July 6–12, 2026
New parks are coming to South LA and the Northeast, the county lifted its January fire emergency, and a batch of state budget bills became law.
Around the neighborhood. Two park expansions cleared the City Council this week and are now law. Grant money (26-0793) will flow to upgrades at Earnest Debs Park, Lincoln Park, North Valley Trails, and Mt. Carmel Recreation Center across multiple districts. Separately, the city accepted state funding (26-0573) to acquire and develop a new park at 355 South Kingsley Drive, in an area the state has flagged as a high-need neighborhood for green space. Both measures are now final at the city level; construction timelines depend on when grants are allocated and contracts are signed.
For fire-affected residents. The LA County Board adopted (26-3192) the end of the local emergency declaration tied to the January 2025 fires. That means expedited permits, emergency-only relief programs, and the flexible rules that were in place during the declared emergency period are now winding down. The county shifts back to its standard funding and reimbursement process. If you've been relying on any of those fast-track programs for rebuilding, check with your contractor or the county about what changes under the regular process.
In the schools. The county also adopted (26-3419) a new agreement setting the rules for how sheriff's deputies operate in LA County schools: what they can do, how they answer to the school district, and what gets reported to parents. The agreement is now in effect.
For workers and renters. California's new workers' compensation law (AB 1683) is now on the books. Injured workers can now receive their benefit payments on a prepaid debit card, potentially getting access to funds faster than a mailed check. State budget bills adjusting education spending (AB 126) and natural-resources programs including state parks and water systems (SB 166) both became law this week. A change to how California pays nursing homes (SB 165) is also now law; payment rates shape how many staff those facilities hire, which affects anyone with a family member in a nursing home. A technical tax change for intercounty pipeline operators (SB 1437) also became law, though its effect on county revenue is unclear.
The council also finalized several lawsuit settlements this week covering cases brought by individual plaintiffs against the city. The financial terms on each are still going through the Budget and Finance Committee. On housing accountability, the council's amendment (26-0775) giving the Citizen Oversight Committee clearer authority to review how funds from the ULA (United to House LA, the city's voter-approved housing measure) are spent is now law.
Two state resolutions, one designating May as Hypertension Awareness Month (ACR 215) and one recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Day (ACR 191), passed both chambers. Neither changes any law or program.
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Coming up next week:
Airport security upgrades at LAX. HR 8770 has cleared committee in the House and is headed to a floor vote. It redirects the $5.60 security fee already on your airline ticket to fund $500 million per year for baggage-screening equipment and $250 million for checkpoint technology at airports nationwide, including LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). No firm House floor date is set yet.
ALS research funding extension. HR 8205 cleared committee and would extend federal funding and fast-track drug approval programs for ALS (a fatal neurological disease) through 2031, giving research hospitals and labs like those at UCLA a stable funding runway. Still awaiting a floor vote.
Federal maternal health research. HR 6238 would direct the NIH (National Institutes of Health) to fund studies on reducing deaths and injuries during pregnancy and childbirth, with findings going to hospitals nationwide. It has cleared committee and is on the House calendar.
DHS community outreach reorganization. HR 7574 would require the Department of Homeland Security to submit a restructuring plan for its community engagement office within 120 days. For a city with large immigrant communities, how DHS conducts outreach matters locally; this bill is cleared for a House floor vote with no date confirmed.
See what's up for a vote now · Find your representatives