CA AB 1025 - Gail Pellerin
Standby Caretaker Act.
05/05/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
AB 1025, as amended, Pellerin. Standby Caretaker Act. Under existing law, the guardian or conservator of a minor has specified powers over the care, custody, and control of the minor. Existing law authorizes a caregiver, who properly completes and signs a caregiver’s authorization affidavit, to provide specified care to a minor, including, among other care, enrolling the minor in school and consenting to school-related medical care on behalf of the minor.This bill, the Standby Guardianship Act, would authorize, if specified conditions are met, a custodial parent or legal guardian of a minor child to designate a person to serve as a standby guardian of the person, the estate, or both of the minor child by completing a Standby Guardian’s Authorization Affidavit. The bill would authorize a custodial parent or legal guardian to also specify a person to serve as alternate standby guardian in case the originally designated standby guardian is or becomes unwilling or unable to act as standby guardian. The bill would require the designation of a standby guardian to take effect upon the occurrence of an adverse immigration action, as defined, to the custodial parent or legal guardian. The bill would prescribe the requirements for the designation of a standby guardian, including a statutory form for the Standby Guardian’s Authorization Affidavit that would be signed and witnessed under penalty of perjury, and prescribe the actions to be taken in the event of an adverse immigration action. By expanding the definition of the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.This bill, the Standby Caretaker Act, would authorize, if specified conditions are met, a custodial parent of a minor child to nominate a person to serve as a standby caretaker of a minor child upon the occurrence of an activating event, as defined. The bill would prescribe the requirements for the nomination of a standby caretaker or alternate standby caretaker, including a required statutory form that would be signed and witnessed under penalty of perjury. By expanding the definition of the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.This bill would prescribe the actions to be taken in the event of an activating event and at the conclusion of an activating event, including hearings to be conducted by the court. The bill would authorize a custodial parent to file a petition to terminate a standby caretaker nomination at any time and would impose a presumption that such a request is in the child’s best interest. The bill would require all related court records and documents to be kept confidential and accessible only to the parties to the proceeding and the court absent a valid court order, but would allow parties to the proceeding to share any court order appointing the standby caretaker or terminating the standby caretaker’s rights as necessary. Existing law provides that a pupil complies with the residency requirements for school attendance in a school district when, among other things, the pupil resides with a caregiving adult who is located within the boundaries of that school district. Under existing law, it is a sufficient basis for a determination of residency if the caregiving adult has submitted an affidavit, as specified, under penalty of perjury, unless the school district determines from actual facts that the pupil is not living in the home of the caregiving adult.This bill would also make execution of the Standby Caretaker’s Authorization form a sufficient basis for a determination of residency of a minor child under these provisions, as specified.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
CA AB 11 - Alexandra Macedo
Crimes: impeding emergency personnel.
01/24/2025 - From printer.
AB 11, as introduced, Macedo. Crimes: impeding emergency personnel. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to go to the scene of an emergency, or stop at the scene of an emergency, for the purpose of viewing the scene or the activities of police officers, firefighters, emergency medical, or other emergency personnel, or military personnel coping with the emergency in the course of their duties during the time it is necessary for emergency vehicles or those personnel to be at the scene of the emergency or to be moving to or from the scene of the emergency for the purpose of protecting lives or property and thereby impeding police officers, firefighters, emergency medical, or other emergency personnel or military personnel, in the performance of their duties in coping with the emergency. Existing law includes a person who operates or uses an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote piloted aircraft, or drone that is at the scene of an emergency, regardless of the person’s location.This bill would make it a felony to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote piloted aircraft, or drone, in violation of the provision mentioned above, during a fire-related emergency. The bill would make this crime punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for 16 months or for 2 or 3 years and a fine not to exceed $10,000. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
CA AB 1100 - LaShae Sharp-Collins
Victim compensation.
05/23/2025 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 1100, as amended, Sharp-Collins. Victim compensation. Existing law generally provides for the compensation of victims and derivative victims of specified types of crimes by the California Victim Compensation Board from the Restitution Fund, which is continuously appropriated to the California Victim Compensation Board. Existing law defines terms for the purpose of determining the eligibility of victims of crime for compensation from the Restitution Fund.This bill would make changes to the definition of “derivative victim” and “victim” and would define “victim of violent crime advocate” for purposes of these provisions.Existing law requires an application for compensation to be filed with the board in a manner determined by the board, authorizes the board to require submission of additional information, and requires the board to communicate any determination made with respect to the adequacy of the information received from the applicant, as specified. Existing law also requires the board to verify information with various entities, including hospitals and law enforcement officials, as specified. Existing law also creates a process for the board’s verification of information, including by requiring the applicant to cooperate with the board, as specified.This bill would authorize the board to verify information, but not require the board to do so, and would prohibit the board from seeking or requiring additional information solely to verify that the qualifying crime occurred if the board has already received a valid form of verification, as specified. The bill would also change the verification procedure in various ways. The bill would also require the board to accept certain information as evidence to verify that a qualifying crime occurred and that the injury or death on which the claim is based is a result of the qualifying crime, as specified.Existing law authorizes the board to deny an application based on the nature of the victim’s or other applicant’s involvement in the events leading up to the crime, as specified, and requires the board to deny an application for compensation if it finds that the victim or derivative victim failed to cooperate reasonably with a law enforcement agency in the apprehension and conviction of a criminal committing the crime. Existing law also prohibits a person who is convicted of a violent felony to receive compensation, as specified.This bill would delete those provisions. By expanding the pool of persons eligible to receive moneys from a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.Existing law authorizes to board to take certain actions in authorizing compensation for loss of income and support pursuant to specified law, including authorization to compensate an adult derivative victim for loss of income if certain conditions are satisfied and to compensate a victim who is a minor at the time of the crime, as specified. Existing law prohibits the amount payable to derivative victims pursuant to these provisions from exceeding $100,000.This bill would change some of the conditions that must be satisfied for compensating an adult derivative victim for loss of income, and remove the authorization to compensate a victim who is a minor at the time of the crime. The bill would reduce the cap on the amount payable to derivative victims pursuant to these provisions to $70,000.Existing law establishes the Department of Justice, and establishes that the department is under the direction and control of the Attorney General. Existing law requires the Attorney General to appoint agents and other employees to carry out the responsibilities of the department.This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that provision.
CA AB 1103 - Christopher M. Ward
Controlled substances: research.
05/20/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
AB 1103, as amended, Ward. Controlled substances: research. Existing law, the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, classifies controlled substances into 5 designated schedules, with the most restrictive limitations generally placed on controlled substances classified in Schedule I, and the least restrictive limitations generally placed on controlled substances classified in Schedule V. Existing law creates a Research Advisory Panel, as specified, to conduct hearings on, and in other ways study, research projects concerning controlled substances. Existing law authorizes the panel to approve research projects that have been registered with the Attorney General concerning the nature and effects of cannabis or hallucinogenic drugs and the treatment of abuse of controlled substances. Existing law authorizes a person who, under federal law, is entitled to use controlled substances for the purpose of research, instruction, or analysis, to lawfully obtain and use those controlled substances upon approval by the panel, as specified.This bill would revise and recast these provisions to require the panel to review research projects to be conducted in this state that require the administration of Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substances to human and animal research subjects. The bill would authorize the panel, until January 1, 2028, to expedite the review of projects that satisfy certain criteria, including, among others things, that have sought or received certain federal approvals and have proof of independent peer review of the study, as described. The bill would authorize the chairperson of the panel to assign 2 or more panel members to review the research project and to approve it, without a vote by the entire panel. The bill would authorize the panel to withdraw its approval for reasonable cause and would require the panel to provide notice and time for the concern to be cured by the project before withdrawing its approval.Existing law, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, requires, with specified exceptions, that all meetings of a state body be open and public and all persons be permitted to attend. Existing law, until January 1, 2027, authorizes the Research Advisory Panel to hold closed sessions for the purpose of discussing, reviewing, and approving research projects that contain sensitive and confidential information, including trade secrets, intellectual property, or proprietary information in its possession, the public disclosure of which is prohibited by law.This bill would extend the authorization to hold closed sessions to January 1, 2028.Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
CA AB 1127 - Buffy Wicks
Firearms: converter pistols.
04/21/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
AB 1127, as amended, Gabriel. Firearms: converter pistols. Existing law prohibits any person from selling, leasing, or transferring any firearm unless the person is licensed as a firearms dealer, as specified. Existing law prescribes certain requirements and prohibitions for licensed firearms dealers. A violation of any of these requirements or prohibitions is grounds for forfeiture of a firearms dealer’s license. For purposes of these provisions, existing law defines “machinegun” to mean, among other definitions, any weapon that shoots or is designed to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.This bill would prohibit a licensed firearms dealer to sell, offer for sale, exchange, give, transfer, or deliver any semiautomatic machinegun-convertible pistol, except as specified. For these purposes, the bill would define “machinegun-convertible pistol” as any semiautomatic pistol with a cruciform trigger bar that can be readily converted by hand or with common household tools into a machinegun by the installation or attachment of a pistol converter, as specified, and “pistol converter” as any device or instrument that, when installed in or attached to the rear of the slide of a semiautomatic pistol, replaces the backplate and interferes with the trigger mechanism and thereby enables the pistol to shoot automatically more than one shot by a single function of the trigger. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a fine, a 2nd violation punishable by a fine that may result in a suspension or revocation of the dealer’s license and removal from certain centralized lists maintained by the Department of Justice, and a 3rd violation punishable as a misdemeanor that shall result in the revocation of the dealer’s license and removal from certain centralized lists.Existing law prohibits the manufacture, sale, possession, or transportation of a machinegun, except as authorized. A violation of these prohibitions is punishable as a felony.This bill would expand the above definition of “machinegun” to include any machinegun-convertible pistol equipped with a pistol converter and, thus, prohibit the manufacture, sale, possession, or transportation of a machinegun-convertible pistol equipped with a pistol converter.This bill would make these provisions severable.By creating a new crime and expanding the application of an existing crime, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
CA AB 1152 - Joe Patterson
Housing Crisis Act of 2019: development policy, standard, or condition.
05/21/2025 - Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and HOUSING.
AB 1152, as amended, Patterson. Housing Crisis Act of 2019: development policy, standard, or condition. The Housing Crisis Act of 2019 prohibits certain counties and cities from enacting a development policy, standard, or condition that would have any of specified effects, including imposing or enforcing design standards on or after January 1, 2020, that are not objective design standards. The act authorizes certain counties and cities to enact a development policy, standard, or condition to prohibit the commercial use of land that is designated for residential use. The act defines “development policy, standard, or condition” for these purposes.This bill would provide that “development policy, standard, or condition” does not mean an action by certain counties or cities related to allowing a conservation easement to preserve residentially zoned property if certain conditions are met.The Permit Streamlining Act, which is part of the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each public agency to compile one or more lists that specify in detail the information that will be required from any applicant for a development project.This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to that provision.
CA AB 1160 - Lori D. Wilson
Military equipment.
05/23/2025 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 1160, as amended, Wilson. Military equipment. Existing law requires a law enforcement agency, as defined, to obtain specific approval of a governing body prior to acquiring military equipment, as specified. Existing law defines “military equipment” to include an unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicle.This bill would prohibit a law enforcement agency from purchasing, on or after January 1, 2027, an uncrewed, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicle unless the vehicle contains an option to turn off any data collection programs that are not necessary for the vehicle to function and the law enforcement agency uses an American data storage company, as defined, to house all data collected, including, but not limited to, video and photographic images, as specified, or both. For uncrewed, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2027, the bill would require a law enforcement agency to use an American data storage company. For uncrewed aerial or ground vehicles owned or possessed by a law enforcement agency prior to January 1, 2026, the bill would require the law enforcement agency to use an American data storage company after the current contract to house the data expires. The bill would require contracts entered into pursuant to these provisions with an American data storage company to prohibit the American data storage company from using, selling, renting, trading, or otherwise sharing this data with any other entity.
CA AB 1169 - Jeff Gonzalez
Wildlife grants: Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement program.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 1169, as amended, Jeff Gonzalez. Wildlife grants: Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement program. Existing law establishes the Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) program to encourage private landowners to voluntarily make their land available to the public for wildlife-dependent recreational activities, as specified. Existing law requires a cap on financial compensation offered to a private landowner of $30 per acre, or $50 per public participant per day. Existing law authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife, as part of the SHARE program, to make grants to, or enter into agreements with, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, or any other entities for purposes of carrying out the SHARE program.This bill would require, rather than authorize, the department to make those grants to, or enter into agreements with, the above-described entities, including a nonprofit conservation organization, when the department finds the grants or agreements are necessary for carrying out the purposes of the SHARE program. The bill would increase the required cap on financial compensation offered to private landowners pursuant to the SHARE program to $52 per acre, or $87 per public participant per day, and would require those figures to be adjusted annually for inflation, as provided. The bill would authorize the department to reimburse a nonprofit organization, a private landowner, or other entity for its services related to the implementation of the program.
CA AB 1170 - Diane B. Dixon
Maintenance of the codes.
05/07/2025 - Referred to Com. on JUD.
AB 1170, as introduced, Dixon. Maintenance of the codes. Existing law directs the Legislative Counsel to advise the Legislature from time to time as to legislation necessary to maintain the codes.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes in various provisions of the law to effectuate the recommendations made by the Legislative Counsel to the Legislature.
CA AB 1178 - Blanca Pacheco
Peace officers: confidentiality of records.
05/08/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
AB 1178, as amended, Pacheco. Peace officers: confidentiality of records. Existing law, the California Public Records Act, generally requires public records to be open for inspection by the public. Existing law provides numerous exceptions to this requirement. Under existing law, the personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers are confidential and not subject to public inspection. Existing law provides certain exemptions to this confidentiality, including the reports, investigations, and findings of certain incidents involving the use of force by a peace officer. Existing law authorizes an agency to redact the records disclosed for specified purposes including, among others, to remove personal data or information, as specified, and where there is a specific, articulable, and particularized reason to believe that disclosure of the record would pose a significant danger to the physical safety of the peace officer, custodial officer, or another person.This bill would require a court, in determining whether to redact a record where there is a specific, articulable, and particularized reason to believe that disclosure of the record would pose a significant danger to the physical safety of a person, to consider whether a particular peace officer is currently operating undercover and their duties demand anonymity.Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
CA AB 1184 - Joe Patterson
Department of Housing and Community Development: annual report: Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program.
03/24/2025 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. Read second time and amended.
AB 1184, as amended, Patterson. Department of Housing and Community Development: annual report: Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program. Existing law establishes the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program for the purpose of providing jurisdictions, as defined, with one-time grant funds to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address their immediate homelessness challenges, as specified. Under existing law, grants under the HHAP program are allocated in 4 rounds of funding, administered by the Interagency Council on Homelessness, as provided. Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to submit an annual report to the Governor and both houses of the Legislature on the operations and accomplishments during the previous fiscal year of the housing programs administered by the department. Existing law requires that the report include, among other things, the number of units assisted by those programs and the number of individuals and households served and their income level.This bill would additionally require that this report include an evaluation of the HHAP program.Existing law, the Housing Accountability Act, which is part of the Planning and Zoning Law, prohibits, among other things, a local agency from disapproving a housing development project or emergency shelter, or condition approval in a manner that renders the housing or emergency shelter infeasible, as specified, for a housing development project for very low, low-, or moderate-income households, or an emergency shelter, unless the local agency makes specified written findings supported by a preponderance of the evidence in the record. The act authorizes a project applicant, a person who would be eligible to apply for residency in the housing development or emergency shelter, or a housing organization to bring a lawsuit to enforce its provisions.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes those provisions.
CA AB 1221 - Isaac Bryan
Workplace surveillance tools.
05/23/2025 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 1221, as amended, Bryan. Workplace surveillance tools. Existing law establishes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement within the Department of Industrial Relations. Existing law authorizes the division, which is headed by the Labor Commissioner, to enforce the Labor Code and all labor laws of the state, the enforcement of which is not specifically vested in any other officer, board, or commission.This bill would generally regulate the use of workplace surveillance tools and an employer’s use of worker data. The bill would, among other things, require an employer, at least 30 days before introducing a workplace surveillance tool, to provide a worker who will be affected a written notice that includes, among other things, a description of the worker data to be collected, the intended purpose of the workplace surveillance tool, and how this form of worker surveillance is necessary to meet that purpose. The bill would define “employer” to include public employers, as specified. The bill would prohibit an employer from transferring, selling, disclosing, or licensing worker data to a vendor, unless the vendor is under contract to analyze or interpret the worker data and the contract includes certain terms. The bill would prohibit an employer from using certain workplace surveillance tools, including a workplace surveillance tool that incorporates facial, gait, or emotion recognition technology, except as specified. The bill would also prohibit an employer from using a workplace surveillance tool to infer specified categories of information about a worker, including, among others, their immigration status, veteran status, ancestral history, religious or political beliefs, disability status, criminal record, or credit history. The bill would require the Labor Commissioner to enforce the bill’s provisions, would authorize an employee to bring a civil action for specified remedies for a violation of the bill’s provisions, and would authorize a public prosecutor to enforce the provisions. The bill would subject an employer who violates the bill’s provisions to a civil penalty of $500 for each violation. The bill would define various terms for purposes of its provisions.
CA AB 1265 - Matt Haney
Income taxes: credits: rehabilitation of certified historic structures.
04/21/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
AB 1265, as amended, Haney. Income taxes: credits: rehabilitation of certified historic structures. The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law allow a credit against the taxes imposed by those laws, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and before January 1, 2027, for rehabilitation of certified historic structures, as defined, and, under the Personal Income Tax Law, for a qualified residence, as defined. Existing law allows an increased credit of 25% of the qualified rehabilitation expenditures with respect to a certified historic structure meeting any of certain criteria, including a rehabilitated structure that includes affordable housing for lower income households.Existing law requires, on an annual basis beginning January 1, 2021, until January 1, 2027, the Legislative Analyst to collaborate with the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee and the Office of Historic Preservation to review the effectiveness of these tax credits, as described.This bill would extend the operative dates of the above-described credit through taxable years beginning before January 1, 2031. The bill would increase the credit for certain certified historic structures from 25% to 30% of qualified rehabilitation expenditures. The bill, for purposes of certified historic structures eligible for the 30% credit, would require a rehabilitated structure for affordable housing for lower income households to include improvements to preserve existing affordable housing, as defined, and would authorize that credit percentage for a structure that is adaptively reused for housing with no less than 50% of the existing floor area used for housing. The bill would also extend the Legislative Analyst’s annual review requirement to January 1, 2031.Existing law requires any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure, as defined, to include exclusions from income, to contain, among other things, specific goals, purposes, and objectives that the tax credit will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements.This bill declares the intent of the Legislature to comply with this requirement.This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
CA AB 1346 - Carl DeMaio
Public postsecondary education: residency: dependents of members of the Armed Forces: reenrollments.
05/23/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
AB 1346, as introduced, DeMaio. Public postsecondary education: residency: dependents of members of the Armed Forces: reenrollments. Existing law requires the California State University, and requests the University of California, to require each campus in their respective systems to grant students the right to reenroll in their baccalaureate degree program after withdrawing or stopping out, if the student was in good academic standing with the university.Existing law establishes uniform student residency requirements for purposes of ascertaining the amount of tuition and fees to be paid by students of public postsecondary educational institutions. Existing law entitles a student to resident classification for the purpose of determining tuition and fees if the student is a member, or a natural or adopted child, stepchild, or spouse who is a dependent of a member, of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in the state on active duty, except as specified.Existing law prohibits a student who is attending, or has been admitted to, a public postsecondary educational institution from losing their resident classification if they are continuously enrolled at that institution and a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, even if that member is (1) thereafter transferred on military orders to a place outside this state where the member continues to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States, or (2) thereafter retired as an active member of the Armed Forces of the United States.This bill would extend the prohibition against losing resident classification to those same student dependents of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who are granted the right to reenroll even if the member of the Armed Forces has been transferred out of state or has retired from active duty.
CA AB 1388 - Isaac Bryan
Law enforcement: settlement agreements.
04/21/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 1388, as amended, Bryan. Law enforcement: settlement agreements. Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, and requires the commission to, among other things, establish a certification program for peace officers, as defined. Existing law requires the commission to establish procedures for accepting complaints from members of the public regarding peace officers or law enforcement agencies that may be investigated. Existing law establishes, within the commission, the Peace Officer Standards Accountability Division and requires the division, among other things, to bring proceedings seeking the suspension or revocation of certification of a peace officer.Existing law, the California Public Records Act, generally requires public records to be open for inspection by the public. Existing law provides numerous exceptions to this requirement. Under existing law, the personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers are confidential and not subject to public inspection. Existing law provides certain exemptions to this confidentiality, including the reports, investigations, and findings of certain incidents involving the use of force by a peace officer.This bill would prohibit a law enforcement agency from entering into a settlement agreement with a peace officer who has a pending complaint of misconduct with a term that requires the law enforcement agency to keep the misconduct confidential.This bill would additionally exempt agreements between an employing agency and a peace officer that, among other things, require the agency to destroy, remove, or conceal a record of a misconduct investigation. The bill would also require any agency employing a peace officer to report certain events to the commission, that occurred after January 1, 2020, and resulted in the peace officer’s separation from employment or appointment after January 1, 2023, and include the reason for the separation and whether the separation was part of the resolution or a settlement. The bill would declare that its provisions are severable.The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose.This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
CA AB 1411 - LaShae Sharp-Collins
Voter education and outreach plans.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 1411, as amended, Sharp-Collins. Voter education and outreach plans. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to adopt regulations requiring counties to design and implement programs intended to identify and register qualified voters who are not registered to vote. Existing law further requires the Secretary of State to adopt regulations prescribing minimum requirements for those programs. If the Secretary of State finds that a county has not designed and implemented a program meeting those minimum requirements, the Secretary of State must design the program for the county and report the violation to the Attorney General.This bill would repeal the above provisions. The bill would instead require counties that do not conduct an election as an all-mailed ballot election, as specified, to design and implement a voter education and outreach plan to identify and register qualified voters who are not registered to vote. The bill would require such plans to provide information to the public about specified topics, such as vote by mail procedures and options for military and overseas voters. The bill would require county elections officials to submit amendments to their plans to the Secretary of State, who must make the current version of each plan available on the Secretary of State’s internet website. The bill would require the Secretary of State to provide county elections officials a template for their plans.By imposing new duties on local elections officials, the bill would create a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Existing law governs the conduct of state and local elections.This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that pertains to elections.
CA AB 1412 - Jeff Gonzalez
Special education: pupil transfers: residency requirements: records.
05/23/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
AB 1412, as amended, Jeff Gonzalez. Special education: pupil transfers: residency requirements: records. (1) If an individual with exceptional needs, as defined, transfers from outside the state to a district, as defined, in the state, or transfers from district to district, within the same academic year, existing law requires local educational agencies, as defined, to provide the pupil with a free appropriate public education, including services comparable to those described in the previously approved individualized education program, in consultation with the parents, until the local educational agency conducts a federally required assessment, if determined to be necessary by the local educational agency, and develops a new individualized education program, if appropriate, that is consistent with federal and state law.This bill would require a local educational agency, within 30 days of receipt of official records or specified unofficial records, to either adopt and implement the individualized education program previously adopted for the pupil or develop, adopt, and implement a new individualized education program for the pupil that is consistent with federal and state law, if applicable. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local education agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(2) Existing law ratifies the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, as specified.Existing law requires the new school in which an individual with exceptional needs enrolls to take reasonable steps to promptly obtain the pupil’s records from their previous school, including the individualized education program and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision of special education and related services to the pupil, pursuant to specified federal law.This bill would expressly require those reasonable steps to also be consistent with specified requirements of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, and would require the new school to accept unofficial records provided by the pupil’s parent or guardian until validated by official records, consistent with specified requirements of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(3) Existing law provides that each person between 6 and 18 years of age not exempted is subject to compulsory full-time education and requires a person subject to compulsory education to attend the public full-time day school or continuation school or classes in the school district in which the residence of the parents or legal guardian is located. Existing law provides that a pupil complies with the residency requirements if the pupil’s parent is transferred or is pending transfer to a military installation within the state while on active military duty pursuant to an official military order, and requires a parent to provide proof of residence in the school district within 10 days after the published arrival date provided on official documentation.This bill would expressly provide that the above-described provisions apply to all pupils whose parent is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, including pupils eligible for services or accommodations pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as applicable. The bill would require school districts, upon notification that a pupil who is enrolling pursuant to the above-described provisions is receiving, or may eligible to receive, services or accommodations pursuant to federal law, to promptly coordinate with the pupil’s parents and previous school, as provided. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local educational agenci
CA AB 1433 - LaShae Sharp-Collins
Education finance: funding: noncredit instruction.
05/14/2025 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
AB 1433, as introduced, Sharp-Collins. Education finance: funding: noncredit instruction. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the community college campuses they operate and maintain. Existing law provides for a formula for the calculation of general purpose apportionments of state funds to community colleges. Existing law provides a separate formula for the allocation of apportionments of state funds to community colleges, which uses the numbers of full-time equivalent students as its basis, for use for apportionments for noncredit instruction and instruction in career development and college preparation. Existing law specific the noncredit courses, noncredit classes, and support services that are eligible for state apportionment.This bill would require the board of governors to allocate base funding for designated categorical programs to noncredit colleges, as defined, and noncredit centers, as defined, that meet specified conditions. The bill would specify that the categorical programs eligible for those base funding allocations include, but are not limited to, disabled student programs and services, mental health services, and veteran resource centers. The bill would require the board of governors, in consultation with the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to determine the methodology for allocating the base funding.
CA AB 1508 - Tri Ta
Governor’s Military Council.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 1508, as introduced, Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. Governor’s Military Council. Existing law establishes the Governor’s Military Council that advises the Governor on efforts to retain military installations and operations within the state. Under existing law, members of the council are appointed by the Governor and include bipartisan representatives from the Senate and Assembly, as specified. Existing law repeals the law establishing the council on January 1, 2026.This bill would extend the repeal date for those provisions until January 1, 2031.
CA AB 1509 - Tri Ta
Veterans: educational assistance.
05/21/2025 - Referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
AB 1509, as introduced, Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. Veterans: educational assistance. Existing law creates the Department of Veterans Affairs, headed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, imbued with certain powers and duties with regard to providing services and support to veterans and their dependents and survivors. The department is authorized to cooperate and contract with the duly authorized representative of the United States government in carrying out its duties. Existing law provides various benefits to veterans and their dependents including opportunities for veterans to continue their education. Existing federal law provides educational awards for eligible active duty members and veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States.This bill would create the California State Accrediting Agency for Veterans Education (CSAAVE) within the department. The bill would require the CSAAVE to implement federal requirements and administer state requirements for an organization that is seeking authorization to offer education awards under federal law, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to adopt and amend regulations to implement these provisions. This bill would provide that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has signatory authority for the CSAAVE.
CA AB 1510 - House Public Employment and Retirement Committee
State employees: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority: employee relations.
05/21/2025 - Referred to Coms. on L., P.E. & R. and JUD.
AB 1510, as introduced, Committee on Public Employment and Retirement. State employees: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority: employee relations. Existing law requires the state to provide certain benefits and compensation to a state employee who, who as a member of the California National Guard or a United States military reserve organization, is called into active duty as a result of the Bosnia crisis on or after November 21, 1995. Existing law also requires the state to provide certain benefits to a state employee who, as a member of the California National Guard or United States military reserve organization, is ordered to active duty on and after September 11, 2001, as a result of the War on Terrorism. Existing law requires the state to reimburse the cost of insurance premiums for certain state employees for the period of time on active duty, not to exceed 365 calendar days.This bill would repeal the provisions requiring the state to provide benefits and compensation for a state employee called into active duty as a result of the Bosnia crisis. The bill would increase the maximum number of calendar days for reimbursement for the cost of the insurance premium to 730 cumulative calendar days.Existing law, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Act, establishes the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority with various powers and duties relative to transportation projects and services and the operation of public transit in the County of Santa Clara.Existing law establishes the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) in state government as a means of resolving disputes and enforcing the statutory duties and rights of specified public employers and employees under various acts regulating collective bargaining, including the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act. Existing law vests PERB with jurisdiction to enforce certain provisions related to the authority’s employees, over charges of unfair practices for represented authority employees, subject to a selection by an exclusive representative. Existing law, in the case of such a selection, gives PERB jurisdiction over the initial determination as to whether those charges are justified and, if so, the appropriate remedy, subject to certain restrictions.This bill would authorize any charging party, respondent, or intervenor aggrieved by a final decision or order of PERB in an unfair practice case, except a decision of PERB not to issue a complaint in such a case, to petition for a writ of extraordinary relief from that decision or order, as specified. The bill, if the time to petition for extraordinary relief from a PERB decision or order has expired, would authorize PERB to seek enforcement of any final decision or order in a district court of appeal or superior court having jurisdiction over the county where the events giving rise to the decision or order occurred, as specified.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the authority.
CA AB 1516 - Tri Ta
Real property taxation.
05/15/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
AB 1516, as introduced, Committee on Revenue and Taxation. Real property taxation. (1) The California Constitution generally limits the maximum rate of ad valorem tax on real property to 1% of the full cash value of the property and defines “full cash value” for these purposes as the appraised value of real property when purchased, newly constructed, or a change in ownership has occurred after the 1975 assessment. Pursuant to constitutional authorization, existing property tax law excludes from the definition of “newly constructed” for these purposes the construction or addition of any active solar energy system, as defined, through the 2025–26 fiscal year, as provided. Existing law provides the exclusion for an active solar energy system applies to the initial purchaser of a new building, as provided, and requires the initial purchaser to file a claim with the assessor. This bill would state a claim filed by an initial purchaser is timely if it is filed within three years of the date of purchase. The bill would also provide that an otherwise valid claim for exclusion filed after the three year deadline would be applied beginning on the lien date for the assessment year in which the claim is filed. The bill would make these provisions operative beginning January 1, 2027.(2) Existing law, with respect to supplemental property tax assessments, specifies various limitation periods for assessments on the supplemental tax roll. Existing law provides for the application of property tax exemptions to those supplemental assessments provided, among other things, that an assessee file an exemption application within a specified time. Existing property tax law allows taxes, penalties, and interest imposed for late filings of property tax exemption applications for the supplemental roll that exceed $250 in total to be canceled or refunded up to 85% or 90%, as applicable, in the case of the exemption for a college, cemetery, church, religious, exhibition, or veterans’ organization.This bill would expand this reduction to be applied to exemptions for public schools, as provided.(3) Existing property tax law provides, with respect to property eligible for the college, cemetery, church, religious, exhibition, veterans’ organization, free public libraries, free museums, public schools, community colleges, state colleges, state universities, tribal housing, or welfare exemption but for which a timely application for exemption was not filed, that 90% of any tax or penalty or interest on that property shall be canceled or refunded if an appropriate application for exemption is filed on or before the lien date in the calendar year next succeeding the calendar year in which the exemption was not claimed by a timely application.Existing property tax law requires, if an appropriate application for exemption is filed within 90 days from the first day of the month following the month in which the property was acquired or by February 15 of the following calendar year, whichever occurs first, any tax or penalty or interest imposed upon property owned by any organization qualified for the college, cemetery, church, religious, exhibition, veterans’ organization, tribal housing, or welfare exemption that is acquired by that organization during a given calendar year, after the lien date but before the first day of the fiscal year commencing within that calendar year, if the property is of a kind that would have been qualified for the college, cemetery, church, religious, exhibition, veterans’ organization, tribal housing, or welfare exemption if it had been owned by the organization on the lien date, to be canceled or refunded.This bill would add public schools to the list of entities eligible for the cancellation or refund of any tax or penalty or interest imposed on property acquired in a given calendar year after the lien date but before the first day of the fiscal year commencing within that calendar year. The bill also would make conforming changes. By
CA AB 264 - Juan Carrillo
Veterans: benefits.
01/17/2025 - From printer. May be heard in committee February 16.
AB 264, as introduced, Carrillo. Veterans: benefits. Existing law establishes various educational benefits for dependents of veterans who were killed during military service or are totally disabled, as specified. Existing law defines “dependent of a veteran” to include the spouse of a totally disabled veteran. Existing law prohibits a dependent of a veteran from receiving these educational benefits during the time the dependent is entitled to receive specified federal educational benefits or duplicate assistance from any other government source.This bill would repeal that prohibition.
CA AB 274 - Rhodesia Ransom
Abandoned and derelict vessels: inventory.
03/03/2025 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
AB 274, as amended, Ransom. Abandoned and derelict vessels: inventory. Existing law establishes within the Natural Resources Agency, the State Lands Commission consisting of the Controller, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Director of Finance. Existing law vests in the commission with exclusive jurisdiction over all ungranted tidelands and submerged lands owned by the state, and of the beds of navigable rivers, streams, lakes, bays, estuaries, inlets, and straits, including tidelands and submerged lands. Existing law authorizes the commission to take immediate action to remove from areas under its jurisdiction a vessel that is left unattended and is moored, docked, beached, or made fast to land in a position as to obstruct the normal movement of traffic or in a condition as to create a hazard to navigation, other vessels using a waterway, or the property of another. Existing law requires the commission, by July 1, 2019, and in consultation with other relevant state and local agencies directly involved in the removal of abandoned vessels, to develop a plan for the removal of abandoned commercial vessels.This bill would require the commission, on or before January 1, 2027, to create an inventory of all abandoned and derelict commercial and recreational vessels on or in waters within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, including commercially navigable waters, as specified. The bill would require the inventory to include specified information about each vessel, including, among other things, the amount of commercial and recreational vessels located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the estimated size and weight of each commercial or recreational vessel. The bill would make these provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.Existing law requires the sheriff of any county in which any wrecked property is found, when no person entitled to possession appears, to take possession of it in the name of the people, cause its value to be appraised by disinterested persons, and keep it in some safe place to answer the owner’s claims. This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that requirement.
CA AB 39 -
General plans: Local Electrification Planning Act.
12/03/2024 - From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.
AB 39, as introduced, Zbur. General plans: Local Electrification Planning Act. Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires a city or county to adopt a comprehensive general plan for the city’s or county’s physical development that includes various elements, including, among others, a land use element that designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land in specified categories, and a circulation element that identifies the location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares, transportation routes, terminals, any military airports and ports, and other local public utilities and facilities, as specified.This bill, the Local Electrification Planning Act, would require a city, county, or city and county, on or after January 1, 2027, but no later than January 1, 2030, to prepare and adopt a specified plan, or integrate a plan in the next adoption or revision of the general plan, that includes locally based goals, objectives, policies, and feasible implementation measures that include, among other things, the identification of opportunities to expand electric vehicle charging, as specified, and includes policies and implementation measures that address the needs of disadvantaged communities, low-income households, and small businesses for equitable and prioritized investments in zero-emission technologies that directly benefit these groups. For these purposes, the bill would authorize a city, county, or city and county to incorporate by reference into the general plan a previously adopted similar plan that meets the above-described requirements, as specified. By increasing the duties of local public officials, the bill would establish a state-mandated local program.The bill would deem a plan adopted pursuant to these provisions as a regional plan for specified purposes. The bill would require that the above-described provisions only apply to a city, county, or city and county with a population greater than 75,000 residents. The bill would define terms for these purposes.The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
CA AB 417 - Juan Carrillo
Local finance: enhanced infrastructure financing districts: community revitalization and investment authorities.
