AB 1823 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

State government: State Government Strategic Planning and Performance and Review Act: strategic plans: equity.

Summary

Existing law creates, within the Government Operations Agency, a Chief Equity Officer, who is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Governor. Existing law requires the Chief Equity Officer to improve equity and inclusion throughout state government operations and authorizes the Chief Equity Officer to engage with state entities for these purposes. The State Government Strategic Planning and Performance and Review Act requires each agency, department, office, or commission for which strategic planning efforts are recommended, as specified, to develop a strategic plan and to report to the Governor and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by April 1 each year on the steps being taken to develop and adopt a strategic plan. The act requires the report to include a description of the elements to be included in the strategic plan, the process for developing and adopting the strategic plan, and the timetable for the plan's completion. This bill would additionally require every state agency or department subject to the Governor's authority to take specified actions in regard to any strategic plan to more effectively advance racial equity, as specified, and to undertake a racial equity analysis before implementing any budget or before any regulation takes effect, by the agency's or department's diversity, equity, and inclusion officer or comparable position. If that position does not exist within the agency or department, the bill would require the analysis to be performed by an individual who has demonstrated expertise, and demonstrated satisfaction of appropriate criteria, in specified areas including analyzing, implementing, or developing public policies that impact racial equity.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 11, 2026 Last action May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

02/11/26 - Introduced → 03/19/26 - Amended Assembly · 6 edits · Mar 19, 2026

MODERATE

The amended version of AB 1823 adds a substantial new Section 11818 to the Government Code requiring all state agencies and departments subject to the Governor's authority to incorporate racial equity into their strategic plans and to conduct a racial equity analysis before implementing any budget or before any regulation takes effect. The introduced version contained only a legislative intent statement, so this amendment transforms the bill from a symbolic declaration into an enforceable mandate with specific obligations for every state agency.

Scope change

The bill expanded from a non-binding legislative intent statement to an enforceable statutory requirement (Government Code Section 11818) that applies to every state agency or department subject to the Governor's authority, mandating racial equity integration into strategic planning and requiring pre-implementation racial equity analyses for all budgets and regulations.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 11818(a)(1) requires every state agency or department to develop or update its strategic plan to reflect data analysis and inclusive practices that advance racial equity, including changes to mission, vision, goals, data tools, policies, programs, operations, community engagement, and tribal consultation policies.

New Section 11818(a)(2) requires agencies to engage and gather input from historically disadvantaged and underserved communities within the scope of their policies or programs, and to make strategic plans publicly available.

New Section 11818(b) requires every state agency or department to undertake a racial equity analysis before implementing any budget or before any regulation takes effect. The analysis must be performed by the agency's diversity, equity, and inclusion officer or comparable position.

ELIGIBILITY

If no DEI officer or comparable position exists within an agency, the racial equity analysis must be performed by an individual with demonstrated expertise in at least one of three areas: analyzing/implementing/developing public policies impacting racial equity, providing technical assistance in racial equity strategies, or being a member of or representing a racial equity-focused organization working with an impacted community.

SCOPE

The bill's scope expanded from a standalone legislative intent statement to a codified requirement (Section 11818) applicable to every agency or department subject to the Governor's authority, tied into the existing State Government Strategic Planning and Performance and Review Act framework.

TECHNICAL

Assembly Member Soria was added as coauthor, and the fiscal committee review designation changed from 'no' to 'yes', indicating the bill will now undergo fiscal analysis.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 5.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on G.O.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on G.O. Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on G.O.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor