Assemblymember Chris Rogers Outlines Legislative Wins for North Coast, Discusses Remote Meetings and Sanctuary Status

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA – Assemblymember Chris Rogers, the new representative for the North Coast, provided a comprehensive legislative update at the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission meeting on Thursday, October 2, 2025. He detailed his office's focus on local district issues, efforts to counter federal policies, and his legislative priorities of addressing poverty, climate change, children's welfare, and health.

Rogers, whose district is the third largest in the state and stretches from Sonoma County to the Oregon border, highlighted several bills from his first session that are now awaiting the governor's signature. A key piece of legislation already signed into law aims to protect the tributaries of the Klamath River. Rogers emphasized that this bill not only supports the return of endangered salmon populations but also seeks to correct historical injustices by ensuring tribal voices are included in water rights adjudication.

"The last time water rights were adjudicated on the Klamath... truly were back in the early 1900s. And at that point, tribal voices were not considered people," Rogers stated. "And so what we did this year was we made sure that we maintained commitment to those voices and found balance between the water usage for our tribal community, for our fishermen, and for our farmers."

In response to what he described as California being a "target of the federal government," Rogers co-authored a package of bills aimed at protecting immigrant communities. These include new laws, already signed by the governor, that prohibit law enforcement from wearing masks during raids, require them to display badges, and prevent ICE from entering sensitive areas like hospitals and schools without a valid warrant. Another bill awaiting a signature would make it easier for family members to represent children in the legal system if a parent is detained by ICE.

During the question-and-answer session, a commissioner raised concerns about the Brown Act's limitations on remote participation for commission members in a geographically large county like Humboldt. Rogers addressed Senate Bill 77, which is currently on the governor's desk and aims to expand remote access. However, he expressed his own reservations, noting that he did not support the bill.

Drawing on his experience on the Santa Rosa City Council, Rogers cited the high cost of implementation (around $500,000 annually in Santa Rosa) and the lack of state funding in the bill. He also raised security concerns, referencing the rise of "Zoombombing," where meetings are disrupted by individuals spewing hateful comments. "There were no tools that were given to equip our locals, especially in our area where folks have fewer resources to be able to address that issue," he said.

On the topic of single-payer healthcare, Rogers, a supporter of the concept, stated that progress is stalled due to the need for a federal waiver, which he believes is unobtainable under the current presidential administration. In the interim, his office is focusing on smaller-scale solutions, such as a bill to protect local clinics like Open Door from pharmaceutical industry restrictions and a future proposal for an "MCO tax" on large corporations whose employees rely on Medi-Cal.

When asked about the security of Humboldt's sanctuary county status, Rogers offered reassurance. He stated that the Democratic caucus in Sacramento is firmly committed to the state's sanctuary law, SB 54, and that Humboldt would not stand alone if challenged by the federal government. "Humboldt County won't be on their own in that fight," he affirmed.

The commission also conducted its regular business, including approving minutes and hearing committee reports. A concern was raised during commissioner comments about the local rise in the recreational inhalation of nitrous oxide and aerosol computer dusters, with a commissioner sharing a personal story of its impact. The commission plans to invite representatives from the public health department to a future meeting to provide more information on the issue.