03/28/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 417, as amended, Carrillo. Local finance: enhanced infrastructure financing districts: community revitalization and investment authorities. (1) Existing law authorizes the legislative body of a city or a county to designate a proposed enhanced infrastructure financing district to finance public capital facilities or other specified projects, including acquisition, construction, or repair of commercial structures by the small business occupant of such structures, if such acquisition, construction, or repair is for purposes of fostering economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as specified, with a governing body referred to as the public financing authority, by adopting a resolution of intention to establish the proposed district.This bill would revise these provisions to instead authorize the designation of a proposed enhanced infrastructure financing district to finance capital facilities or other specified projects for the acquisition, construction, or repair of commercial structures by the small business occupant of such structures, as described above, if such acquisition, construction, or repair is for purposes of fostering economic recovery of a community, as specified.Existing law requires the public financing authority of an enhanced infrastructure financing district to hold a meeting and 3 public hearings on a proposed infrastructure financing plan, as provided. Existing law requires the public financing authority to review the enhanced infrastructure financing plan at least annually and to make any amendments, as specified. Existing law authorizes amendments to an approved infrastructure financing plan, as described, subject to approval by a majority vote of the governing board at a public hearing held following the provision of a 30 day mailed notice, as described. Existing law requires amendments that propose the increase of the limit of the total number of dollars in local taxes allocation to the plan to be adopted in accordance with all notices and hearing requirements for the affected landowners and residents within the proposed additional territory applicable to an initial proposed enhanced infrastructure financing plan.This bill would instead authorize the amendments, as specified, or the addition of a participating taxing entity and its representatives as members of a public financing authority after the date of district formation, to be approved by a majority vote of the public financing authority at a public hearing held following the provision of a 30-day mailed notice, as described above. The bill would instead require amendments that propose the increase of the limit of the total number of dollars in local taxes allocation to the plan, except where the increase is the result of an affected taxing entity agreeing to participate in the existing district and the plan is amended, as specified, to be adopted in accordance with all notices and hearing requirements, as described above.Existing law requires a public financing authority to adopt an annual report on or before June 30 of each year after holding a public hearing.This bill would instead require a public financing authority to adopt an annual report within 7 months of the close of each fiscal year after holding a public hearing.If, after the date of district formation, an affected taxing entity adopts a resolution approving the plan and to participate in the division of taxes used to finance an enhanced infrastructure financing district, existing law requires the division of taxes to be based upon the last equalized assessment roll that is used for the district, as specified.This bill would additionally authorize an affected taxing entity to, at any time after the date of district formation, approve the plan and participate in the division of taxes used to finance the activities of a district, by adopting a resolution of the governing body.(2) Existing law authorizes the creation of community revitalization and investment authorities, as specifi
CA AB 426 - Diane B. Dixon
Impeding emergency response with drone.
04/03/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
AB 426, as amended, Dixon. Impeding emergency response with drone. Existing law makes it a crime for a person to operate or use an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote piloted aircraft, or drone at the scene of an emergency for the purpose of viewing the scene or emergency or military personnel, and thereby impede the emergency or military personnel, in the performance of their duties in coping with the emergency. Existing law excuses a local public entity or public employee from liability for damage to an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system, if the damage was caused while the local public entity or public employee of a local public entity was providing, and the unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system was interfering with, the operation, support, or enabling of any emergency service, as specified. Existing law imposes liability for physical invasion of privacy on a person if the person knowingly enters onto the land or into the airspace above the land of another person without permission or otherwise commits a trespass in order to capture any image or recording of the other person engaging in a private activity and the invasion occurs in a manner that is offensive to a reasonable person.This bill would prohibit a person from operating or using an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote piloted aircraft, or drone at the scene of an emergency and thereby impeding firefighters, peace officers, medical personnel, military personnel, or other emergency personnel in the performance of their fire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response duties, unless the person has a federal operational waiver, as specified. The bill would authorize the Attorney General or a county counsel or city attorney to bring civil action to enforce the prohibition and authorize a prevailing plaintiff to recover civil penalties, injunctive relief, or reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, as specified.
CA AB 468 - Blanca Pacheco
Crimes: looting.
04/09/2025 - From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 8).
AB 468, as amended, Gabriel. Crimes: looting. Existing law defines the crime of burglary as entering specified buildings, places, or vehicles with the intent to commit grand or petty theft or a felony. Existing law clarifies that a structure designed for habitation is being used for dwelling purposes if, at the time of the burglary, it was not occupied solely because a disaster caused the occupants to leave the premises.This bill would specify that neither the fact that the structure entered has been damaged by a natural or other disaster, nor the extent of the damage, shall preclude conviction.Existing law defines looting as the commission of certain offenses during and within an affected county in a state of emergency or local emergency, as specified. Existing law includes any 2nd-degree burglary or grand theft in the definition of looting, and makes looting based on those offenses punishable by either imprisonment in a county jail for one year or as a felony. Existing law also makes the crime of looting based on petty theft punishable as a misdemeanor.Existing regulations define an “evacuation area” as a geographic area from which civilians have been evacuated pursuant to an evacuation order and where movement and entry are controlled by fire and law enforcement personnel having jurisdictional authority. Existing regulations define an “evacuation warning” as alerting community members in a defined area of a potential threat to life or property. This bill would recast the offense of looting to include adding 1st degree burglary, 2nd degree burglary, grand theft, trespass, and theft from a vehicle, when those offenses are committed in an evacuation zone, to the crime of looting. The bill would also, for the purposes of looting, define an evacuation zone as an evacuation area or an area subject to an evacuation warning and would include in the definition a principal residence, as defined, while it is undergoing reconstruction following damage or destruction caused by a disaster after an evacuation order or warning has been lifted. The bill would impose increased penalties for these offenses committed within an evacuation zone, as specified, and would thus create a state-mandated local program.Existing law requires a person arrested for a misdemeanor to be released on a notice to appear except as specified.This bill would prohibit a person arrested for looting from being released on a notice to appear and would require the court, before such a person is released, to make a judicial determination of their risk to public safety and likelihood of returning to court.Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to impersonate certain personnel, including a peace officer or an officer or member of a fire department, with the intent of fraudulently impersonating such a person, or of fraudulently inducing the belief that they are such a person. This bill would make it a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a person, other than specified emergency services providers or members of the military, to wear, exhibit, or use the uniform, insignia, emblem, device, label, certificate, card, or writing of one of those specified emergency services providers or members of the military with the intent of fraudulently inducing the belief that they are one of those specified emergency services providers or members of the military during and within an affected county in a state of emergency, a local emergency, or under an evacuation order, as specified. The bill would also impose a sentencing enhancement if a person other than a specified emergency services provider or member of the military wears, exhibits, or uses the uniform, insignia, emblem, device, label, certificate, card, or writing of one of those specified emergency services providers or members of the military during the commission of a felony during and within a state of emergency, local emergency, or evacuation order, as specified.By creating a new crime, by increasing the puni
CA AB 48 -
Education finance: postsecondary education facilities: College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026.
12/03/2024 - From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.
AB 48, as introduced, Alvarez. Education finance: postsecondary education facilities: College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026. (1) The California Constitution prohibits the Legislature from creating a debt or liability that singly or in the aggregate with any previous debts or liabilities exceeds the sum of $300,000, except by an act that (A) authorizes the debt for a single object or work specified in the act, (B) has been passed by a 2/3 vote of all the Members elected to each house of the Legislature, (C) has been submitted to the people at a statewide general or primary election, and (D) has received a majority of all the votes cast for and against it at that election.This bill would set forth the College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026 as a state general obligation bond act that would provide $____ to construct and modernize education facilities, as specified. This bond act would become operative only if approved by the voters at the ____, statewide primary election. The bill would also provide for the submission of the bond act to the voters at that election.(2) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to impose, as specified, an alternative fee, charge, dedication, or requirement on developers to fund school facilities, until the date new construction bond proceeds authorized by the Preschool-College Public Education Bond Act of 2016 are expended, or December 31, 2020, whichever is earlier.This bill would remove this authority beginning the earlier of an unspecified date or the date new construction bond proceeds authorized by the 2016 bond act are expended or apportioned, until an unspecified date. The bill would also exempt multifamily housing developments that are located no further than 1/2 mile from a major transit stop, and reduce by 20% from specified amounts for any other multifamily housing developments, as specified, from any fee, charge, dedication, or other requirement for the construction or reconstruction of school facilities, as provided.(3) This bill, except for the provision making the provisions of the bill severable, would become effective upon the adoption of the College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026 by the voters at the ____, statewide primary election.
CA AB 52 - Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry
Native American resources.
03/10/2025 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
AB 52, as amended, Aguiar-Curry. Native American resources. (1) Existing law finds and declares it to be the public policy and in the public interest of California to encourage the voluntary conveyance of conservation easements to qualified nonprofit organizations. Existing law defines the term “conservation easement” for these purposes, and authorizes certain entities and organizations to acquire and hold conservation easements, including a federally recognized California Native American tribe or a nonfederally recognized California Native American tribe that is on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission, to protect a California Native American prehistoric, archaeological, cultural, spiritual, or ceremonial place, if the conservation easement is voluntarily conveyed.This bill would instead authorize a California Native American tribe that is on the above-described contact list, to protect a California Native American prehistoric, archaeological, cultural, spiritual, or ceremonial place, to acquire and hold conservation easements, if the conservation easement is voluntarily conveyed or otherwise conveyed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.(2) Existing law establishes the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to serve the Governor and the Governor’s cabinet as staff for long-range planning and research and to constitute as the comprehensive state planning agency. Existing law requires the office to, among other things, encourage the formation and proper functioning of, and provide planning assistance to, city, county, district, and regional planning agencies. In connection with these responsibilities, existing law requires the office to develop and adopt guidelines for the preparation of and the content of the mandatory elements required in city and county general plans, as prescribed. By March 1, 2005, existing law requires the guidelines to contain advice, developed in consultation with the Native American Heritage Commission, for consulting with California Native American tribes, as specified.This bill would instead require, by March 1, 2026, the guidelines to contain advice, developed in consultation with California Native American tribes that are on the contact list administered and maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission, as described, and the Native American Heritage Commission, for consulting with and obtaining tribal information and knowledge from California Native American tribes, as specified. The bill would make related conforming changes.(3) Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law and the Subdivision Map Act, requires local governments to hold public hearings regarding various land use actions contemplated by those governments and provide notice of those public hearings, as specified. Existing law requires specified notices to be mailed or delivered at least 10 days prior to the hearing to any person who has filed a written request for notice with either the clerk of the governing body or with any other person designated by the governing body to receive these requests. Existing law defines a “person” to include a California Native American tribe that is on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.This bill would instead require notice to be given, as described above, to any California Native American tribe that is on the contact list administered and maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission, as specified, that has filed a written request, as described above.(4) Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires a city, county, or city and county to prepare a general plan for its jurisdiction that contains certain mandatory elements and requires the local planning agency to provide opportunities for the involvement of citizens, California Native American Indian tribes, public agencies, public utility companies, and civic, education, and other community groups through public hearings and other appropriate
CA AB 53 - Blanca Pacheco
Personal income taxes: exclusion: Military Services Retirement and Surviving Spouse Benefit Payment Act.
02/03/2025 - Referred to Com. on Rev. & Tax.
AB 53, as introduced, Ramos. Personal income taxes: exclusion: Military Services Retirement and Surviving Spouse Benefit Payment Act. The Personal Income Tax Law imposes a tax on individual taxpayers measured by the taxpayer’s taxable income for the taxable year, but excludes certain items of income from the computation of tax, including an exclusion for combat-related special compensation.This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2037, would exclude from taxable income retirement pay received by a taxpayer from the federal government for service performed in the uniformed services, as defined, during the taxable year. The bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2037, would also exclude from taxable income annuity payments received by a qualified taxpayer, as defined, pursuant to a United States Department of Defense Survivor Benefit Plan during the taxable year. The bill would make related findings and declarations.Existing law requires any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure to contain specific goals, purposes, and objectives that the tax expenditure will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements, as provided.This bill also would include the information required for any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure. The bill would require the Franchise Tax Board and the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide any data requested by the Legislative Analyst to write a report, as provided, and would make taxpayer information received by the Legislative Analyst subject to a limitation, a violation of which is a crime, on that information’s collection and use. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
CA AB 556 - Joe Patterson
Public postsecondary education: waiver of campus-based fees: veterans.
04/09/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
AB 556, as introduced, Patterson. Public postsecondary education: waiver of campus-based fees: veterans. Existing law establishes the University of California, administered by the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in the state. The Donahoe Higher Education Act prohibits the campuses of those segments from charging mandatory systemwide tuition or fees to specified students who apply for a waiver, including a child of any veteran of the United States military who has a service-connected disability, has been killed in service, or has died of a service-connected disability, an undergraduate student who is a recipient of a Medal of Honor, or an undergraduate student who is a child of a recipient of a Medal of Honor and who is no more than 27 years old, if certain requirements are satisfied.This bill would additionally prohibit the campuses of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education from charging those students any mandatory campus-based fees, as provided. To the extent the bill would add additional duties on community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would apply to the campuses of the University of California only to the extent that the regents, by appropriate resolution, make it apply.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
CA AB 571 - Sharon Quirk-Silva
California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery.
04/10/2025 - Read second time and amended.
AB 571, as amended, Quirk-Silva. California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA exempts from its requirements various projects, including, but not limited to, housing projects that meet certain requirements and activities and approvals related to certain prison facilities.This bill would exempt from the requirements of CEQA any activity or approval necessary for the completion of the Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery in the County of Orange. To the extent that a local agency would be required to determine whether an activity or approval qualifies for this exemption, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would repeal this provision on January 1, 2030.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Orange.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
CA AB 637 - Heath Flora
Advertising: false or misleading commercial disaster communication.
03/17/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
AB 637, as amended, Flora. Advertising: false or misleading commercial disaster communication. Existing law generally regulates advertising and, among other things, makes it unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or association that is a nongovernmental entity to use a seal, emblem, insignia, trade or brand name, or any other term, symbol, or content that reasonably could be interpreted or construed as implying any federal, state, or local government, military veteran entity, or military or veteran service organization connection, approval, or endorsement of any product or service by any means, except as specified. Existing law authorizes the Attorney General or any district attorney, county counsel, city attorney, or city prosecutor to bring an action to enjoin a violation of these advertising provisions or impose a civil penalty of up to $2,500 for each violation. Existing law also imposes a civil penalty of up to $6,000 for an intentional violation of an injunction. Existing law makes a violation of these advertising provisions a misdemeanor.This bill would make it unlawful for any person to make or disseminate a false or misleading commercial disaster communication, as defined and specified. Under the bill, a potentially false or misleading communication would not be deemed false or misleading if it conspicuously features a specified disclosure statement and identifies the name and incorporation status of the person providing the goods or services. The bill would impose these requirements on a communication made on or after the date of a proclamation of a state of emergency up to 60 calendar days after the state of emergency, as specified. The bill would authorize a person harmed as a result of a violation of this provision, the Attorney General, or any district attorney, county counsel, city attorney, or city prosecutor to bring an action for a violation, as specified. The bill would additionally authorize the Insurance Commissioner and the Department of Consumer Affairs to bring an action for specified violations of this provision. The bill would impose a civil penalty of up to $2,500 for an initial violation of this provision and up to $5,000 for each subsequent violation. The bill would make the remedies and penalties created by the bill cumulative to other remedies and penalties available under existing law. The bill would specify that a violation of this provision is not a crime. Existing law generally regulates insurance and creates the Department of Insurance, headed by the Insurance Commissioner. Existing law requires the commissioner to examine the books and records of an insurer, and if the commissioner finds no outstanding liabilities to residents of this state and other specified conditions, the commissioner is required to cancel the insurer’s certificates of authority and permit the insurer to withdraw. This bill would make nonsubstantive, technical changes to these provisions.
CA AB 76 - David A. Alvarez
Surplus land: exempt surplus land: sectional planning area.
01/06/2025 - Read first time.
AB 76, as introduced, Alvarez. Surplus land: exempt surplus land: sectional planning area. Existing law prescribes requirements for the disposal of surplus land by a local agency. Existing law defines terms for these purposes, including, among others, “surplus land” to mean land owned in fee simple by any local agency for which the local agency’s governing body takes formal action in a regular public meeting declaring that the land is surplus and is not necessary for the agency’s use. Existing law defines “exempt surplus land” to mean, among other things, land that is subject to a sectional planning area, as described, and meets specified requirements, including that at least 25% of the units are dedicated to lower income households, as specified, and that is developed at an average density of at least 10 units per acre calculated with respect to the entire sectional planning area.This bill would change those requirements so that at least 25% of units that are not designated for students, faculty, or staff of an academic institution must be dedicated to lower income households, as specified, and that the land must be developed at an average density of at least 10 units per acre, calculated with respect to the entire sectional planning area and inclusive of housing designated for students, faculty, and staff of an academic institution.
