A bill that would change how families prepare for crises such as immigration enforcement or parental illness is awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature after clearing the Legislature last week with support from two Santa Barbara County representatives.

State Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) co-authored AB 495, known as the Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025 , and Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) voted for the measure during its final concurrence in the Assembly on Sept. 11.

If signed into law, the bill would take effect Jan. 1 and require schools and childcare facilities to distribute information about caregiver authorization affidavits — documents that allow trusted adults, including “nonrelative extended family members,” to enroll children in school and make certain m

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