Santa Clarita Valley leaders gathered at the State Capitol this week for the 17th annual KHTS Sacramento Road Trip to hear from lawmakers and policy experts about issues facing California communities, like Santa Clarita. 

During the two-day visit, participants attended a series of presentations and discussions covering topics such as public safety, insurance availability, water supply, state spending and education. Speakers also answered questions from the Santa Clarita delegation about how state policies could affect our region.

State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones spoke about the challenges California faces related to cost of living, state spending and major infrastructure projects.

Jones criticized the cost of several state programs and pointed to the price of gasoline as an example of pressures many residents are feeling.

“The state’s wasted $35 billion on homeless programs and $17 billion on high-speed rail,” Jones said during the discussion. He also noted that many Californians are concerned about rising fuel costs, adding that “80% of California voters say gas prices are too high.”

State Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares (Sophia Lesseos KHTS)

State Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares, who represents the Santa Clarita Valley and partnered with KHTS on this trip, talked about several of her legislative priorities.

“Public safety will continue to be a priority,” Valladares said.

She highlighted a proposal aimed at strengthening protections for victims of violent crimes. The bill would allow judges to issue permanent restraining orders in certain cases involving serious offenses.

“If somebody tried to murder you or sexually assaulted you, you shouldn’t have to go see a judge every four to five years to reinstate your restraining order,” she said.

Assemblyman Tom Lackey also addressed the group, sharing his perspective on challenges lawmakers face in Sacramento. He discussed issues such as energy policy, insurance coverage in wildfire-prone areas and the political divisions that sometimes slow progress.

“Spirit of compromise is seen by some as weakness. I see it as a strength,” Lackey said. “We better figure this out or we’re going to really hurt the people that we represent.”

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper (Sophia Lesseos KHTS)

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper also spoke about criminal justice policies and concerns he has with some of California’s parole and sentencing laws.

Cooper, who is known for frequently speaking out about crime policies on social media, discussed cases involving sex crimes against children and the need for stronger enforcement against repeat offenders.

He also referenced recent ballot measures related to crime, saying voters and policymakers don’t always see eye to eye on the issue.

“The voters passed Prop 36 overwhelmingly, but not one statewide official endorsed it,” Cooper said.

Economic policy was another topic discussed during the trip.

Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, spoke about the state’s budget outlook and concerns from the business community.

He said the state’s spending has increased faster than revenue in recent years.

“The state budget has grown about 5% year over year while spending is growing around 9%,” Lapsley said.

He also warned that additional tax proposals could push some high-income residents and businesses to relocate.

“We’re the highest-tax state in the country and the most expensive state in the country,” he said.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara (Sophia Lesseos KHTS)

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara discussed efforts to stabilize the state’s insurance market after years of devastating wildfires.

“California is the largest insurance market in the country,” Lara said, adding that regulators are working to balance the needs of consumers and insurance companies.

“We want insurers here, but we also have to protect consumers,” he said.

Water supply was another key topic for the Santa Clarita delegation.

Jennifer Pierre, president of the State Water Contractors, explained how the State Water Project provides water to millions of Californians and plays a major role in Southern California’s supply.

“About 27 million people rely on water delivered by the State Water Project,” Pierre said.

For the Santa Clarita Valley, imported water from the project makes up a significant portion of the region’s supply.

Jennifer Pierre, president of the State Water Contractors (Sophia Lesseos KHTS)

“Roughly half of the region’s water comes from the project,” she said.

California State Librarian Greg Lucas also spoke during the trip, highlighting the role libraries play in education and community access to information.

“The solution to most of California’s challenges starts with creating stronger readers,” Lucas said.

He described libraries as one of the most accessible public resources available to residents.

“The idea that anyone can walk in and use these resources completely free is extraordinary,” he said.

Senator Roger Niello Senator (Sop;hia Lesseos KHTS)

The KHTS Sacramento Road Trip is held each year to give Santa Clarita Valley leaders an opportunity to meet directly with policymakers and learn more about how decisions made in Sacramento could affect their community.

Participants said the discussions help give local leaders a better understanding of the challenges facing the state while also allowing them to share the concerns and priorities of the Santa Clarita Valley.

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