CA AB 81 - Tri Ta
Veterans: mental health.
02/03/2025 - Referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
AB 81, as introduced, Ta. Veterans: mental health. Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs. The department, among other services, provides veterans and their dependents and survivors with assistance in processing service-related disability claims, assistance in obtaining affordable housing, and information about health ailments associated with military service.This bill would require the department to establish a program to fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, an academic study of mental health among women veterans in California, as specified. The bill would require the department to submit a report that summarizes the findings and recommendations of the study to the Legislature no later than June 30, 2029. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2030.
CA AB 826 - Jeff Gonzalez
Veterans’ benefits: protections.
04/21/2025 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
AB 826, as amended, Jeff Gonzalez. Veterans’ benefits: protections. Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is responsible for administering various programs and services for the benefit of veterans. Existing law authorizes veterans service organizations, as specified, to contract with the department to pursue claims against the United States. Existing law defines “veterans service officer” as an individual employed by a veterans service organization and accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to process and adjudicate claims and other benefits for veterans and their dependents and survivors. Existing law establishes the Veterans Service Office Fund, which, upon appropriation by the Legislature, may be used to expand the support of county veterans service offices.This bill would prohibit a person or business from charging a fee to assist a veteran with the filing of a veterans’ benefit claim to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs unless they are accredited for that purpose. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a $2,000 civil fine payable to the Veterans Service Office Fund and to the office of the district attorney that processed the fine, as specified.
CA AB 847 - LaShae Sharp-Collins
Peace officers: confidentiality of records.
05/22/2025 - Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading.
AB 847, as amended, Sharp-Collins. Peace officers: confidentiality of records. Existing law, the California Public Records Act, authorizes the inspection and copying of any public record except where specifically prohibited by law. Existing law, with specified exemptions, makes confidential the personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers and certain other records maintained by their employing agencies. Existing law provides that this exemption from disclosure does not apply to investigations of these officers or their employing agencies or to related proceedings conducted by a grand jury, a district attorney’s office, or the Attorney General’s office.This bill would additionally grant access to the confidential personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers and records maintained by their employing agencies, as specified, to civilian law enforcement oversight boards or commissions during investigations or related proceedings concerning the conduct of those officers. The bill would require those oversight boards to maintain the confidentiality of those records, and would authorize them to conduct closed sessions, as specified, to review confidential records. The bill would additionally authorize a county inspector general to access those personnel records, as specified.
CA AB 901 - LaShae Sharp-Collins
Veterans’ preferences: eligible spouses.
03/10/2025 - Referred to Coms. on M. & V.A. and P. E. & R.
AB 901, as introduced, Sharp-Collins. Veterans’ preferences: eligible spouses. The State Civil Service Act contains various provisions providing for veterans’ credits in relation to any open competitive entrance examination. Under existing law, whenever any veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100% disabled veteran achieves a passing score on an entrance exam, that person is required to be ranked in the top rank of the resulting eligibility list.This bill would revise that provision to also apply to an active duty service member who achieves a passing score on an entrance exam. The bill would also provide that authorizing employers may grant a preference in hiring and promotion to the eligible spouse of an active duty service member, veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100% disabled veteran. Existing law provides that any member of the Armed Forces who successfully passes any state civil service examination, whose name is placed on an employment list, and who qualifies for veterans’ preference shall be allowed the appropriate veterans’ credit to the same effect as though that person were entitled to that credit at the time of the establishing of the employment list.This bill would authorize the eligible spouse of an active duty service member, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100% disabled veteran to receive the appropriate credit for any selection test generally related to hiring and promotional preferences. The bill would make other related changes to these provisions.
CA AB 979 - Jacqui V. Irwin
California Cybersecurity Integration Center: artificial intelligence.
03/28/2025 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
AB 979, as amended, Irwin. California Cybersecurity Integration Center: artificial intelligence. Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to establish and lead the California Cybersecurity Integration Center. Existing law states that the center’s mission is to reduce the likelihood and severity of cyber incidents that could damage California’s economy, its critical infrastructure, or public and private sector computer networks in the state. Existing law requires the center to serve as the central organizing hub of state government’s cybersecurity activities and coordinate information sharing with specified entities, including local, state, and federal agencies.This bill would require the California Cybersecurity Integration Center to develop, on or before July 1, 2026, in consultation with the Office of Information Security and the Government Operations Agency, a California AI Cybersecurity Collaboration Playbook, as specified, to facilitate information sharing across the artificial intelligence community and to strengthen collective cyber defenses against emerging threats. The bill would require the center to review federal requirements, standards, and industry best practices, as specified, and to use those resources to inform the development of the California AI Cybersecurity Collaboration Playbook. Except as specified, the bill would provide that any information related to cyber threat indicators or defensive measures for a cybersecurity purpose shared in accordance with the California AI Cybersecurity Collaboration Playbook is confidential and would prohibit that information from being disclosed, except as specified. The bill would also make findings and declarations related to its provisions.Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.Existing law requires the Department of Technology to conduct, in coordination with other interagency bodies as it deems appropriate, a comprehensive inventory of all high-risk automated decision systems that have been proposed for use, development, or procurement by, or are being used, developed, or procured by, any state agency. Existing law defines “automated decision system” as a computational process derived from machine learning, statistical modeling, data analytics, or artificial intelligence that issues simplified output, including a score, classification, or recommendation, that is used to assist or replace human discretionary decisionmaking and materially impacts natural persons. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to artificial intelligence.
CA AB 992 - Jacqui V. Irwin
Peace officers.
05/15/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
AB 992, as amended, Irwin. Peace officers. Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with specified entities, to develop a modern policing degree program and to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature outlining a plan to implement the program. Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training within the Department of Justice and requires the commission to approve and adopt the education criteria for peace officers, based on the recommendations in the report.This bill would repeal the requirement for the commission to approve and adopt the criteria described above.Existing law requires a peace officer to meet specified requirements, including, to be a high school graduate or meet equivalency standards, as specified, or to attain a 2-year, 4-year, or advanced degree from an accredited college or university.This bill would require, commencing January 1, 2031, a peace officer, as specified, to attain one or more specified degrees, experience, or certificates within 36 months of receiving their basic certificate by the commission, as specified, unless the person is, as of December 31, 2030, currently enrolled in a basic academy or is employed as a peace officer by a public entity in California.Existing law requires the commission to adopt rules establishing and upholding minimum standards relating to physical, mental, and moral fitness to govern the recruitment of peace officers, as specified, for the purpose of raising the level of competence of local law enforcement officers.This bill would establish the Statewide Law Enforcement Recruitment Task Force, with the goal of identifying and recruiting candidates for law enforcement agencies.
CA SB 1 - Kelly Seyarto
Personal income taxes: exclusion: Military Services Retirement and Surviving Spouse Benefit Payment Act.
05/23/2025 - May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 1, as amended, Seyarto. Personal income taxes: exclusion: Military Services Retirement and Surviving Spouse Benefit Payment Act. The Personal Income Tax Law, in conformity with federal income tax laws, defines “gross income” as income from whatever source derived, except as specifically excluded, and provides various exclusions from gross income, including an exclusion for combat-related special compensation.This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and before January 1, 2035, would exclude from gross income retirement pay received by a qualified taxpayer, as defined, during the taxable year, not to exceed $20,000, from the federal government for service performed in the uniformed services, as defined. The bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and before January 1, 2035, would also exclude from gross income annuity payments received by a qualified taxpayer, as defined, during the taxable year, not to exceed $20,000, pursuant to a United States Department of Defense Survivor Benefit Plan. The bill would make related findings and declarations.Existing law requires any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure to contain, among other things, specific goals, purposes, and objectives that the tax expenditure will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements.This bill also would include additional information required for any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
CA SB 21 - Maria Elena Durazo
Single-room occupancy units: demolition and replacement: housing assistance programs: eligibility for homeless individuals and families.
05/12/2025 - From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
SB 21, as amended, Durazo. Single-room occupancy units: demolition and replacement: housing assistance programs: eligibility for homeless individuals and families. (1) Existing law, known as the Housing Crisis Act of 2019, among other things, prohibits an affected city or an affected county, as defined, from approving a housing development project that will require the demolition of occupied or vacant protected units, as defined, or that is located on a site where protected units were demolished in the previous 5 years unless specified requirements are met. Among these requirements, existing law requires that the project replace all existing protected units and protected units demolished on or after January 1, 2020, and, if the project is a housing development project, as defined, it will include at least as many residential dwelling units as the greatest number of residential dwelling units that existed on the project site within the last 5 years.This bill, notwithstanding the above-described requirements, in the case of rehabilitation or replacement of an existing single-room occupancy building that meets prescribed criteria, would permit an affected city or an affected county to reduce the number of replacement units required if the project meets specified requirements, including, among others, that the reduction in replacement units is necessary to accommodate the conversion of single-room occupancy units, as provided, and that the converted units will be rental units with affordable rents, as specified. The bill would include specified findings declaring legislative intent with respect to these provisions.(2) Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development and requires it to administer various programs intended to promote the development of housing, including, among others, the Multifamily Housing Program, pursuant to which the department provides financial assistance in the form of deferred payment loans to pay for the eligible costs of development of specified types of housing projects. Existing law sets forth various general powers of the department in implementing these programs, including authorizing the department to enter into long-term contracts or agreements of up to 30 years for the purpose of servicing loans or grants or enforcing regulatory agreements or other security documents.This bill, for purposes of determining eligibility for a unit that received funds from the department and is for a homeless individual or family, would (A) specify that an individual is deemed homeless if they meet certain criteria and (B) prohibit an individual or family meeting these criteria from being subject to a requirement that the unit be filled through a referral from a coordinated entry system, as defined, or a similar referral system. The bill would make implementation of these provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature.
CA SB 23 - Shannon L. Grove
Property taxation: exemption: disabled veteran homeowners.
03/28/2025 - Set for hearing April 28.
SB 23, as amended, Valladares. Property taxation: exemption: disabled veteran homeowners. The California Constitution provides that all property is taxable, and requires that it be assessed at the same percentage of fair market value, unless otherwise provided by the California Constitution or federal law. The California Constitution and existing property tax law provide various exemptions from taxation, including, among others, a disabled veterans’ exemption and a veterans’ organization exemption.This bill would exempt from taxation, property owned by, and that constitutes the principal place of residence of, a veteran, the veteran’s spouse, or the veteran and the veteran’s spouse jointly, if the veteran is 100% disabled. The bill would provide an unmarried surviving spouse a property exemption in the same amount that they would have been entitled to if the veteran was alive and if certain conditions are met. The bill would require certain documentation to be provided to the county assessor to receive the exemption and would prohibit any other real property tax exemption from being granted to the claimant if receiving the exemption provided by the provisions of this bill. The bill would make these exemptions applicable for property tax lien dates occurring on or after January 1, 2025, but occurring before January 1, 2035. By imposing additional duties on local tax officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.Existing law requires any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure to contain, among other things, specific goals, purposes, and objectives that the tax expenditure will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements.This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature to apply those requirements to the bill and would set forth specified information relating to those requirements.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Existing law requires the state to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation.This bill would provide that, notwithstanding those provisions, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill.This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
CA SB 242 - Catherine S. Blakespear
Medicare supplement coverage: open enrollment periods.
05/23/2025 - May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 242, as amended, Blakespear. Medicare supplement coverage: open enrollment periods. Existing federal law provides for the Medicare Program, which is a public health insurance program for persons 65 years of age and older and specified persons with disabilities who are under 65 years of age. Existing federal law specifies parts of Medicare that cover specific services, such as Medicare Part B, which generally covers medically necessary services and supplies and preventive services. Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance.Existing federal law additionally provides for the issuance of Medicare supplement policies or certificates, also known as Medigap coverage, which are advertised, marketed, or designed primarily as a supplement to reimbursements under the Medicare Program for the hospital, medical, or surgical expenses of persons eligible for the Medicare Program, including coverage of Medicare deductible, copayment, or coinsurance amounts, as specified. Existing law, among other provisions, requires supplement benefit plans to be uniform in structure, language, designation, and format with the standard benefit plans, as prescribed. Existing law prohibits an issuer from denying or conditioning the offering or effectiveness of any Medicare supplement contract, policy, or certificate available for sale in this state, or discriminating in the pricing of a contract, policy, or certificate because of the health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, or medical condition of an applicant in the case of an application that is submitted prior to or during the 6-month period beginning with the first day of the first month in which an individual is both 65 years of age or older and is enrolled for benefits under Medicare Part B. Existing law requires an issuer to make available specified Medicare supplement benefit plans to a qualifying applicant under those circumstances who is 64 years of age or younger who does not have end stage renal disease.This bill would delete the exclusion of otherwise qualified applicants who have end stage renal disease, thereby making the specified Medicare supplement benefit plans available to those individuals. The bill, on and after January 1, 2027, would prohibit an issuer of Medicare supplement coverage in this state from denying or conditioning the issuance or effectiveness of any Medicare supplement coverage available for sale in the state, or discriminate in the pricing of that coverage because of the health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, medical condition, or age of an applicant, except as specified, if an application for coverage is submitted during an open enrollment period, as specified in the bill. The bill would entitle an individual enrolled in Medicare Part B to a 90-day annual open enrollment period beginning on January 1 of each year, as specified, during which period the bill would require applications to be accepted for any Medicare supplement coverage available from an issuer, as specified. The bill would require the open enrollment period to be a guaranteed issue period. The bill would authorize premium rates offered to applicants during the open enrollment period to vary based on the applicants’ age at the time of issue, as specified, but would prohibit the premiums from varying based on age after the contract is issued.Because a violation of the bill’s requirements by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This b
CA SB 247 - Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
State agency contracts: bid preference: equity metrics.
05/02/2025 - Set for hearing May 12.
SB 247, as amended, Smallwood-Cuevas. State agency contracts: bid preference: equity metrics. Existing law establishes bid preferences and participation goals in public contracting for certain types of bidders. The Small Business Procurement and Contract Act establishes a minimum goal of 25% procurement participation for small businesses, including microbusinesses, in the provision of goods, information technology, and services to the state, and in the construction of state facilities. The Small Business Procurement and Contract Act requires that state agencies awarding contracts for goods, information technology, services, and construction give 5% bid preferences, as specified, to small business and microbusiness bidders. The California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program requires state departments that award contracts to establish 3% participation goals for certain types of contracts for certified disabled veteran business enterprises, as defined. This bill would require an awarding department, defined to include a state agency or department, to provide a bid preference of a prescribed percentage, as specified, in the award of contracts to contractors that set equity metrics. The bill would prohibit awarding a preference to a noncompliant bidder and would also prohibit the preference from being used to achieve any applicable minimum requirements. The bill would require the Department of General Services to adopt rules and regulations for the purpose of implementing these provisions.
CA SB 257 - Aisha Wahab
Pregnancy As a Recognized Event for Nondiscriminatory Treatment (PARENT) Act.
05/12/2025 - May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
SB 257, as introduced, Wahab. Pregnancy As a Recognized Event for Nondiscriminatory Treatment (PARENT) Act. Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of disability insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan or disability insurer to allow an individual to enroll in or change their health benefit plan as a result of a specified triggering event. Existing law prohibits a health care service plan contract or disability insurance policy issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after July 1, 2003, from imposing a copayment or deductible for specified maternity services that exceeds the most common amount of the copayment or deductible imposed for services provided for other covered medical conditions.This bill, the Pregnancy As a Recognized Event for Nondiscriminatory Treatment (PARENT) Act, would make pregnancy a triggering event for purposes of enrollment or changing a health benefit plan. The bill would prohibit a health care service plan contract or disability insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, that provides coverage for maternity services or newborn and pediatric care services from taking specified actions based on the circumstances of conception, including denying, limiting, or seeking reimbursement for maternity services or newborn and pediatric care services because the enrollee or insured is acting as a gestational carrier. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
CA SB 284 - Kelly Seyarto
Property taxation: change in ownership: family homes and farms.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 284, as amended, Seyarto. Property taxation: change in ownership: family homes and farms. The California Constitution limits the amount of ad valorem taxes on real property to 1% of the full cash value of that property, defined as the county assessor’s valuation of real property as shown on the 1975–76 tax bill and, thereafter, the appraised value of the real property when purchased, newly constructed, or a change in ownership occurs after the 1975 assessment, subject to an annual inflation adjustment not to exceed 2%.Pursuant to constitutional authorization, existing property tax law, on and after February 16, 2021, excludes from classification as a change in ownership the purchase or transfer of a family home or family farm, as those terms are defined, of the transferor in the case of a transfer between parents and their children, or between grandparents and their grandchildren if all the parents of those grandchildren are deceased, if the property continues as the family home or family farm of the transferee, as specified. For purposes of the transfer of a family home, that law requires the transfer to be of a principal residence of the transferor and to become the principal residence of the transferee within one year of the transfer. That law also requires the transferee to file for the homeowners’ or disabled veterans’ exemption within a year of the transfer, as described.This bill would expand the above-described exclusion to include, in the case of the purchase or transfer of a family home or a family farm, as applicable, a purchase or transfer of that family home or family farm between eligible transferees, as specified. The bill would also specify that, in the event of a transfer by certain judicial decrees, the transfer commencing either of the above-described one-year periods shall be deemed to occur as of the effective date of the final judicial decree.Existing law requires the state to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation.This bill would provide that, notwithstanding those provisions, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill.This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
CA SB 296 - Bob J. Archuleta
Property taxation: exemption: disabled veteran homeowners.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 296, as amended, Archuleta. Property taxation: exemption: disabled veteran homeowners. The California Constitution provides that all property is taxable, and requires that it be assessed at the same percentage of fair market value, unless otherwise provided by the California Constitution or federal law. The California Constitution and existing property tax law provide various exemptions from taxation, including, among others, a disabled veterans’ exemption and a veterans’ organization exemption.This bill would exempt from taxation, as provided, property owned by, and that constitutes the principal place of residence of, a veteran, the veteran’s spouse, or the veteran and the veteran’s spouse jointly, if the veteran is 100% disabled. The bill would provide an unmarried surviving spouse a property exemption in the same amount that they would have been entitled to if the veteran was alive and if certain conditions are met. The bill would require certain documentation to be provided to the county assessor to receive the exemption and would prohibit any other real property tax exemption from being granted to the claimant if receiving the exemption provided by the provisions of this bill. The bill would make these exemptions applicable for property tax lien dates occurring on or after January 1, 2026, but occurring before January 1, 2036. By imposing additional duties on local tax officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.Existing law requires any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure to contain, among other things, specific goals, purposes, and objectives that the tax expenditure will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements.This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature to apply those requirements to the bill and would set forth specified information relating to those requirements.This bill also would include additional information required for any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Existing law requires the state to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation.This bill would provide that, notwithstanding those provisions, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill.This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
CA SB 335 -
Elections: voting by mail.
