Sacramento, Calif. (August 10, 2026)—Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) is leading a coalition of 32 legislators urging Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders to restore wage parity between sheep and goat herders, warning that the current wage structure threatens California jobs and an increasingly important wildfire prevention tool.

The legislative letter calls on the Governor and state leaders to work with lawmakers to restore wage parity for sheep and goat herders and maintain prescribed grazing as a viable wildfire resilience strategy.

Sacramento, Calif. (June 25, 2026)—Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield), announced the passage of ACA 20, the Save for California’s Future Act, a constitutional amendment she authored to strengthen California’s Rainy Day Fund and better prepare the state for economic uncertainty.

Sacramento, Calif. (June 19, 2026)—Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) issued the following statement in response to reported cyber threats against water systems in Bakersfield and other Central Valley communities by an Iran-linked hacker group:

“The reported threat against Bakersfield and other Central Valley water systems must be taken seriously. When a foreign-linked hacker group claims it could have cut off water to American cities, it is not just a local concern — it is a national security warning.

Sacramento, Calif. (June 1, 2026)—Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) has been named the recipient of the 2026 LocalMotion Elected Official of the Year by the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG). The Senator’s focus on transportation priorities in the Central Valley has led to improved safety, increased economic vitality and critical infrastructure investments.

Sacramento, Calif. (May 29, 2026)—Ahead of the Legislature’s House of Origin deadline, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) announced that key components of her 2026 Valley Taxpayers Protection Plan successfully advanced through the California State Senate and now heads to the State Assembly for consideration.

The 2026 Valley Taxpayers Protection Plan focuses on lowering costs for working families, strengthening public safety, supporting economic growth in the Central Valley and improving government accountability and transparency.

Sacramento, Calif. (May 28, 2026)—Ahead of the Legislature’s House of Origin deadline, the California State Senate approved Senate Bill 1025, the Food Access and Affordability Act authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield). The measure now moves to the State Assembly for consideration. The bill seeks to improve coordination between California’s food assistance programs, expand outreach to underserved communities and make it easier for families to connect with critical food resources.

Sacramento, Calif. (May 28, 2026)—The California Senate today voted to advance Senate Bill 1181, the Valley Youth Safety Act, authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield). The Legislation would establish a pilot program focused on identifying school safety threats as they surface while bolstering coordination between schools, local law enforcement agencies and the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

Sacramento, Calif. (May 27, 2026)—State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) announced that The Peace Officer Protection Act successfully passed through the Senate and now heads to the Assembly for consideration.