SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Joe Patterson (R–Rocklin) announced the signing of three of his bills into law, each aimed at addressing key concerns in Assembly District 5 and across California.
“I’m proud to share that three bills I authored this year were signed into law by the Governor,” said Assemblyman Patterson. “These measures will have a meaningful impact on public safety, government transparency, and healthcare access—not only in Assembly District 5, but statewide.”
The three new laws—AB 1087, AB 1370, and AB 1152—will take effect on January 1, 2026. AB 1087 closes a legal loophole that allowed drunk drivers who caused fatal accidents to receive less probation time than those whose DUIs did not involve a fatality. The bill was inspired by a constituent who lost his father to a drunk driver and discovered the gap in state law. Moved by the story, Assemblyman Patterson took action to correct this injustice. AB 1370 increases government transparency by prohibiting legislators from using nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to hide legislative decisions from the public. The bill follows media reports revealing that some state lawmakers had signed NDAs to conceal the use of taxpayer funds. In response, Patterson authored legislation to end this deceptive practice. AB 1152 brings California into alignment with the majority of the nation by protecting the confidentiality of people seeking fertility treatment. By removing Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)—a common fertility medication—from California’s controlled substances list, the move aligns with Assemblyman Patterson’s ongoing efforts to reduce unnecessary regulation and government overreach, especially when it comes to healthcare.
“These bills reflect the priorities of the people I represent,” said Patterson. “Since day one, my goal has been to hold criminals accountable, advocate for common-sense policies, and ensure our government works for the people—not against them. I’m grateful these bills are now law and look forward to seeing their impact in the coming year.”
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