04/02/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.
SB 335, as amended, Strickland. Elections: voting by mail. Existing law requires county elections officials to mail a ballot to every registered voter for all elections, as provided. Existing law authorizes any county to conduct an all-mailed ballot election under certain conditions.This bill would repeal the provisions requiring county elections officials to mail a ballot to every registered voter and authorizing a county to conduct an all-mailed ballot election. The bill would instead authorize a voter to request a vote by mail ballot for any election, as specified. The bill would also authorize and establish procedures for a voter to apply to become a permanent vote by mail voter. The bill would require a county elections official to mail a vote by mail ballot for each election to a voter who has qualified to become a permanent vote by mail voter.By establishing new duties for local elections officials, the bill would create a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Existing law establishes the California Environmental Protection Program, which is concerned with the preservation and protection of California’s environment. Existing law requires the program to be administered by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to the above provision relating to the administration of the program.
CA SB 355 - Sasha Renée Pérez
Judgment debtor employers: Employment Development Department.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 355, as amended, Pérez. Judgment debtor employers: Employment Development Department. Existing law establishes in the Department of Industrial Relations the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement under the direction of the Labor Commissioner and authorizes the Labor Commissioner to investigate employee complaints and recover civil penalties for violations of labor law, as prescribed. Existing law requires an employer who pays wages to a resident employee for services performed either within or without this state, or to a nonresident employee for services performed in this state, to deduct and withhold from those wages a sum which is substantially equivalent to the amount of tax reasonably estimated to be due under the Personal Income Tax Law resulting from the inclusion in the gross income of the employee of the wages which were subject to withholding. Existing law requires the Employment Development Department to have the powers and duties necessary to administer the reporting, collection, refunding to the employer, and enforcement of taxes required to be withheld by employers, as described above.This bill would require, within 60 days of a final judgment being entered against an employer requiring payment to an employee or to the state, as specified, the judgment debtor employer to provide documentation to the Labor Commissioner that the judgment is fully satisfied, a certain bond has been posted, or the judgment debtor entered into an agreement for the judgment to be paid in installments, as prescribed, and is in compliance with that agreement. The bill would make a judgment debtor employer who fails to comply with that provision liable for a civil penalty. The bill would require, if a judgment debtor employer does not comply with that provision, the Labor Commissioner to provide written notice to the judgment debtor employer that the Labor Commissioner will submit the unsatisfied judgment to the Tax Support Division of the Employment Development Department as a notice of potential tax fraud, as prescribed.
CA SB 36 - Aisha Wahab
Price gouging: state of emergency.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 36, as amended, Umberg. Price gouging: state of emergency. (1) Existing law, the Unfair Competition Law, makes various practices unlawful and provides that a person who engages, has engaged, or proposes to engage in unfair competition is liable for a civil penalty, as specified.This bill would additionally make a person who violates those provisions, if the act or acts of unfair competition are perpetrated against one or more persons displaced due to a state of emergency or local emergency, as defined, liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for each violation, as specified.(2) Existing law, the Consumers Legal Remedies Act, makes unlawful certain unfair methods of competition and certain unfair or deceptive acts or practices undertaken by a person in a transaction intended to result or that results in the sale or lease of goods or services to a consumer. These include, among others, making false or misleading statements of fact concerning reasons for, existence of, or amounts of, price reductions.This bill would additionally make it unlawful under those provisions to engage in, among other things, price gouging during a state of emergency or local emergency.(3) Existing law requires the trier of fact, in a civil action to redress unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair competition brought by, on behalf of, or for the benefit of senior citizens, disabled persons, or veterans, to consider specified factors in determining the amount of a discretionary fine, penalty, or remedy to be imposed. Existing law authorizes the trier of fact, upon a finding of one of those factors, to impose a fine, penalty, or other remedy in an amount up to 3 times greater than the amount authorized by statute or the amount the trier of fact would impose in the absence of the affirmative finding.This bill would make those provisions applicable to persons displaced due to a state of emergency or a local emergency, as defined.(4) Under existing law, upon the proclamation of a state of emergency by the President of the United States or the Governor, or upon the declaration of a local emergency by the executive officer of any county, city, or city and county, and for 30 days or 180 days, as specified, following the proclamation or declaration of emergency, it is a misdemeanor for a person, contractor, business, or other entity to sell or offer to sell certain goods or services for a price of more than 10% greater than the price charged by that person immediately prior to the proclamation or declaration of emergency. Existing law authorizes the extension of these prohibitions by, among others, the Governor, if deemed necessary to protect the lives, property, or welfare of the citizens.This bill would specify that an extension authorized by the Governor may be terminated by a concurrent resolution of the Legislature declaring it at an end and that those provisions apply in all counties in the proclamation or declaration of emergency as well as all adjacent counties and counties within a 50-mile radius of the counties in the proclamation or declaration of emergency. The bill would require a housing listing platform, during the period of 30 days following a proclamation of a state emergency or a declaration of a local emergency, as specified, to, among other things, remove a listing when notified by local, regional, or state law enforcement agencies that the price for a listing made available on the platform violates the price gouging provisions and establish and maintain a policy informing housing providers that listings are prohibited from violating the above-described provisions, as specified.This bill would define “housing listing platform” for these purposes as an internet website, application, or other similar centralized platform that acts as an intermediary between a consumer and another person which allows another person to list the availability of housing, lodging, or units for sale or for rent to a consumer.(5) Existing law allows
CA SB 361 - Josh Becker
Data broker registration: data collection.
05/12/2025 - Referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
SB 361, as amended, Becker. Data broker registration: data collection. The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) grants a consumer various rights with respect to personal information that is collected or sold by a business, including the right to request that a business disclose specified information that has been collected about the consumer, to request that a business delete personal information about the consumer that the business has collected from the consumer, and to direct a business not to sell or share the consumer’s personal information, as specified. The CCPA defines various terms for these purposes. The California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA), approved by the voters as Proposition 24 at the November 3, 2020, statewide general election, amended, added to, and reenacted the CCPA and establishes the California Privacy Protection Agency (agency) and vests the agency with full administrative power, authority, and jurisdiction to enforce the CCPA.Existing law requires a data broker to register with the agency, and defines “data broker” to mean a business that knowingly collects and sells to third parties the personal information of a consumer with whom the business does not have a direct relationship, subject to specified exceptions. Existing law requires a data broker, in registering with the agency, to pay a registration fee in an amount determined by the agency and provide specified information, including, among other things, the name of the data broker and its primary physical, email, and internet website addresses, and whether the data broker collects the personal information of minors, consumers’ precise geolocation, or consumers’ reproductive health care data.This bill would require a data broker to provide additional information to the agency, including whether the data broker collects consumers’ login or account information, various government identification numbers, citizenship data, union membership status, sexual orientation status, gender identity and gender expression data, and biometric data.This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes and intent of the CPRA for specified reasons.
CA SB 385 - Aisha Wahab
Peace officers.
04/22/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 385, as amended, Seyarto. Peace officers. Existing law required the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, on or before June 1, 2023, in consultation with specified entities, to develop a modern policing degree program and to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature outlining a plan to implement the program. Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training within the Department of Justice and requires the commission, within 2 years of the submission of the report, to approve and adopt the education criteria for peace officers, based on the recommendations in the report.This bill would repeal the requirement for the commission to approve and adopt the criteria described above.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.Existing law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to establish a certification program for specified peace officers, including officers of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. Existing law requires the commission to establish, among others, basic certificates for the purpose of fostering the education and experience necessary to perform general police service duties. Existing law requires certificates to be awarded on the basis of a combination of training, education, experience, and other prerequisites, as determined by the commission.Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with specified entities, to develop a modern policing degree program and to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature by no later than June 1, 2023, outlining a plan to implement the program.Existing law requires peace officers in this state to meet specified minimum standards, including age and education requirements.This bill would require a peace officer who is hired on or after January 1, 2029, to attain a modern policing degree, as specified, or a bachelor’s or other advanced degree from an accredited college or university within 36 months of commencing their employment as a peace officer.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
CA SB 406 - Steven S. Choi
Elections: ballot submission deadline.
04/01/2025 - April 1 set for first hearing. Held in committee without recommendation.
SB 406, as introduced, Choi. Elections: ballot submission deadline. Under existing law, a vote-by-mail ballot is timely cast if it is postmarked or otherwise time-stamped on or before election day and received in the mail no later than 7 days after election day.This bill would instead require a vote-by-mail ballot to be returned to the applicable elections official no later than the close of the polls on election day, except that the bill would require a vote-by-mail ballot cast by a military or overseas voter to be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received no later than 7 days after election day.
CA SB 42 - Henry I. Stern
Political Reform Act of 1974: public campaign financing: California Fair Elections Act of 2026.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 42, as amended, Umberg. Political Reform Act of 1974: public campaign financing: California Fair Elections Act of 2026. Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, prohibits a public officer from expending, and a candidate from accepting, public moneys for the purpose of seeking elective office.This bill would permit a public officer or candidate to expend or accept public funds, as defined, for the purpose of seeking elective office unless the funds are earmarked by a state or local entity for education, transportation, or public safety. The bill would require candidates to abide by specified expenditure limits and meet strict criteria, as defined, to qualify for public funds. The bill would prohibit public funds from being used to pay legal defense fees or fines or to repay personal loans to their campaign. The bill would permit a statute, ordinance, or charter to establish standards to increase the expenditure limits for each qualified, voluntarily participating candidate pursuant to a specified formula. The bill would provide that the Fair Political Practices Commission is not responsible for administering or enforcing a system of public funding of candidates established by a local governmental agency.Existing law prohibits a foreign government or foreign principal, as defined, from making a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure in connection with the qualification or support of, or opposition to, any state or local ballot measure or in connection with the election of a candidate to state or local office. Under existing law, a person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine equal to the amount contributed or expended.This bill would specify that a person who violates the prohibition above is guilty of a misdemeanor and would require that the person be fined an amount at least equal to the amount contributed or expended, but not exceeding a maximum amount of 3 times the amount contributed or expended.The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the act may be amended by a statute that becomes effective upon approval of the voters.This bill would require the Secretary of State to submit the provisions of the bill to the voters for approval at the November 3, 2026, statewide general election, as specified.
CA SB 446 - Melissa Hurtado
Data breaches: customer notification.
04/21/2025 - From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
SB 446, as amended, Hurtado. Data breaches: customer notification. Existing law requires an individual or a business that conducts business in California, and that owns or licenses computerized data that includes personal information, to disclose a breach of the security of the system following discovery or notification of the breach in the security of the data to a resident of California whose unencrypted personal information was compromised, as specified, and requires that disclosure to be made in the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay, consistent with the legitimate needs of law enforcement, as specified, or any measures necessary to determine the scope of the breach and restore the reasonable integrity of the data system.This bill would require that data breach disclosure to be made within 30 calendar days of discovery or notification of the data breach but would authorize an individual or business to delay the disclosure to accommodate the legitimate needs of law enforcement, as specified, or as necessary to determine the scope of the breach and restore the reasonable integrity of the data system. Existing law also requires an individual or business that is required to issue the security breach notification described above to more than 500 California residents as a result of a single breach of the security system to electronically submit a single sample copy of that security breach notification, excluding any personally identifiable information, to the Attorney General.This bill would require that submission to the Attorney General to be made within 15 calendar days of discovery or notification of the security breach.
CA SB 464 - Lori D. Wilson
Employer pay data.
05/20/2025 - Set for hearing May 23.
SB 464, as amended, Smallwood-Cuevas. Employer pay data. Existing law establishes the Civil Rights Department within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency to enforce civil rights laws with respect to housing and employment and to protect and safeguard the right of all persons to obtain and hold employment without discrimination based on specified characteristics or status.Existing law requires a private employer that has 100 or more employees to submit an annual pay data report to the Civil Rights Department that includes the number of employees by race, ethnicity, and sex in specified job categories, whose pay falls within federal pay bands, and within each job category the median and mean hourly rate for each combination of those characteristics as specified.This bill would require an employer to collect and store any demographic information gathered by an employer or labor contractor for the purpose of submitting the pay data report separately from employees’ personnel records.This bill would also expand the demographics for the reporting requirements to also include sexual orientation and require the report to include information by sexual orientation about the number of employees in specified job categories, whose pay falls within federal pay bands, and within each job category the median and mean hourly rate for each combination of the specified characteristics. The bill would require that the information regarding an employee’s sexual orientation be collected only if voluntarily disclosed by the employee.Existing law authorizes the department, if it does not receive the pay data report, to seek an order requiring an employer to comply with these provisions. Existing law provides that upon the request of the department, a court may impose a civil penalty upon any employer for failure to file the required report, which shall be payable to the Civil Rights Enforcement and Litigation Fund.This bill would require a court to impose a civil penalty against an employer that fails to file the report if requested to do so by the department.Existing law makes it unlawful for any officer or employee of the department to make public any identifiable information before an investigation or enforcement proceeding involving that information, and then only to the extent necessary for the purposes of that proceeding.This bill would, notwithstanding that provision, require the department to publish private employer reports provided that the publication is reasonably calculated to prevent the association of any data with any individual person.Commencing May 2027, this bill would also require public employers with 100 or more employees to submit an annual pay data report with specified information, including specified demographic data provided by employees relative to ethnicity, race, disability, veteran status, and gender, organized by job category as listed in the civil service pay scale, as specified.Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
CA SB 475 - Roger Niello
Small Business Advocate.
02/26/2025 - Referred to Com. on RLS.
SB 475, as introduced, Niello. Small Business Advocate. Existing law creates within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development the Office of Small Business Advocate, which is led by the Small Business Advocate, to advocate the causes of small business and to provide small businesses with the information they need to survive in the marketplace. Existing law requires the Small Business Advocate to, among other duties, serve as the principal advocate in the state on behalf of small businesses, including advisory participation in the consideration of all legislation and administrative regulations that affect small businesses.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the provisions that describe the duties and functions of the Small Business Advocate.
CA SB 477 - Catherine S. Blakespear
California Fair Employment and Housing Act: enforcement procedures.
05/23/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 477, as amended, Blakespear. California Fair Employment and Housing Act: enforcement procedures. Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), establishes the Civil Rights Department to enforce civil rights laws with respect to housing and employment and to protect and safeguard the right of all persons to obtain and hold employment without discrimination based upon specified characteristics or status. The FEHA makes certain discriminatory employment and housing practices unlawful, and authorizes a person claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged unlawful practice to file a verified complaint with the department. The FEHA requires the department to make an investigation in connection with a filed complaint alleging facts sufficient to constitute a violation of the FEHA, and requires the department to endeavor to eliminate the unlawful practice by conference, conciliation, and persuasion. Existing law authorizes a complaint to be filed by an aggrieved person or the department on behalf and as representative of a group or class if the alleged unlawful practice adversely affects, in a similar manner, a group or class of persons of which the aggrieved person is a member.This bill would define the term “group or class complaint” for purposes of the FEHA.Existing law tolls the time for a complainant to file a civil action alleging a violation of specified civil rights provisions commencing with the filing of a complaint with the department until the department files a civil action for the alleged violation or until one year after the department issues written notice that it has closed its investigation without filing a civil action.This bill would additionally toll the time for a complainant to file a civil action if the complainant timely appeals to the department the closure of their complaint until one year after the department issues written notice that it remains closed following the appeal.Existing law authorizes the director to bring a civil action in the name of the department, acting in the public interest, on behalf of an aggrieved person if conference, conciliation, mediation, or persuasion fails to eliminate an unlawful practice. Existing law imposes a deadline of one or 2 years for the department to bring a civil action, as specified. Existing law requires those deadlines to be tolled during a dispute resolution proceeding.This bill would additionally require those deadlines to be tolled pursuant to a written agreement by the complainant and the department, during the pendency of a petition to compel, and for the duration of an appeal to the department for the closure of a complaint.Under existing law, if the department does not file a civil action, the department is required to promptly issue the person claiming to be aggrieved a right-to-sue notice upon request, as specified, or upon completion of its investigation and not later than one year after the filing of the complaint. For a complaint treated as a group or class complaint, existing law requires the department to issue a right-to-sue notice upon completion of its investigation and not later than 2 years after the filing of the complaint. Existing law requires these deadlines to be tolled during a dispute resolution proceeding.Under this bill, if the department determines that an aggrieved person’s complaint relates to a complaint filed in the name of the director or a group or class complaint, as specified, the department would be required to issue a right-to-sue notice after the director’s or group or class complaint has been fully and finally disposed of and all administrative proceedings, civil actions, appeals, or related proceedings have terminated. The bill would require this deadline and the above-described deadlines relating to issuing a right-to-sue notice to additionally be tolled pursuant to a written agreement by the complainant and the department, during the pendency of a petition to compel, and for the duration of an appeal
CA SB 489 - Jesse Arreguin
Local agency formation commissions: written policies and procedures: Permit Streamlining Act: housing development projects.
