Introducing State Assemblymember, Dawn Addis

Dawn Addis, the California state assemblymember who represents San Luis Obispo, impacts Cal Poly students through law and policy action. Assemblymember Addis puts effort towards affordable housing for students and communities as well as student data privacy.

“An important part of working in the legislature is knowing what it’s like for college aged students,” Addis said in an interview with Mustang News.

How does Addis’ work impact Cal Poly students?

As tensions in college communities rise, so do the cost of living and housing expenses, contributing to unaffordable housing for both students and community members.

Although focused in the Cal Poly community, it is not an exclusive and isolated environment.

Addis proposed AB 358 in the previous 2023-24 cycle, which streamlines building processes for college housing. The bill allows for cheaper construction costs and rapid building to meet demands of affordable student housing.

Addis co-authored SB 417, The Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, which is currently pending in the first chamber of legislation. Under the proposed law, support and state funding will help secure low-income, disability-supportive, farmworker and tribal housing along with homeownership, according to CalMatters.

“Having a college student child and marrying a Cal Poly alumni gives me a front row seat to college life on the central coast,” Addis said in an interview with Mustang News.

Addis spoke on meeting housing demands via infill housing, during an interview with Mustang News. Addis’ infill initiative works on developing housing lots that already exist within communities to provide more housing options.

“Infill housing makes it easier to build housing on vacant lots; not encourage sprawl but rather infill the community.” Addis said.

Additionally, Addis works to protect students’ personal information.

AB 1159, currently in the state legislature regarding student protections for third party educational companies preventing them from selling private student information. The bill expands an existing protection of K-12 education into higher education institutions.

“University students don’t have a way to opt out,” Addis said in an interview with Mustang News.

Addis works in advancing legislation aimed to prohibit individuals convected child sexual assault offenses from running for public office in California. Her efforts follow increased scrutiny surrounding cases involving educators accused of inappropriate conduct with minors, including a recent case tied to Cal Poly.

“It is a breach of private trust,” Addis said in an interview with Mustang News.

During the 2023-24 legislative session, Dawn Addis also co-authored the proposed Justice for Survivors Act, AB 452, which aimed to expand victims’ rights in childhood sexual assault prosecutions.

Addis’ background

Assemblymember Dawn Addis is a Democratic Representative for District 30 in the California State Assembly. District 30 includes portions of the Central Coast, such as portions of San Luis Obispo County along with portions of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.

Addis’ government work began with running for a position on Morro Bay City Council in 2018.

Since serving as a councilwoman, Addis has served in the state legislature since 2022.

Her electoral campaign funding in the 2024 election cycle totaled in the range of over $1.1 million. Addis won reelection in 2024 with a majority of the vote of 62.4%, defeating Republican challenger Dalila Epperson, according to CalMatters.

For the duration of the ongoing 2025–26 legislative session, Addis has introduced multiple bills addressing issues such as housing, environmental protection, student privacy and coastal access.

Addis introduction of AB 1536, offshore oil pipeline safety, promotes shoreline safety of both the environment but also recreational usage and introduces efforts to reduce oil spillage into the Central Coast waters, notably Morro Bay Beach.

Addis serves on several Assembly committees, with work focused on environmental policy, coastal protection and public safety, reflecting her Central Coast constituency. She is an active participant in legislative committee work and regional policy advocacy.

Addis’ political action contributes to further legislative action and protections from Immigration and Customs Enforcement intervention. She authored AB 2393, False imprisonment: false arrest: remedies, which strives to counter unlawful arrests without regard to individual liberty and protections.