Gov. Gavin Newsom signed three bills into law this week authored by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur that address pet rescue during disasters, streamline identity document changes for transgender Californians and maintain access to sterile syringes for disease prevention.
The most prominent measure, AB 478 known as the FOUND Act, requires cities and counties to establish procedures for rescuing pets during mandatory evacuations. The bill was inspired by the story of Oreo, a Pomeranian who survived five days in debris from the Palisades Fire before being reunited with his owner.
"When disaster strikes, families are too often forced to make an impossible choice between their own safety and the safety of their pets," said Chavez Zbur, a Democrat who represents Hollywood and serves as Democratic Caucus Chair. "With the signing of the FOUND Act, California is saying clearly: no one should ever have to face that choice."
The legislation emerged from the harrowing experience of Pacific Palisades resident Casey Colvin, who was away from home when evacuation orders were issued during the Palisades Fire. Unable to return for his two dogs, Colvin enlisted the help of CalFire Battalion Chief Brent Pasquat, who rescued one dog but couldn't find Oreo. Five days after Colvin's home burned down, Oreo was spotted alive on the property remains.
"I was lucky enough to get the heroic assistance of Chief Brent Pascua to help me save my dogs, but so many were not as lucky as me," Colvin said. "I hope that nobody ever has to go through a disaster like we did, but unfortunately we know they will, but with the passage of AB 478, cities and counties will be prepared to help those residents who need to rescue their pets — their family."
Under the FOUND Act, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, local governments must outline pet rescue procedures while maintaining emergency officials' authority over safety decisions. The law also requires extended holding periods for rescued animals during declared emergencies and mandates that jurisdictions provide online information about pet evacuation and reunification resources.
The second measure, AB 1084, addresses growing challenges faced by transgender and nonbinary Californians seeking accurate identification documents. The bill requires courts to issue name and gender change orders within six weeks for adults and minors with parental consent.
"An accurate ID is so much more than a document — it affirms who you are," Chavez Zbur said. "For transgender and nonbinary Californians, it can mean the difference between safety and danger, affirmation and erasure."
The legislation comes as transgender Americans face increasing legal challenges. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, at least 616 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced nationally during the 2025 legislative session, with most targeting transgender people's access to healthcare, public spaces and identification documents.
"While the Trump administration works to block transgender people from obtaining accurate passports and other federal IDs, California is moving in the opposite direction," said Tony Hoang, executive director of Equality California, which sponsored the bill alongside TransFamily Support Services and Alliance for TransYouth Rights.
The measure, which takes effect July 1, 2026, aims to eliminate administrative delays that can leave transgender individuals vulnerable to discrimination and harassment while trying to access healthcare, enroll in school or travel safely.
The third bill, AB 309, maintains pharmacists' discretion to provide sterile syringes to adults without a prescription, continuing a public health strategy California has employed since 2004 to combat HIV, viral hepatitis and other bloodborne infections.
"After decades of progress, new HIV diagnoses began rising again in 2021 and 2022, and we know from extensive research that syringe access saves lives without increasing drug use," Chavez Zbur said. The assemblymember noted the approach saves money by preventing infections that cost more than $300,000 per person to treat.
Research spanning two decades confirms that increased access to sterile syringes reduces disease transmission rates. The measure, sponsored by the California Pharmacists Association, Health Officers Association of California, Drug Policy Alliance and San Francisco AIDS Foundation, ensures adults can continue possessing syringes for personal use without a prescription.
"We have decades of experience and research showing that sterile syringe provision reduces risk of HIV, viral hepatitis, and infectious disease," said Tyler TerMeer, CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "As we face unprecedented threats to our systems of public health, it is more important than ever to protect the public health strategies that we know prevent disease and save lives."
Susan Bonilla, CEO of the California Pharmacists Association, said the law ensures patients can obtain syringes needed for medications like insulin or hormone therapy "safely and conveniently from their local pharmacy."
All three measures passed the California Legislature unanimously. AB 309 takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
The bills represent Chavez Zbur's continued focus on protecting vulnerable communities and advancing evidence-based public health policies during his tenure representing the Hollywood area in the Assembly.