State of California California State Assembly Assemblymember Ash Kalra

The first Indian-American elected to the California State Assembly, Ash Kalra has established himself as a voice for the vulnerable, having authored bills that help animals, high school students, and working families, among others. Serving in District 27, which predominantly spans east San Jose, Kalra was reelected in 2018 and cruised to a third term after winning 74.5 percent of the vote in November 2020. After redistricting he moved to Assembly District 25—which is still predominantly along Santa Clara Valley’s eastern foothills—and won with 72.7 percent of the vote.

Background

Born in Toronto in 1972, Kalra moved to San Jose as a child, growing up in the Hayes neighborhood that he still lives in. After earning a law degree from Georgetown University, he worked for 11 years in the public defender’s office for Santa Clara County and then served eight years on the San Jose City Council. He has also been a long-time teacher at the Lincoln School of Law in San Jose.

Select Legislation

AB 2177, the Equine Welfare and Safety in Horse Racing Act: One of the more recent bills Kalra has authored, introduced in February 2020, addresses safety, welfare, and medication for horse racing. It would add required steps prior to euthanizing race horses for injuries, including mandating CT scan equipment use.

AB 2215, Veterinarians: cannabis: animals: At Kalra’s lead, California became the first state in the nation to allow veterinarians to discuss the use of medical cannabis for canines. While the Sacramento Bee noted that the bill faced early concerns, it passed relatively quickly from the time Kalra introduced it in early 2018, with then-Gov. Jerry Brown signing the bill into law that September.

AB 830, High school exit examination: repeal: California high school students who no longer have to take an exit exam for secondary school have Kalra to thank. He authored the 2017 bill that repealed the exam, with Kalra saying after Gov. Brown signed it that the state had adopted new and rigorous standards to prepare students for life after high school.