California Professional Firefighters

Issues and Legislation

California firefighters deserve the best … the best equipment, the best training, the best health care and retirement, the safest workplace. This simple creed has guided a legacy of success achieved on behalf of California’s first responders.

CPF has been the leader in bringing firefighters not only better pay, benefits and working conditions, but also vital protection of their basic rights as employees.

View our latest CPF-sponsored bills. Read legislative news relating to firefighters' interests. Find out more about the issues that CPF fights for.

Our Accomplishments


Among CPF's signature legislative accomplishments:

Our Team


With a laser-like focus on firefighter issues, our innovative, energetic and tenacious legislative team has helped California Professional Firefighters build a record of accomplishment few in Sacramento can match. Collectively, CPF's legislative team holds over a half century of legislative experience.

Christy Bouma
Governmental Advocate

Christy Bouma has been a no-nonsense, compassionate advocate for CPF for almost a decade. Her landmark contributions include drafting and lobbying for the California Firefighters Bill of Rights and the MRSA presumption law. She partnered with Brian Hatch in 2000, after an 11-year teaching career and is now president of Capitol Connection. She is also a board member on the Institute of Governmental Advocates, a member of the CompScope Advisory Committee of the Workers Compensation Research Institute and a member of the CalPERS Contracting Agency Benefits Advisory Panel.

Amy E. Howard
Legislative Director

Amy Howard has spent 17 years in the state's legislative and political arenas - 11 of those with CPF. She served under the press secretary for then-Senate President pro Tem David Roberti and has worked for California Public Interest Research Group, California Voter Foundation, Capitol Alert, Capitol Morning Report and Legi-Tech/State Net. At CPF, her duties include managing bill packages and issue directives, assisting in drafting legislation and monitoring legislative hearings.

Lindsey A. Freitas
Legislative Assistant

Lindsey Freitas has formerly worked on legislative issues for people with developmental disabilities with the Association of Regional Center Agencies and interned for Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo in her Capitol office. In her role with CPF, she tracks bills in the current legislative session, researches information on CPF-sponsored bills and facilitates the distribution of support and oppose letters.