Sacramento, CA – Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) and Assemblywoman Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier) issued the following statement in response to the report filed yesterday by the California Earthquake Authority, pursuant to SB 254 (2025):
THE BUZZ OF THE BALL: Establishing a new Western electricity market was a major goal for Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders in 2025. Now, it’s becoming a reality.
On Friday, Nevada regulators gave NV Energy, the state’s largest utility, approval to join the new extended day-ahead energy market that California’s grid manager is setting up.
That news has California’s energy leaders buzzing.
“The NV Energy approval is particularly pivotal for our market,” Elliot Mainzer, president of the California Independent System Operator, said in an interview.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Irvine’s State Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris hosts an annual “Women of the Year” event to publicly honor women throughout the 73rd Assembly District for their extraordinary leadership and community service achievements.
We’re excited to announce that Irvine’s 2026 Woman of the Year is Noelle Smiley!
A group of California legislators last week gave early approval to a bill that would require anyone convicted of driving under the influence to install a breathalyzer on their vehicle.
The bill from Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Irvine, has broad bipartisan support and expands California’s existing pilot program, which requires those who have at least two DUI convictions to install what’s called an ignition interlock device on their cars for a designated period of time. These prevent cars from starting if the device detects a blood alcohol content above a certain limit.
Sacramento, CA – Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris’ legislation to strengthen California’s ignition interlock device (IID) program, AB 1830, passed unanimously out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. The bill would require ignition interlock devices—breathalyzers installed in vehicles—for individuals convicted of a first-time DUI, a step aimed at preventing impaired driving before it leads to tragedy.
Costa Mesa, CA – Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris and Orange County Coastkeeper hosted a river channel cleanup on Saturday, March 22, at the Santa Ana-Delhi Channel near the Upper Newport Bay—one of California’s few remaining estuaries. Volunteers collected 1,400 pounds of trash ranging from large bulky household items to bottles, disposable vapes, and Styrofoam that would otherwise end up in the Upper Newport Bay.
Costa Mesa, CA – Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris marked Women’s History Month by honoring Linda Sadeghi, Noelle Smiley, and Amy Nakamoto as the 2026 Women of the Year. The 8th Annual Women of the Year Celebration honors and elevates women whose extraordinary leadership, entrepreneurship, and volunteerism have made a lasting impact across Orange County.
An investigative series about California’s lax drunken driving laws by CalMatters is prompting the Legislature to take action with 10 new bills. Each one needs to be evaluated based on its merits. But it’s encouraging to see lawmakers spend their time on a deadly problem that is primarily caused by the state’s bureaucratic failures.
Bottom line: The Department of Motor Vehicles allows repeat DUI offenders to keep getting back on the road.