•Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1875—authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara)—into law on Oct. 6. This legislation grants judges discretion to waive or shorten California’s six-month divorce waiting period for victims and survivors of domestic violence, as the time period surrounding separation and divorce can be particularly dangerous for victims of domestic violence. Hart described the bill as the result of brainstorming with Laura Piña, a local mother, educator, advocate, and survivor of domestic violence. In 2024, Piña survived firearm-involved domestic violence shortly after initiating the divorce process. “At six months, California has one of the longest divorce waiting periods in the nation. Even Texas—which has a 60-day divorce waiting period—allows judges to expedite the proceedings when interpersonal violence is involved,” Hart stated. “If this bill can give even one victim or survivor light at the end of the tunnel to safety, it is worth it. I am grateful to the survivor advocates in our community for championing this safety measure.” Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch described leaving an abusive relationship as “one of the most difficult and dangerous times for a survivor of domestic violence,” in a release from Hart’s office. “Survivors should not face unnecessary legal barriers as they work to regain safety, stability, and control over their lives,” Savrnoch stated. “We appreciate Assemblymember Hart’s willingness to listen to survivors, advocates, and those working on the front lines of domestic violence and to turn those conversations into meaningful change.”
•U.S. Reps. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) and Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Adam Schiff (D-California) co-led 30 of their colleagues in calling for the House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders to reject the Hunt Amendment’s provision in the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment would grant the federal government unprecedented access to California-owned public lands associated with the Santa Ynez Unit and Las Flores Pipeline System—both out of service since the 2015 Refugio oil spill, until Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright invoked the Defense Production Act and ordered a restart of pipeline operations in early 2026. “[The Hunt Amendment] would grant extraordinary eminent domain authority to the federal government to circumvent established environmental protections for the benefit of a single private company,” the Oct. 6 letter stated, referring to Sable Offshore Corp. The legislators also argue in the letter that “there is no evidence that this provision would meaningfully advance our nation’s energy security.” The letter describes recent spikes in gasoline prices as driven by market uncertainty surrounding the war in Iran. “[This] underscores that global oil markets—not a single offshore project—continue to dictate prices at the pump,” the letter stated. “The federal government’s power of eminent domain is among its most significant authorities and should be exercised only when there is a clear and compelling public purpose—not to resolve private infrastructure disputes or increase the profitability of a single company.”
•The last day for Santa Barbara County residents to register for the Nov. 3 general election is Monday, Oct. 19. “Registering to vote or verifying that your voter registration is accurate is important,” Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Joe Holland stated in an Oct. 12 release from the county. For residents who prefer to register via a paper registration form, rather than online at sbcvote.com, registration cards are available at county elections offices. The Santa Maria Elections Branch Office is located at 511 Lakeside Parkway, suite 134, Santa Maria.
This article appears in October 15, 2026 – October 22, 2026.
