leaving survivors to navigate the uncertainty on their own — often paying for private testing or returning to potentially harmful living conditions while coping with the emotional and financial toll of recovery.
“Families recovering from wildfires should not be left alone in navigating the uncertainty of whether their homes are safe to return to,” Harabedian said. “AB 1642 ensures clear and reliable answers grounded in science and public health, and gives survivors the certainty and safety they deserve.”
The bill now moves to the State Senate.
Smallwood-Cuevas’ security officer training bill moves forward ahead of 2028 Olympics
State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D – South Los Angeles, Mid City, Culver City, West Los Angeles, Century City, Downtown Los Angeles) saw the Senate last week pass her Stand for Security Act (BS 1203) — legislation requiring live-in-person de-escalation training, strengthened employer accountability, and implicit bias monitoring for California’s more than 330,000 licensed private security officers.
Currently, California’s private licensed security officers far outnumber sworn police officers.
“California’s 330,000 licensed security officers currently outnumber sworn police officers by nearly four to one. They respond to mental health crises, substance use emergencies, and escalating conflicts every day — often alone and before law enforcement arrives. They deserve more than a uniform and a liability waiver,” Smallwood-Cuevas said.
“The world is coming to California. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, and my district will be at the center of that activity. If we are going to build the largest security deployment in California’s history, we have a responsibility to build the best-trained security workforce in the nation.”
SB 1203 requires live-in-person de-escalation training, reviews of wages and working conditions, strengthened employer accountability, and implicit bias monitoring in the field.
The bill is sponsored by SEIU California and now moves to the Assembly.
Rivas secures $850,000 in federal funding for cool roofs at Pacoima public housing
U.S. Rep. Luz Rivas (D -San Fernando, Pacoima, Arleta, Panorama City, Sylmar, Van Nuys, Sun Valley, North Hollywood) last week presented the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) with $850,000 in federal Community Project Funding for energy-efficient cool roof installations across multiple affordable housing units at San Fernando Gardens in Pacoima.
The cool roofs are designed to protect residents from the growing threat of extreme heat in the San Fernando Valley, where climate change is making heat waves hotter, longer, and more dangerous.
“Climate change is making heat waves in the San Fernando Valley hotter, longer, and more dangerous,” Rivas said. “It is important to invest in critical infrastructure like cool roofs that keeps all constituents safe. I am grateful for HACLA’s partnership on this important federal investment that will help San Fernando Gardens residents reduce energy costs, stay safe during heatwaves, and be more resilient to the effects of climate change.”
Rivas previously joined HACLA in August 2025 for the initial announcement of energy-efficient air conditioning units and cooling roofs at San Fernando Gardens.
The new $850,000 grant funds the next phase of those upgrades. San Fernando Gardens is owned and operated by HACLA and provides affordable housing and supportive services to residents across the valley.
