He chairs the Judiciary Committee and serves on Housing & Community Development, Labor & Employment, Natural Resources, and Utilities & Energy committees. He is Chair Emeritus of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and previously led the Labor and Employment and Aging and Long-Term Care committees.

Kalra authored the California Racial Justice Act (AB 2542, 2020) to address racial discrimination in sentencing, followed by AB 256 (2022) to apply it retroactively. A single-payer healthcare advocate, he introduced CalCare (AB 1400, 2021; AB 2200, 2024). He has championed elder care, public health, and nursing home protections.

To address housing and homelessness, he authored bills protecting renters (AB 2347), preserving affordable housing (AB 2926), and streamlining projects (AB 3122). He secured $2 million to extend San Jose's eviction diversion program and additional funding for its Responsible Landlord Engagement Initiative. His AB 1469 allows Valley Water to assist unsheltered individuals.

An environmental leader, Kalra pioneered AB 3030 (2019) to conserve 30% of California's lands and waters by 2030, followed by AB 2278 (2022) to track progress. He authored AB 454 (2019) to uphold migratory bird protections, AB 1162 (2019) to reduce plastic waste, and AB 2208 (2023) to phase out fluorescent bulbs. He secured funding for land conservation and Lake Cunningham improvements.

Kalra has also fought for workers' rights. His AB 1947 (2019) extended the deadline for worker retaliation claims, and AB 96 (2023) protected transit workers from job displacement due to automation. AB 2602 (2024) requires informed consent for AI-generated digital replicas in entertainment. He served on the Future of Work Commission, shaping labor policies.

Previously, Kalra spent eight years on the San Jose City Council and 11 years as a Santa Clara County Deputy Public Defender, advocating for indigent clients. He has also taught at San Jose State University and Lincoln Law School.

Born in Toronto, Kalra moved to California in 1978. He holds a B.A. in Communication from UC Santa Barbara and a law degree from Georgetown University.