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Robert Rivas was sworn in as the 71st Speaker of the California State Assembly during a special session Friday at the Capitol.

“California is still the greatest state in the union,” Rivas, a Hollister Democrat who represents the 29th Assembly District, said. “But if we do not act with greater urgency, it will get more and more difficult to build a good life here. We are responsible for protecting the building blocks of Californians’ everyday lives.”

Assemblymember Robert Rivas was sworn in Friday as the next speaker of California's state Assembly, becoming the first lawmaker from a rural district to hold the powerful office in the state's modern history.

Rivas, a 43-year-old Democrat representing the agricultural Central Coast area, replaces former Speaker Anthony Rendon after a months long power struggle last year. Rendon, the second-longest serving speaker in state history, terms out at the end of 2024 after serving as the California lower house's leader the last seven years.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Assemblymember Robert Rivas was sworn in Friday as the next speaker of California’s state Assembly, becoming the first lawmaker from a rural district to hold the powerful office in the state’s modern history.

Scott and Marisa sit down with Robert Rivas, the incoming Speaker of the state Assembly, to discuss his grandfather’s farmworker activism, politics in San Benito County, the legislature’s response to the fentanyl crisis, his priorities as Assembly speaker and how he will address concerns about conflicts with his brother’s political work.

PAJARO, Calif. — Governor Gavin Newsom was on the central coast Wednesday visiting, the flood ravaged area of Pajaro and the repairs that were made to close a 400 break in the levee that caused widespread flooding early Saturday morning.

The speaker is one of the most influential roles in the California Legislature. The speaker appoints members to different committees and decides who chairs those committees. They also have significant influence over the state budget, along with the governor and president of the State Senate.

On the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, we should celebrate its successes. San Francisco has stopped the dumping of raw sewage into the Bay. Rivers no longer catch on fire due to flammable contaminants. Wildlife has returned to once abandoned estuaries and wetlands. California has made great strides in protecting our waters for swimming, fishing, and other human activities — in affluent areas.

State officials are at work to make the life easier for single new parents relying on welfare.

Assembly Bill 1728, introduced by Assemblymembers Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), would automatically make single parents receiving CalWORKs benefits exempt from having to fulfill “welfare-to-work” program requirements for the first three years of their child’s life.

On most days, Rosalia Martinez finds it unbearable to live in the converted garage she shares with her husband and three young children. It’s a single room without privacy and the rent—$1,350 a month—is a lot more than the farmworker family can afford. But in Greenfield, an agricultural town on California’s central coast, it’s the best they could find.

“It’s uncomfortable, but here we are,” said Martinez. “We want to move, our children need more space, but there are no other homes for rent, there is literally nowhere else to move.”

On the steps of the California State Capitol, the state’s first and only California Native American serving in the state’s legislature stood with colleagues urging for a change in the way Native American history is taught in school districts statewide.

"This is just the beginning of a long process, and we're not going to sit back and take no for an answer," Assemblymember James Ramos said. "We're going to keep moving pieces of legislation with strong support with strong allies till we get the curriculum changed for factual information."