05/27/2025 - Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly.
SB 489, as amended, Arreguín. Local agency formation commissions: written policies and procedures: Permit Streamlining Act: housing development projects. (1) The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 governs the procedures for the formation and change of organization of cities and special districts and establishes a local agency formation commission in each county consisting of members appointed as provided. The act expresses the intent of the Legislature that each local agency formation commission, by January 1, 2002, establish written policies and procedures and exercise its powers in a way that encourages and provides planned, well-ordered, efficient urban development patterns, as specified. The act requires these written policies and procedures to include forms to be used for various submittals to the commission, as provided. The act requires each commission to provide access to notices and other information to the public on an internet website, as specified, including notice of all public hearings and commission meetings.This bill would require that each local agency formation commission establish the written policies and procedures described above. The bill would require that the written policies and procedures include any forms necessary for a complete application to the commission concerning a proposed change of organization or reorganization. The bill would require each commission to provide access to its written policies and procedures to the public, including any forms necessary for a complete application for a change of organization or reorganization, through its internet website. The(2) The Permit Streamlining Act requires a public agency to compile a list of the information required from an applicant for a development project, as provided, and, until January 1, 2030, specifies that a development project for purposes of this requirement includes a housing development project, as defined. The act defines various terms for its purposes, including, among others, a “development project,” which is generally defined as any project undertaken for the purpose of development, excluding ministerial projects proposed to be carried out or approved by public agencies.This bill would revise the definition of “development project” for purposes of the act to include a housing development project, as defined by specified other law that includes in that definition, notwithstanding the above-described exclusion for ministerial projects, projects that involve no discretionary approvals and projects that involve both discretionary and nondiscretionary approvals. The bill would make a conforming change in the above-described requirement to compile the above-described list by deleting the specification that a development project includes a housing development project. The bill, until January 1, 2030, would also require a public agency, for each approval issued in connection with a housing development project, to publish online the above-described list, including the criteria that the public agency will apply in order to determine the completeness of the development application and the name of the approval, as provided.The Permit Streamlining Act requires a public agency that is a lead agency to approve or disapprove a project within specified time periods. Among these time periods, until January 1, 2030, the act requires a public agency to approve a development project, defined for these purposes as a housing development project, defined by cross-reference to specified law, within 90 days from the date of certification by the lead agency of the environmental impact report, or 60 days from the date of certification by the lead agency of the environmental impact report if certain conditions are met, as provided.This bill, until January 1, 2030, would revise the definition of “housing development project” for purposes of these time periods to include an approval in connection with a housing development project,
CA SB 50 - Angelique V. Ashby
Connected devices: device protection requests.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 50, as amended, Ashby. Connected devices: device protection requests. Existing law authorizes a court to issue a restraining order to a person to prevent abuse, as specified, based on reasonable proof of a past act or acts of abuse. Existing law authorizes the order to be issued solely on the affidavit or testimony of the person requesting the restraining order.Existing law requires a manufacturer of a connected device to equip the device with a reasonable security feature or features that are appropriate to the nature and function of the device, appropriate to the information it may collect, contain, or transmit, and designed to protect the device and information contained in the device from unauthorized access, destruction, use, modification, or disclosure.This bill, except as specified, would require an account manager, as defined, to terminate or disable a connected device or account access to a perpetrator, as defined, commencing no later than 2 days after a device protection request is submitted to the account manager by a survivor of that perpetrator or by an eligible organization, as defined, on behalf of a survivor. The bill would specify the requirements for a survivor or the eligible organization to submit a device protection request and would impose certain requirements on an account manager regarding the process for submitting a request. By providing that a survivor or the eligible organization may include a copy of a signed affidavit to submit a device protection request, and thus expanding the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.This bill would authorize an account manager to comply with the above-described requirements by including a means by which a person with physical access to the connected device may reset the connected device to its factory settings or a similar state that removes any existing account holders from the device.This bill would require the account manager to notify the survivor or the eligible organization of specified information and require an account manager and any officer, director, employee, vendor, or agent thereof to treat any information submitted by a survivor or the eligible organization as confidential and securely dispose of the information, as provided.This bill would authorize enforcement of these provisions by injunction or civil penalty in any court action by any person injured by a violation of those provisions, the Attorney General, a district attorney, county counsel, a city attorney, or a city prosecutor, against an account manager or perpetrator, as provided. The bill would prohibit a waiver of these prohibitions and would declare that these provisions are severable.Existing law authorizes a court to issue an ex parte order for, among other things, disturbing the peace of the other party. Existing law provides that disturbing the peace of the other party may be committed directly or indirectly, including through the use of a third party, and by any method or through any means including, but not limited to, telephone, online accounts, text messages, internet-connected devices, or other electronic technologies.This bill would provide that, for purposes of those provisions, an internet-connected device includes a connected device as described in the bill.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
CA SB 519 - Bob J. Archuleta
Veterans.
05/06/2025 - May 12 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
SB 519, as amended, Archuleta. Veterans. Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs. The department, among other services, provides veterans and their dependents and survivors with assistance in processing service-related disability claims, assistance in obtaining affordable housing, and information about health issues associated with military service.This bill would declare the Legislature’s intent to enact legislation creating a task force that focuses on retaining veterans in California to help solve the shortage of labor and key professional skills, and improving the economic opportunities available to military families in the state.This bill would create the Veteran Task Force for the purpose of reversing the trend of veterans and individuals transitioning from the military who are leaving California to reside and work in another state. The bill would prescribe the composition of the task force, including, among others, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The bill would require the task force to, among other things, examine existing veterans benefits in California, assistance for individuals transitioning from the military, childcare availability, affordable housing, and other services and opportunities to retain veterans and their families in California.
CA SB 54 - Thomas J. Umberg
Court fee waivers: veterans.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 54, as introduced, Umberg. Court fee waivers: veterans. Existing law sets forth filing fees and other civil fees for superior courts. Existing law requires certain applicants to be granted initial permission to proceed without paying court fees and costs because of the applicant’s financial condition, including an applicant whose monthly income is 200% or less of the current poverty guidelines, as specified.This bill would prohibit veterans disability service-connected compensation from being included in monthly income for purposes of that provision.
CA SB 55 - Juan Alanis
State parks: facilities pass: Gold Star Family members.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 55, as amended, Umberg. State parks: facilities pass: Gold Star Family members. Existing law requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to issue a park pass for free use of all park facilities in the state park system to a veteran of war in which the United States has been, or may be, engaged, who is a resident of this state, who presents to the department proof of a disability, proof of being held captive as a prisoner of war, or proof of being a recipient of a Congressional Medal of Honor, and proof of an honorable discharge from service.This bill would require an eligible Gold Star Family member, as defined, upon presentation of proof to the department, to be issued a pass for use of all facilities, including boat launching facilities, in units of the state park system.
CA SB 56 - Kelly Seyarto
Property taxation: disabled veterans’ exemption: household income.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 56, as amended, Seyarto. Property taxation: disabled veterans’ exemption: household income. The California Constitution provides that all property is taxable, and requires that it be assessed at the same percentage of fair market value, unless otherwise provided by the California Constitution or federal law. The California Constitution and existing property tax law provide various exemptions from taxation, including, among others, a disabled veterans’ exemption. Under existing law, the disabled veterans’ exemption exempts from taxation part of the full value of property that constitutes the principal place of residence of a veteran, the veteran’s spouse, or the veteran and veteran’s spouse jointly, and the unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran, as provided, if the veteran incurred specified injuries or died while on active duty in military service, as described. Existing law exempts that part of the full value of the residence that does not exceed $100,000, or $150,000 if the household income of the claimant does not exceed $40,000, as adjusted for inflation, as specified.This bill would exclude service-connected disability payments from the definition of “household income” for purposes of the disabled veterans’ exemption. The bill would also correct an erroneous cross-reference in the above-described provisions. By imposing additional duties on local tax officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Existing law requires the state to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation.This bill would provide that, notwithstanding those provisions, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill.This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
CA SB 582 - Thomas J. Umberg
Health and care facilities: licensing during emergencies or disasters.
05/20/2025 - Set for hearing May 23.
SB 582, as amended, Stern. Health and care facilities: licensing during emergencies or disasters. Existing law provides for the licensure of clinics and various health facilities, including skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities, by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law, the Long-Term Care, Health, Safety, and Security Act of 1973, generally requires the department to license, inspect, and regulate long-term health care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for any person to willfully or repeatedly violate the act, as specified. Existing regulations require skilled nursing facilities to adopt and follow a written external disaster and mass casualty program plan developed with the advice and assistance of county or regional and local planning offices.This bill would require skilled nursing facilities to update the external disaster and mass casualty program plan at least once per year. The bill would require, in adopting and updating the plan, skilled nursing facilities to, among other things, seek input from county or regional and local planning offices, including the medical health operational area coordinator (MHOAC). By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.Existing law provides for the licensure of residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs) by the State Department of Social Services. Existing law requires an RCFE to have an emergency and disaster plan that includes specified information, including evacuation procedures. Under existing law, an RCFE is encouraged to have the plan be reviewed by local emergency authorities. Violation of these provisions is a crime.This bill would instead require an RCFE to provide a copy of its emergency and disaster plan to the MHOAC, as specified, for the purposes of local disaster coordination. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law provides for the licensure of various facilities, including community care facilities, RCFEs, child daycare facilities, and medical foster homes for veterans by the State Department of Social Services. Existing law provides for the licensure of alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facilities by the State Department of Health Care Services.This bill would set forth provisions for the licensing status of certain entities that are made nonoperational, due to its destruction, significant damage, or through a prolonged closure or otherwise, during and as a result of a state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor, a federal emergency declaration, a federal major disaster declaration, or a federal fire management assistance declaration. The bill would apply to clinics, certain health facilities, certain community care facilities, RCFEs, child daycare facilities, medical foster homes for veterans, and alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facilities.This bill would authorize the State Department of Health Care Services to allow a facility that is made nonoperational as described above, and require the State Department of Public Health and the State Department of Social Services to allow an entity, when nonoperational due to its destruction, significant damage, or prolonged closure, to obtain a disaster suspension of its active license if the facility or entity notifies the department that it intends to become operational again in the same or alternative location. The bill would require the entity to notify the applicable department within 6 months of the proclamation or declaration if the entity seeks to obtain a disaster suspension of its active license.In the case of an entity that was destroyed in a fire and is being rebuilt for the same purpose, and that is allowed to obtain a disaster suspension of its active license, the bill would authorize the applicable department to waive the annual state licensing fees for the entity on a year
CA SB 590 - Buffy Wicks
Paid family leave: eligibility: care for designated persons.
05/23/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 590, as amended, Durazo. Paid family leave: eligibility: care for designated persons. Existing unemployment compensation disability law requires workers to pay contribution rates based on, among other things, wages received in employment and benefit disbursement, for payment into the Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund, a special fund in the State Treasury. That fund is continuously appropriated for the purpose of providing disability benefits and making payment of expenses in administering those provisions.Existing law establishes, within the above state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program, also known as the paid family leave program, for the provision of wage replacement benefits for up to 8 weeks to workers who take time off work for prescribed purposes, including to care for a seriously ill family member. Existing law defines terms for its purposes, including family care leave and family member.This bill would, commencing July 1, 2027, expand eligibility for benefits under the paid family leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person. The bill would define designated person to mean any individual related by blood or whose association with the claimant is the equivalent of a family relationship. The bill would authorize the claimant to identify the designated person when they file a claim for benefits. The bill would make conforming changes to the definitions of the terms family care leave and family member.By authorizing expenditures from the continuously appropriated fund for these expanded purposes, this bill would make an appropriation.
CA SB 60 - Kelly Seyarto
Public postsecondary education: waiver of tuition and fees: California Military Department GI Bill Award Program: extended education courses.
05/23/2025 - May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 60, as introduced, Seyarto. Public postsecondary education: waiver of tuition and fees: California Military Department GI Bill Award Program: extended education courses. Existing law establishes the University of California, administered by the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in the state. The Donahoe Higher Education Act prohibits the campuses of those segments from charging mandatory systemwide tuition or fees to specified students who apply for a waiver, including a child of any veteran of the United States military who has a service-connected disability, has been killed in service, or has died of a service-connected disability, an undergraduate student who is a recipient of a Medal of Honor, or an undergraduate student who is a child of a recipient of a Medal of Honor and who is no more than 27 years of age, if certain requirements are satisfied.This bill would additionally prohibit the campuses of the University of California and California State University from charging tuition or fees for specified students who enroll in an extended education course if certain requirements are satisfied and the extended education course is being used to meet the requirements of an undergraduate degree program. The bill would apply to the campuses of the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, make it apply.Existing law establishes various student financial aid programs under the administration of the Student Aid Commission, including the California Military Department GI Bill Award Program. Existing law requires a qualifying member of the California National Guard, the State Guard, or the Naval Militia that receives an award under the program to, among other things, agree to use the award to obtain a certificate, degree, or diploma that the person does not hold at the time they apply for the award. Existing law authorizes the award to be used to obtain one baccalaureate, graduate, or doctoral degree or a certificate, degree, or diploma that leads to a baccalaureate, graduate, or doctoral degree.This bill would authorize the award to also be used for an extended education course at a campus of the University of California or the California State University if the extended education course is being used to meet the requirements of an undergraduate degree program.
CA SB 604 - Marie Alvarado-Gil
Veterans’ benefits: farm and home purchase.
02/21/2025 - From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
SB 604, as introduced, Alvarado-Gil. Veterans’ benefits: farm and home purchase. Existing law provides for farm and home purchase benefits for qualifying veterans under the Veterans’ Farm and Home Purchase Act of 1974, which is also known as the CalVet Home Loan Program, and places responsibility for program administration with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Existing law defines specified terms for these purposes.This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
CA SB 621 - Shannon L. Grove
Voter registration: military and overseas voters.
05/19/2025 - Referred to Coms. on ELECTIONS and M. & V.A.
SB 621, as amended, Grove. Voter registration: military and overseas voters. Existing law authorizes an individual who registers to vote at least 15 days before an election day, to vote in that election by a regular ballot. Existing law permits an individual who is eligible to register to vote to complete a registration application during the 14 days immediately preceding an election or on the day of the election, and to vote by conditional ballot or regular ballot, as specified. Existing law provides that otherwise qualified military and overseas voters and voters with disabilities may complete a conditional voter registration and cast a provisional ballot or nonprovisional ballot under those provisions. Existing law also permits a military or overseas voter to register after the closing date of registration if the voter is released from service after the closing date, returns to the voter’s county of residence, and is not a registered voter in that county, or if the voter is required to move under official active duty military orders after the closing date.This bill would repeal the latter provision as obsolete due to the inclusion of military and overseas voters in the general conditional voter registration process.Existing law governs the conduct of state and local elections.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to voting.
CA SB 623 - Bob J. Archuleta
Property taxation: homeowners’, veterans’, and disabled veterans’ exemptions.
02/21/2025 - From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
SB 623, as introduced, Archuleta. Property taxation: homeowners’, veterans’, and disabled veterans’ exemptions. The California Constitution declares that all property is taxable and establishes or authorizes various exemptions from tax for real property, including a homeowners’ exemption in the amount of $7,000 of the full value of a dwelling that may be applied unless the dwelling receives another real property exemption. The California Constitution and existing property tax law establish a veterans’ exemption in the amount of $4,000, as specified, for a veteran who meets certain military service requirements, and generally exempts from property taxation the same value of property of a deceased veteran’s unmarried spouse and parents. The California Constitution and existing property tax law establish a disabled veterans’ exemption in the amount of $100,000 or $150,000 for the principal place of residence of a veteran or a veteran’s spouse, as specified.Existing property tax law establishing the homeowners’ exemption specifies that the exemption may not be applied to a property on which the owner receives the veterans’ exemption.This bill would provide that if Senate Constitutional Amendment ____ is approved by the voters at the statewide general election scheduled for November 3, 2026, then commencing January 1, 2025, notwithstanding that prohibition, the homeowners’ exemption also applies to property on which an owner receives the veterans’ exemption or the disabled veterans’ exemption. By imposing additional duties on local tax officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.Existing law requires the state to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation.This bill would provide that, notwithstanding those provisions, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill.This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.Existing law contains provisions related to elections and voting, including a requirement that a constitutional amendment submitted to the people by the Legislature appear on the ballot of the first statewide election occurring at least 131 days after the adoption of the proposal by the Legislature and that the Secretary of State mail state voter information guides to voters.This bill would require the Secretary of State, notwithstanding specified provisions of existing law relating to elections and voting, to submit Senate Constitutional Amendment ____ of the 2025–26 Regular Session to the voters for their approval at the statewide general election scheduled for November 3, 2026.
CA SB 649 - Marie Alvarado-Gil
Firearms: silencers.
