Salinas-area lawmakers this year have focused their bills on everything from preventing future E. coli outbreaks to bolstering health care to keeping a lid on gang violence.

Senators Jeff Denham and Abel Maldonado, plus Assemblyman John Laird, all have bills on health care to cover children, allow tax-free savings for medical expenses and refund a tax credit for insurance expenses of small businesses.

"Child health is going to be big this year," Laird said.

Assemblywoman Anna Caballero has introduced several bills to help address E. coli outbreaks with more research and better water treatment.