Frances J. "Fran" Pavley was a Democratic member of the California State Assembly and Senate. Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1948, Pavley was raised in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Sherman Oaks, where she attended Ulysses S. Grant High School before earning a bachelor's degree in Social Science at Fresno State University. Upon her graduation in 1970, she moved to Agoura Hills and began what would be a twenty-nine-year teaching career. She entered local politics in 1982, becoming the first mayor of the newly independent city of Agoura Hills, serving four terms on the city council. During that time, she earned a master's degree in environmental planning from California State University, Northridge. From 1995 to 2000, she was an appointed member of the California Coastal Commission. She also served as a member of the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy, as well as president of the Los Angeles County Division of the California League of Cities. She was elected to the California State Assembly in 2000, where she would serve the maximum of three terms representing the 41st District. After leaving the assembly due to term limits, she was elected to the California State Senate in 2008, representing the 21st Senate District. She served two full terms in the senate, retiring from public service in 2016. During her legislative career, Pavley stood as one of California's leading environmental advocates. She authored the Clean Car Act, which established the most stringent tailpipe emissions standards. These standards became known as "Pavley's Law" and would serve as the basis for the national standards implemented by President Obama. Pavley also authored California's groundbreaking climate change bills, which created systematic processes for greenhouse gas reductions in the state. Other legislative victories include: establishing California's first statewide regulation of groundwater; creating the water-energy nexus law to track the carbon intensity in the movement and treatment of water; banning the use of lead in children's jewelry; and implementing the state's first regulations for oil techniques like fracking. In this interview, Pavley discusses growing up in Sherman Oaks and her time at Fresno State; her entry into local politics; her experience on the Coastal Commission; her decision to run for the state assembly; the long road to passing the Clean Car Act and AB 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act); running for the state senate; advocacy for autism awareness and bills pertaining to mercury and lead in items for children; regulating groundwater; addressing the use of fracking and other techniques by the oil and gas industry; the success of AB 32 and passage of SB 32 to further reduce greenhouse gas admissions; and reflections on a career in public service.