03/24/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
SB 649, as amended, Alvarado-Gil. Firearms: silencers. Existing law generally regulates deadly weapons, including assault weapons. Existing law defines an assault weapon, including, among others, as a semiautomatic centrefire firearm, as specified, that has a threaded barrel capable of accepting a silencer. Existing law defines a silencer, among others, as any device or attachment intended to muffle the sound of a firearm.Existing law makes it a felony for any person, firm, or corporation to possess a silencer for a firearm. Existing law exempts specified actions from those provisions, including the manufacture, possession, transportation, or sale or other transfer of a silencer to specified law enforcement agencies and military or naval forces by dealers or manufacturers registered under federal law.Existing law authorizes a court to sentence an eligible person convicted of a felony to probation. Existing law prohibits granting probation in specified circumstances, including if the person possesses a silencer.Existing law requires any weapon, including a firearm and any attachments, that was carried unlawfully for specified crimes to be surrendered to specified law enforcement entities. Existing law requires weapons surrendered pursuant to these provisions to be destroyed by the law enforcement entity.This bill would replace the term “silencer” with the term “suppressor” in the above provisions.Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to ensure that all victims and witnesses of crimes, as defined, are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity. Existing law enumerates the rights of victims and witnesses of crimes, including, but not limited to, the right to be informed by a prosecuting attorney of the final disposition of a case.This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to a related provision.
CA SB 656 -
Small business: small business liaison.
05/23/2025 - May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 656, as amended, Richardson. Small business: small business liaison. Existing law establishes the Office of Small Business Advocate within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to advocate for causes of small businesses and to provide small businesses with the information they need to survive in the marketplace and requires the Governor to appoint a Small Business Advocate.This bill would require only an agency under the direct authority of the Governor to furnish to the advocate those reports, documents, and information, and would require an agency under the direct authority of another elected statewide constitutional officer to provide those reports, documents, and information to either the advocate or to the Legislature, as provided.Executive Order No. S-02-06 establishes a 25% small business participation goal for the state’s procurement and contracting processes. Existing law requires a state agency that significantly regulates small business or that significantly impacts small business to designate at least one person to serve as a small business liaison. Existing law requires the small business liaison to be responsible for specified duties relating to interactions between the state agency and small businesses, including assisting the agency secretary, department director, or executive officer of the state agency in ensuring that the procurement and contracting processes of the state agency are administered in order to meet or exceed the 25% small business participation goal, and developing and sharing innovative procurement and contracting practices from the public and private sectors to increase opportunities for small businesses.This bill would require all state agencies to designate at least one person to serve as a small business liaison. The bill would also require a small business liaison to annually submit certain information to the advocate, including a list of all current contracts between the state agency and a small business, all contracts of the state agency that include a subcontract with a small business, and the total dollar amount paid to a small business under those contracts or subcontracts. The bill would require the advocate to post the information on its internet website.Existing law requires a state agency, department, officer, or other state governmental entity to meet an annual statewide participation goal of not less than 3% for disabled veteran business enterprises for specified contracts entered into by the awarding department during the year.This bill would increase that participation goal to 5%.Existing law requires that certain contracts awarded by the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or the Director of the Youth Authority have annual statewide participation goals of not less than 15% for minority business enterprises and 5% for women business enterprises.This bill would expand the annual statewide participation goal for minority business enterprises to all contracts awarded by any state agency, department, officer, or governmental entity for construction, professional services, materials, supplies, equipment, alteration, repair, or improvement. The bill would also increase the participation goal for minority business enterprises to 25%.
CA SB 680 - Susan Rubio
Sex offender registration: unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
04/21/2025 - April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
SB 680, as introduced, Rubio. Sex offender registration: unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Existing law, the Sex Offender Registration Act (act), requires a person convicted of specified crimes to register with law enforcement as a sex offender while residing in California or while attending school or working in California, as specified. Existing law establishes 3 tiers of registration based on specified criteria, for periods of at least 10 years, at least 20 years, and life, respectively, for a conviction of specified sex offenses. Existing law exempts from mandatory registration under the act a person convicted of certain offenses involving minors if the person is not more than 10 years older than the minor and if that offense is the only one requiring the person to register. A willful failure to register, as required by the act, is a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the underlying offense.This bill would require offenders guilty of engaging in an act of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor who is more than 3 years younger than the offender or, if the offender was 21 years of age or older, engaging in an act of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor who is under 16 years of age, to register for 10 years as a tier one offender under the act, unless the offender was not more than 10 years older than the minor and if that offense is the only one requiring the offender to register. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
CA SB 694 - Bob J. Archuleta
Veteran service providers.
05/23/2025 - In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
SB 694, as introduced, Archuleta. Veteran service providers. Existing law establishes a competitive grant program that is administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs for veteran service providers to provide supportive services that improve the quality of life for veterans and their families. Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations to certify and decertify a veteran service provider, as specified. Existing law requires the department to provide a progress report to the Legislature on or before April 1, 2019, on the status of those regulations.This bill would instead require a progress report to be submitted on or before April 1, 2026.
CA SB 70 - Kelly Seyarto
Public contracts: Small Business Procurement and Contract Act.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 70, as amended, Seyarto. Public contracts: Small Business Procurement and Contract Act. The Small Business Procurement and Contract Act permits a state agency or the California State University to award a contract for goods, services, or information technology with an estimated value between $5,000 and $250,000 to a certified small business, including a microbusiness and a disabled veteran business enterprise, without complying with specified competitive bidding requirements.This bill would increase the maximum estimated value of a contract for goods, services, or information technology awarded pursuant to the act from $250,000 to $350,000. Commencing January 1, 2028, and biennially thereafter, the bill would require the Director of General Services to conduct a review of that maximum value, and would authorize the director to adjust that value to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index.
CA SB 702 - Susan Rubio
Legislative and gubernatorial appointments: report.
05/23/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 702, as amended, Limón. Legislative and gubernatorial appointments: report. Existing law establishes various boards and commissions in state government with specified duties and responsibilities. Existing law generally provides for legislative oversight of state board formation, which includes, among other things, any administrative or regulatory board, commission, and committee, whose members are appointed by the Governor, the Legislature, or both. Existing law requires the Governor to appoint every officer whose mode of appointment is not prescribed by law. This bill would require the office of the Governor, commencing January 1, 2027, to maintain on its internet website a list of each state board and commission and the membership list, stated purpose, duties, meeting frequency, internet website, and vacancies in the membership for each board or commission. The bill would require the office of the Governor, on or before January 1, 2028, and annually on January 1 thereafter, to create and publish on its internet website a report containing aggregate demographic information, as defined, of appointments made by the office during the prior calendar year, as specified.The bill would require the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the Assembly, on or before January 1, 2028, and annually on January 1 thereafter, to publish on their respective internet websites, to the extent available, aggregate demographic information, as defined, on their respective legislative appointments, made during the prior calendar year, as specified. The bill would require the aggregate demographic information to only include legislative appointments created by statute, and prohibit the information from including ex officio appointments of members of the Legislature. The bill would require the aggregate demographic information to also include a specified disclaimer, and would encourage any organization or individual that utilizes or republishes the information to include that disclaimer. The bill would require the above-described published aggregate demographic information on gubernatorial or legislative appointments to be published on the respective entity’s internet websites in a prescribed manner for purposes of ensuring the anonymity of the appointed individuals.
CA SB 704 - Jesse Arreguin
Firearms: firearm barrels.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 704, as amended, Arreguín. Firearms: firearm barrels. Existing law generally requires the sale or transfer of firearms to be conducted through a licensed firearms dealer. For purposes of these provisions, existing law defines “firearm” to mean a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion and to include the frame or receiver of the weapon, including both a completed frame or receiver, or a firearm precursor part. For these purposes, existing law defines “firearm precursor part” as any forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that has reached a stage in manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled, or converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or that is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled, or converted.Commencing on July 1, 2026, this bill would, except as specified, prohibit the sale or transfer of a firearm barrel, as defined, unless the transaction is completed in person by a licensed firearms dealer. The bill would require the licensed firearms dealer to conduct a background check of the purchaser or transferee and to record specified information pertaining to the transaction, including the date of the sale or transfer. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable as a misdemeanor. By creating a new crime, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
CA SB 718 - Benjamin J. Allen
Hunting and sport fishing licenses: reduced fees.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 718, as amended, Dahle. Hunting and sport fishing licenses: reduced fees. Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement and administer various wildlife protection and habitat conservation programs and to enforce the state’s hunting and fishing laws. Existing law requires the department to issue hunting licenses that authorize the take of birds and mammals, and sport fishing licenses that authorize the take of fish, reptiles, or amphibians, in accordance with prescribed laws. Existing law sets the fees for those licenses at specified rates and requires those fees to be adjusted annually for inflation. Existing law requires the department to issue reduced fee hunting and sport fishing licenses to specified individuals, as provided. This bill would require the department, until January 1, 2031, to issue a reduced fee hunting license to a qualified recipient who is a resident of the state and has not been convicted of a violation of the Fish and Game Code and has provided adequate documentation to the department, as specified. The bill would prohibit the department from providing a reduced fee hunting license to a person unless the department is satisfied that the person provided adequate documentation of eligibility. The bill would also require the department, until January 1, 2031, to issue reduced fee sport fishing licenses in accordance with these provisions. The bill would require the Director of Fish and Wildlife to submit a report to the Legislature on or before October 1, 2029, that evaluates the effect of the reduced fee for hunting and sport fishing licenses, as specified.
CA SB 728 - Steve Padilla
California Consumer Financial Protection Law: commercial financing.
05/05/2025 - May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
SB 728, as amended, Padilla. California Consumer Financial Protection Law: commercial financing. Existing law, the California Consumer Financial Protection Law (CCFPL), establishes certain consumer protections relating to consumer financial products, practices, and services, including, among others, making it unlawful for covered persons or service providers, as defined, to, among other acts, engage in unlawful, unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices with respect to consumer financial products or services. Existing law establishes that the purpose of the CCFPL is to promote consumer welfare, fair competition, and wealth creation in this state by promoting, among other things, nondiscriminatory access to consumer financial products and services that are understandable and not unfair, deceptive, or abusive. Existing law authorizes the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, under the direction of the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation, to prescribe rules regarding registration requirements applicable to a covered person in the business of offering or providing a consumer financial product or service, as defined, and rules requiring the payment of registration fees.This bill would expand the purposes of the CCFPL to include the protection of small businesses from abusive financial practices, as specified. The bill would require the department to prescribe rules regarding registration requirements applicable to covered persons seeking to offer or provide commercial financing products, as defined and specified. The bill would, commencing January 1, 2027, prohibit a person from engaging in the business of offering to provide or providing commercial financing products without first registering with the commissioner, as specified. The bill would impose various duties on commercial financing providers and brokers, including, among other things, prohibiting the taking of a confession of judgment or power of attorney at any time before a default, as specified. The bill would make various conforming changes.
CA SB 744 - Christopher Cabaldon
Community colleges: credit for students with prior learning.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 744, as introduced, Cabaldon. Community colleges: credit for students with prior learning. Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to establish, by March 31, 2019, an initiative to expand the use of course credit at the California Community Colleges for students with prior learning. Existing law required the chancellor to submit, by January 1, 2020, a report on the initiative to the Legislature.This bill would delete those requirements and would instead require the chancellor to award credit for competency-based educational opportunities that recognize students’ prior learning and help students advance toward a credential or degree while reducing redundant study and student expenses. The bill would require the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to establish competencies, with the advice of appropriate faculty and employers, that are focused on the knowledge and skills a student needs to demonstrate in order to pass a course and to earn a degree or credential, or to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program. The bill would describe methods for awarding credit pursuant to these provisions as including, but not being limited to, military service, credit by examination, and evaluation of training, certifications, apprenticeships, licenses, and service learning, as provided. The bill would require the chancellor’s office, on or before September 1, 2027, to submit a report to the Legislature on the credits awarded pursuant to these provisions.Existing law establishes a system through which state funds are apportioned to community college districts based on specified formulas and identifies certain noncredit community college courses and classes that are eligible for that state apportionment funding.This bill would require individualized evaluation, assessment, and portfolio review of students’ prior learning and competencies for the awarding of credit pursuant to the above-described provisions to be eligible for state apportionment funding.
CA SB 751 - Josh Lowenthal
Veterans and Former First Responders Research Pilot Program.
05/23/2025 - May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 751, as amended, Becker. Veterans and Former First Responders Research Pilot Program. Existing law makes it a crime to possess, cultivate, and administer specified controlled substances, including psilocybin and psilocyn. Existing law makes it a crime for a person to rent, lease, or make available for use any building or room for the purpose of storing or distributing any controlled substance.This bill would, until January 1, 2031, request the University of California to establish local pilots in up to 5 counties to allow for the research and development of psilocybin services for veterans and former first responders as part of the Veterans and Former First Responders Research Pilot Program (”Pilot Program“). The bill would require these university partners, overseeing each Pilot Program to be responsible for protocol design, institutional review board approvals, training of psilocybin facilitators, data collection, and reporting. The bill would require each local pilot to partner with licensed health care and licensed community-based providers that provide services and care to the target population. The bill would require psilocybin to be provided by or under the supervision of a practitioner who has experience in providing or overseeing psilocybin or other psychedelic therapy services. The bill would require that each person being considered for the Pilot Program meet specified criteria, including that they are 21 years of age or older and have been given specified assessments.This bill would request the University of California to report specified information about the Pilot Program to the Legislature, the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, and the Governor by January 15, 2030. The bill would establish the Veterans and Former First Responders Research Pilot Special Fund and would continuously appropriate the fund to the University of California for the purposes of these provisions. The bill would request the University of California to apply for and accept grants, donations, and federal funding for the purposes of the Pilot Program, and would require those moneys to be deposited in the fund.
CA SB 766 - Benjamin J. Allen
California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act.
05/09/2025 - Set for hearing May 19.
SB 766, as amended, Allen. California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act. Existing law governs motor vehicle conditional sale contracts, as defined, and requires a seller, prior to the execution of a conditional sale contract, to make certain disclosures to the buyer, including a description and the price of each item sold if the contract includes a charge for the item, and the sum of all of those charges.Existing law prohibits a dealer from selling specified used vehicles at retail to an individual for personal, family, or household use without offering the buyer a contract cancellation option agreement that allows the buyer to return the vehicle without cause. Existing law sets forth certain requirements for the contract cancellation option agreement, including prescribing the purchase price for the contract cancellation option and requiring specified disclosures. This bill would enact the California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act. The bill would make it a violation of the act for a dealer to make any misrepresentation regarding material information about specified matters relating to the vehicle sale, including the costs or terms of purchasing, financing, or leasing a vehicle, the availability of vehicles at an advertised price, and the remedy available if a dealer fails to sell or lease a vehicle at the total price, as defined. The bill would also make it a violation of the act for a dealer to fail to make certain disclosures clear and conspicuous, including specified information relating to the total price and any add-on product or services. The bill would make it a violation of the act for a dealer, in connection with the sale or financing of a vehicle, to charge for certain items, including an add-on product or service if the vehicle purchaser or lessee would not benefit from the add-on product or service. The bill would repeal the above-described contract cancellation option agreement requirement and would instead prohibit a dealer from selling or leasing specified used vehicles without providing the purchaser or lessee a 3-business-day right to cancel the purchase or lease, as provided. The bill would require a dealer to create and retain, for a period of 2 years from the date the record is created, all records necessary to demonstrate compliance with the act, including specified records. The bill would make related conforming changes.
CA SB 774 - Angelique V. Ashby
Department of Real Estate and the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 774, as amended, Ashby. Department of Real Estate and the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. The Real Estate Law establishes the Department of Real Estate in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency to license and regulate real estate licensees under that law, including real estate brokers and real estate salespersons. The Real Estate Appraisers’ Licensing and Certification Law establishes within the Department of Consumer Affairs the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers to license and regulate real estate appraisers. Under existing law, the powers and duties of the Department of Real Estate and the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers under those laws, respectively, are subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature as if those laws were to be repealed on January 1, 2026.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to evaluate the Department of Real Estate and the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers through the joint legislative sunset review oversight process and to subsequently amend this bill to include recommendations produced through that process.Existing law requires the Department of Real Estate to compile information on military, veteran, and spouse licensure into an annual report for the Legislature. Existing law requires the commissioner to ascertain by written examination that the applicant has an understanding of the principles of real estate, among other things. This bill would extend that date to January 1, 2030. The bill would make other technical changes to various provisions of the Real Estate Law, including eliminating gendered pronouns and updating cross-references.
CA SB 781 - Eloise Gomez Reyes
Small business.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 781, as amended, Reyes. Small business. Existing law establishes the Office of Small Business Advocate within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, led by the Small Business Advocate, and sets forth its powers and duties relating to advocacy on behalf of small business and providing small businesses with the information they need to survive in the marketplace. Existing law requires the advocate to, among other duties, collaborate with the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services in their activities under the Small Business Procurement and Contract Act, including promoting small business certification.This bill would require the advocate to also collaborate with local agencies on the development and implementation of local strategies to increase small business participation in local procurement opportunities, as specified. In this connection, the bill would authorize a local agency, as defined, to establish a Small Business Utilization Program (SBUP) to increase small businesses’ participation in local agency procurement opportunities.This bill would require an SBUP, to facilitate the participation of small businesses in the provision of goods, information technology, and services to the local agency, to establish a small business certification process. As part of this process, the bill would require the SBUP, to the extent feasible, to include all of specified criteria, including, among other things, a minimum goal of 25% procurement participation for small businesses certification. The bill would authorize a local agency that establishes an SBUP to engage in specified activities to facilitate contract awards to small businesses.This bill would authorize a local agency to submit information on its small business procurement participation to the Office of Small Business Advocate, including progress toward meeting utilization goals. The bill would require the Office of Small Business Advocate, subject to funding being available, and upon appropriation by the Legislature for these purposes, to issue its first data call to local agencies by November 15, 2027, and every year thereafter, as specified. The bill would require the Office of Small Business Advocate to prepare an annual report that may contain, among other things, information received from the data call and to post the report on its internet website within 6 months after each data call. The bill would include related legislative findings.Existing law creates the California Small Business Technical Assistance Program within the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, under the direct authority of the Small Business Advocate. Existing law requires the office to administer the program to provide grants to expand the capacity of small business development technical assistance centers in California, as specified. Existing law sets forth the criteria that an applicant must meet to be eligible to participate in the program.This bill would, for grants made in fiscal years 2025–26 through 2027–28, inclusive, establish specified exceptions and modifications to the eligibility criteria.
CA SB 782 - Sasha Renée Pérez
Enhanced infrastructure financing district: climate resilience districts.
05/21/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 782, as amended, Pérez. Enhanced infrastructure financing district: climate resilience districts. Existing law authorizes the legislative body of a city or a county to designate a proposed enhanced infrastructure financing district to finance public capital facilities or other specified projects, with a governing body referred to as the public financing authority, by adopting a resolution of intention to establish the proposed district.Existing law authorizes a city, county, city and county, special district, or a combination of any of those entities to form a climate resilience district, as described, for the purposes of raising and allocating funding for eligible projects and the operating expenses of eligible projects. Existing law deems each district to be an enhanced infrastructure financing district and requires each district to comply with existing law concerning enhanced infrastructure financing districts, except as specified. Existing law requires a district to finance only specified projects that meet the definition of an eligible project, including projects that address sea level rise, extreme heat, extreme cold, the risk of wildfire, drought, and the risk of flooding, as specified.This bill would authorize a city or county to adopt a resolution providing for the division of taxes of any participating entity without following specified procedures for the preparation and adoption of an infrastructure financing plan, if certain conditions are met. The bill would require the entity proposing formation of the district to hold a public meeting to consider the resolution of intention to establish the district and a second public meeting to consider the adoption of the infrastructure financing plan, and would require the entity proposing formation of the district to post specified notices prior to the meetings. The bill would require the resolution to include specified information, including that incremental property tax revenue from the city or county and all affected taxing entities within the district may be used to finance the district’s activities. The bill would require the district to make the infrastructure financing plan available for public inspection at least 30 days before the second public meeting, and would require the designated official of the district to consult with each affected taxing entity prior to development of the infrastructure financing plan.This bill would limit the use of the district’s revenue to repairing or replacing buildings, low- and moderate-income housing, facilities, structures, or other improvements within the district, that have been damaged or destroyed by a disaster, as defined, mitigating the risk of a future disaster, or supporting economic recovery from a disaster, as specified. The bill would define disaster for these purposes to mean a disaster for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency, as specified.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
CA SB 79 - Scott D. Wiener
Local government land: public transit use: housing development: transit-oriented development.
05/09/2025 - Set for hearing May 19.
SB 79, as amended, Wiener. Local government land: public transit use: housing development: transit-oriented development. (1) Existing law prescribes requirements for the disposal of surplus land by a local agency. Existing law defines “surplus land” for these purposes to mean land owned in fee simple by any local agency for which the local agency’s governing body takes formal action declaring that the land is surplus and is not necessary for the agency’s use. Existing law defines “agency’s use” for these purposes to include land that is being used for agency work or operations, as provided. Existing law exempts from this definition of “agency’s use” certain commercial or industrial uses, except that in the case of a local agency that is a district, except a local agency whose primary purpose or mission is to supply the public with a transportation system, “agency’s use” may include commercial or industrial uses or activities, as specified.This bill would additionally include land leased to support public transit operations in the definition of “agency’s use,” as described above. The bill would also revise the definition of “agency’s use” with respect to commercial or industrial uses to instead provide that a district or a public transit operator may use land for commercial or industrial uses or activities, as described above.(2) Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and specified land outside its boundaries, that contains certain mandatory elements, including a housing element. Existing law requires that the housing element include, among other things, an assessment of housing needs and an inventory of resources and constraints that are relevant to the meeting of these needs, including an inventory of land suitable for residential development, as provided. Existing law, for the 4th and subsequent revisions of the housing element, requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to determine the existing and projected need for housing for each region, as specified, and requires the appropriate council of local governments, or the department for cities and counties without a council of governments, to adopt a final regional housing need plan that allocates a share of the regional housing need to each locality in the region.Existing law, the Housing Accountability Act, among other things, requires a local agency that proposes to disapprove a housing development project, as defined, or to impose a condition that the project be developed at a lower density to base its decision on written findings supported by a preponderance of the evidence that specified conditions exist if that project complies with applicable, objective general plan, zoning, and subdivision standards and criteria in effect at the time that the application was deemed complete. The act authorizes the applicant, a person who would be eligible to apply for residency in the housing development project or emergency shelter, or a housing organization to bring an action to enforce the act’s provisions, as provided, and provides for penalties if the court finds that the local agency is in violation of specified provisions of the act.This bill would require that a housing development project, as defined, proposed within a specified distance of a transit-oriented development (TOD) stop, as defined, be an allowed use on any site zoned for residential, mixed, commercial, or light industrial development, if the development complies with applicable requirements, as specified. The bill would establish requirements concerning height limits, density, and floor area ratio in accordance with a development’s proximity to specified tiers of TOD stops, as provided. The bill would provide that, for the purposes of the Housing Accountability Act, a proposed development consistent with the applicable standards of these provisions shall be dee
CA SB 790 - Christopher Cabaldon
Postsecondary education: postsecondary education coordinating entity: interstate reciprocity agreements for distance education: out-of-state postsecondary educational institutions.
05/05/2025 - From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 30).
SB 790, as amended, Cabaldon. Postsecondary education: postsecondary education coordinating entity: interstate reciprocity agreements for distance education: out-of-state postsecondary educational institutions. (1) Existing law establishes the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) to be responsible for coordinating public, independent, and private postsecondary education in this state and to provide independent policy analyses and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on postsecondary education issues. The Budget Act of 2011 deleted funding and personnel from CPEC.This bill would eliminate CPEC and instead would require the Governor to designate a state agency, department, or office as the principal state operating and coordinating entity for postsecondary education with duties including implementation, coordination, and evaluation of the Master Plan for Career Education, coordination and evaluation of postsecondary implementation of intersegmental state policies and initiatives, and implementation of an interstate reciprocity agreement for distance education if the Governor enters into such agreement, as provided. The bill would authorize the Governor to enter into one or more interstate reciprocity agreements through a compact on behalf of the state upon issuing certain written findings. The bill would authorize postsecondary educational institutions to apply to the designated coordinating entity for approval to operate under an interstate reciprocity agreement, as specified.(2) The California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 provides, among other things, for student protections and regulatory oversight of private postsecondary institutions in the state. The act is enforced by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education within the Department of Consumer Affairs. The act requires an out-of-state private postsecondary educational institution to register with the bureau, pay a fee, and comply with additional delineated requirements. Existing law provides exemptions from the act for, among others, accredited, degree-granting, nonprofit, higher education institutions and degree-granting public higher education institutions.This bill would exempt a higher education institution approved pursuant to an interstate reciprocity agreement to which the state is a party from these requirements, except as specified.For purposes of the act, existing law defines a “private postsecondary educational institution” as a private entity with a physical presence in the state that offers postsecondary education to the public for an institutional charge.This bill would expand that definition to also include an accredited private entity with no physical presence in the state that offers and awards degrees to the public in this state by means of distance education for an institutional charge if the institution is not approved pursuant to an interstate reciprocity agreement to which the state is a party, thereby subjecting those institutions to the requirements of the act.The act establishes the Student Tuition Recovery Fund as a continuously appropriated fund to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student while enrolled in an institution who, at the time of the student’s enrollment, was a California resident or was enrolled in a California residency program, prepaid tuition, and suffered economic loss, as defined. Existing law limits the amount of moneys in the fund from exceeding $25,000,000 at any time.This bill would authorize the bureau, if the fund has a balance of $25,000,000, to extend coverage to a California resident student who suffers economic loss while enrolled in an institution that is approved pursuant to an interstate reciprocity agreement to which the state is a party. By expanding the scope of a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. Beginning January 1, 2028, this bill would subject any public or private entity without a physical presence in this st
CA SB 798 - Susan Rubio
Veterans.
05/19/2025 - Referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
SB 798, as introduced, Rubio. Veterans. Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors of any county to grant financial assistance, relief, and support to indigent veterans, as specified. Existing law authorizes this assistance to include the necessary expenses, not to exceed $350, for burial or cremation of any indigent veteran.This bill would increase that amount to $1,000.
CA SB 815 - Henry I. Stern
Planning and zoning: very high fire hazard areas.
05/23/2025 - May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 815, as amended, Allen. Planning and zoning: very high fire hazard areas. (1) The Planning and Zoning Law requires the legislative body of a city or county to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan that includes various elements, including, among others, a housing element and a safety element for the protection of the community from unreasonable risks associated with the effects of various geologic and seismic hazards, flooding, and wildland and urban fires. Existing law requires the housing element to be revised according to a specific schedule. Existing law requires the planning agency to review and, if necessary, revise the safety element upon each revision of the housing element or local hazard mitigation plan, but not less than once every 8 years, to identify new information relating to flood and fire hazards and climate adaptation and resiliency strategies applicable to the city or county that was not available during the previous revision of the safety element.Existing law requires that the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, among other things, coordinate with appropriate entities, including state, regional, or local agencies, to establish a clearinghouse for climate adaptation information for use by state, regional, and local entities, as provided.This bill would require the safety element, upon the next revision of the housing element or the hazard mitigation plan, on or after January 1, 2026, whichever occurs first, to be reviewed and updated as necessary to include a comprehensive retrofit strategy to improve safety and reduce the risk of property loss and damage during wildfires, as specified, and would require the planning agency to submit the adopted strategy to the Office of Planning and Research for inclusion into the above-described clearinghouse. The bill would also require the planning agency to review and, if necessary, revise the safety element upon each revision of the housing element or local hazard mitigation plan, but not less than once every 8 years, to identify new information relating to retrofit updates applicable to the city or county that was not available during the previous revision of the safety element. By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law requires the general plan to include a land use element that designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land for, among other purposes, housing, business, and industry. Existing law additionally requires the general plan to include a housing element and requires each local government to review and revise its housing element, as specified.This bill would require a city or county that contains residential structures in a very high fire hazard area, as defined, upon each revision of the housing element on or after January 1, 2026, to amend the land use element of its general plan to consider, among other things, the goals contained in the most recent Strategic Fire Plan for California prepared by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The bill would also require the revised land use elements to contain, among other things, the locations of all very high fire hazard areas within the city or county and feasible implementation measures designed to carry out specified goals, objectives, and policies relating to the protection of lives and property from unreasonable risk of wildfire. The bill would also require the city or county to complete a review of, and make findings related to, the designation of lands within the jurisdiction as very high fire hazard severity zones, upon each subsequent revision of the housing element, as provided. By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(3) Existing law requires the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to implement various long-range planning and research policies and goals that are intended to, among oth
CA SB 822 - Josh Becker
Unclaimed property: digital financial assets.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 822, as amended, Becker. Unclaimed property: digital financial assets. The Unclaimed Property Law (UPL) prescribes the circumstances under which intangible property escheats to the state, including how and when apparent owners must be notified that their property is at risk of escheating and the manner in which escheated property must be delivered to the State Controller. Intangible property is only subject to the UPL if the apparent owner’s last known address is within the state or, if that address is unknown, if there is another link to the state, as specified. Existing law provides how and when securities that escheat to the state pursuant to the UPL may be sold and how the securities or funds from their sale may be returned to their owner.With regard to all types of property, this bill would specify that an apparent owner’s last known address need not be a complete mailing address if the address is sufficient to identify that it is within the state. The bill would clarify that digital financial assets are a form of intangible property subject to the UPL. The bill would prescribe requirements for holders of digital financial assets to notify apparent owners prior to the assets escheating, which would include a form created by the Controller that may be returned to the holder by the apparent owner to restart the escheatment period, as specified. The bill would specify how escheated digital financial assets must be transferred from the holder to the Controller. The bill also would permit the Controller, in their discretion, to determine that it is not in the state’s interest to take custody of digital financial assets, as specified. The bill would make the provisions regarding the sale of securities and their return to their owner applicable to digital financial assets, as specified.
CA SB 828 - Christopher Cabaldon
Land use: economic development: surplus land.
04/24/2025 - Set for hearing April 30.
SB 828, as amended, Cabaldon. Land use: economic development: surplus land. Existing law authorizes a city, county, or city and county, with the approval of its legislative body by resolution after a public hearing, to acquire, sell, or lease property in furtherance of the creation of an economic opportunity, as defined. Existing law provides that this authorization is an alternative to any other authority granted by law to cities to dispose of city-owned property.This bill would revise those provisions to authorize a city, county, or city and county to, in addition to a sale or lease of property, otherwise transfer property under the above-described provisions to create an economic opportunity and would make related, conforming changes to these procedures. The bill would require the city, county, or city and county, to submit a report containing specified information to the Controller within 90 days after adopting the resolution approving the acquisition, sale, lease, or transfer of the property. The bill would also specify that these provisions are an alternative to any other authority or procedures for a city, county, or city and county to acquire, sell, lease, or otherwise transfer real property owned by a city, county, or city and county.On and after January 1, 2014, existing law generally requires a local agency, before approving an economic development subsidy within its jurisdiction, to provide specified information in written form to the public and through its internet website, and to hold public hearings and report on those subsidies at specified intervals. Existing law requires that the creation of an economic opportunity, as described above, comply with these public notice, hearing, and reporting requirements.This bill would provide that the creation of an economic opportunity under these provisions is subject only to the above-described requirements regarding approval of an economic development subsidy.Existing law prescribes requirements for the disposal of surplus land by a local agency, including requiring that the local agency send a written notice of availability of the property to specified entities before disposing of that property or participating in negotiations to dispose of that property with a prospective transferee and, upon receipt of a notice of interest from an entity desiring to purchase or lease the surplus land, enter into good faith negotiations with that entity to determine a mutually satisfactory sales price and terms or lease terms, as provided. Existing law exempts from these procedures various types of surplus land, referred to as exempt surplus land.This bill would additionally exempt from these requirements the disposal of surplus land by a local agency properties that a local agency proposes to sell, lease, or otherwise transfer under the above-described provisions authorizing the transfer of land in furtherance of the creation of an economic opportunity.The Planning and Zoning Law requires each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for its physical development, and the development of certain lands outside its boundaries, that includes, among other mandatory elements, a land use element that designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land for housing, business, industry, and other categories of public and private uses of land, as prescribed.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the provision describing the required land use element.
CA SB 855 -
Sale of armories.
05/27/2025 - Ordered to special consent calendar.
SB 855, as introduced, Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. Sale of armories. Existing law authorizes the Director of General Services, with the approval of the Adjutant General, to lease and sell real property held for armory purposes, subject to legislative approval. Existing law establishes the Armory Fund and requires that all proceeds from the sale or lease of armories be deposited into the fund for use, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for specified purposes related to armories.This bill would authorize the Director of General Services, with the approval of the Adjutant General, to transfer, exchange, or sell specified armories throughout the state, subject to the above-mentioned provisions.
CA SB 99 - Sharon Quirk-Silva
Family childcare homes: United States Armed Forces.
05/23/2025 - May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 99, as amended, Blakespear. Family childcare homes: United States Armed Forces. Existing law, the California Child Day Care Facilities Act, generally requires the State Department of Social Services to license and regulate various types of child daycare facilities, including, among others, daycare centers and family daycare homes. Under existing law, a willful or repeated violation of those provisions is a crime. Existing law exempts from those provisions various entities, including, among others, community care facilities, certain program facilities administered by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and extended daycare programs operated by public or private schools.This bill would also exempt, from the above-described licensing provisions, a family childcare home administered by a person certified as a family childcare provider by a branch of the United States Armed Forces and that exclusively provides care for children of eligible federal personnel, as defined, and surviving spouses.The bill would impose certain requirements on a military installation certifying a family childcare home in order for the home to qualify for an exemption. The bill would require the military installation to annually file with the department a list of exempt but certified facilities; report to the department all incidents involving physical injury to, or death of, children attending the program; require providers to post a certain notice about the status of the facility; and certify that the facility meets the health and safety requirements set forth in related state regulations, except for obtaining or maintaining a license. The bill would also require each provider to meet certain criteria relating to, among other things, an emergency preparedness plan, inspections, and attendance records.The bill would authorize the department to inspect those exempt family childcare homes to determine compliance with these provisions, and would require the department to develop and establish, by July 1, 2026, a policy for those family childcare homes. The bill would require that the policy address the above-described health and safety requirements and provider criteria, in addition to any procedures or requirements relating to enforcement, reporting, or corrective action, as specified. The bill would require the department to publish the policy on its internet website and to update the policy as necessary.The bill would require prioritization for annual inspections in the case of a facility that is subject to the requirements of the California Child Day Care Facilities Act, whether licensed or exempt from licensure, including, but not limited to, a family childcare home, if the facility is participating in a county quality improvement program through a certain quality rating improvement system, as part of participating in a fee assistance program administered by the United States Department of Defense.