This House Resolution officially designates September as Black Music Month to honor the significant contributions of Black artists to American culture. The measure recognizes a wide range of musical genres, including jazz, blues, gospel, and hip-hop, by highlighting their historical origins and influential figures. While the text celebrates these artistic achievements, it does not impose any new legal requirements or funding mandates.
Existing law establishes the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) pilot program, which is administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections, to improve public safety and reduce recidivism by increasing the availability and use of social service resources while reducing costs to law enforcement agencies and courts stemming from repeated incarceration. Existing law requires the board to award grants, on a competitive basis, to up to 3 jurisdictions to establish LEAD programs and requires the board to establish minimum standards, funding schedules, and procedures for awarding grants. This bill would rename the program as the Alternatives to Arrest (ATA) pilot program. The bill would require the board to additionally award a grant or grants to the agency administering qualifying programs in the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles, as well as in other jurisdictions to be identified by the board. Existing law allows a person to be referred to services through a program by a law enforcement officer as an alternative to arrest and through a social contact referral by a law enforcement officer if they believe the person is at high risk of arrest in the future for specified crimes relating to controlled substances and prostitution. Existing law requires those social contact referrals to meet specified criteria, including, among other things, verification that the individual has had prior involvement with low-level drug or prostitution activity and that the individual does not have a pending case in drug court or mental health court. This bill would remove these requirements for social contact referrals and instead authorize them if, absent probable cause to arrest, the officer believes the person would benefit from case management services and is at high risk of arrest in the future and the person expresses interest in voluntarily participating in the program. The bill would expand the offenses eligible for referral as an alternative to arrest to include, among other things, specified disorderly conduct crimes, shoplifting, or other violations identified by the local jurisdiction with agreement of the police chief or sheriff, the city attorney or district attorney, and the implementing public health or behavioral health agency administering case management services. Existing law requires the Board of State and Community Corrections to contract with a nonprofit research entity, university, or college to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, as specified. Existing law also authorizes the board to contract with experts for the purpose of providing technical assistance to participating jurisdictions. Existing law appropriated $15,000,000 from the General Fund for the program and authorized the board to spend up to $550,000 for the purposes of the evaluation contract and technical assistance. This bill would repeal those provisions and would require, upon appropriation by the Legislature for these programs, that the funds be granted to the entity responsible for LEAD or ATA in the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles and agencies in other jurisdictions to be identified by the board. The bill would authorize the board to spend a portion of those funds on contracts with experts on the implementation of ATA or similar programs in other jurisdictions for the purpose of providing technical assistance to participating jurisdictions, as specified. The bill would require local jurisdictions to commit to using these funds and local resources to support ATA or LEAD planning, implementation, and services and not supplant local resources that had been previously dedicated to ATA or LEAD programs and services. The bill would require the board to report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the program on or before September 1, 2031.
Existing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) , among other things, consolidates the licensure and regulation of commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis activities. Existing law gives the Department of Cannabis Control the power, duty, purpose, responsibility, and jurisdiction to regulate commercial cannabis activity in the state. Existing law authorizes the department to take disciplinary actions against a licensee, as provided. Existing law requires the department to prepare and disseminate, as specified, an annual report relating to the department's activities, including, among other things, the amount of funds allocated and spent by the department for cannabis licensing, enforcement, and administration, and the number of state licenses issued, renewed, denied, suspended, and revoked. This bill, the Cannabis Enforcement Accountability and Public Health Prioritization Act of 2026, would require the department, beginning January 1, 2028, to prioritize its enforcement of MAUCRSA in a manner consistent with an enforcement prioritization policy, as defined, based on specified categories, that are listed from highest to lowest priority, based on conduct or conditions, as specified, that create a risk of harm, as described. The bill would define "risk of harm" as the likelihood of, among other things, interference with enforcement of state law. Beginning January 1, 2028, the bill would require the department to adopt and publish an enforcement prioritization policy, as specified, and would require the department to include in the above-described annual report the number, geographic distribution, and, as applicable, dollar amount of specified enforcement activities in relation to the risk-based enforcement framework, as provided.
Existing law establishes the Employment Development Department (EDD) , which is administered by the Director of Employment Development. Under existing law, the Director of Employment Development is vested with specified duties, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction related to job creation activity functions, among other things. This bill would establish the California Artificial Intelligence Worker Impact Data Assessment Project and would establish the California Artificial Intelligence Worker Impact Data Assessment Project Advisory Panel in the EDD. The bill would require the advisory panel to consist of 14 members, appointed as prescribed. The bill would require the EDD, in consultation with the advisory panel, to perform an assessment of data sources and collection methods regarding the use and impact of advanced artificial intelligence systems on the labor force, as specified. The bill would require the advisory panel to submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2028, with the results of the assessment and would require the report to provide policy recommendations to the Legislature, including, but not limited to, how to effectively support workers impacted by artificial intelligence. The bill would require the advisory panel to post the report on its internet website. The bill would require that the advisory panel be dissolved upon submission of the report to the Legislature and would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2029.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing federal law, enacted on July 4, 2025, sets forth various changes to Medicaid eligibility with regard to community engagement reporting, redeterminations, cost sharing, and retroactive coverage, among other factors, for certain Medicaid populations, including beneficiaries between 19 and 64 years of age, inclusive, with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level, commonly known as Medicaid expansion adults. The above-described federal law requires the state, beginning on October 1, 2028, to impose deductions, cost sharing, or similar charges determined appropriate by the state, in an amount greater than $0, with respect to certain care, items, or services furnished to Medicaid expansion adults, with income exceeding 100% and up to 138% of the federal poverty level, as determined by the state. The federal law excludes certain services from these provisions and prohibits the charge from exceeding $35. This bill would, no sooner than October 1, 2028, set a copayment of $0.01 for nonemergency services for the above-described population, as specified. The bill would authorize the provider to collect, retain, or waive the copayment amount. The bill would not apply the copayment requirements to emergency services, family planning services, or any services under certain categories. The bill would prohibit a service provider from denying care or services to an individual solely because of nonpayment of copayment. The bill would create an exemption from a copayment requirement for any visit, service, device, or item for which the Medi-Cal program's payment is $10 or less. The bill would prohibit the total aggregate amount of deductions, cost sharing, or similar charges imposed for all individuals in a family from exceeding 5% of the family income. Existing law requires the department to develop a single, accessible, standardized paper, electronic, and telephone application for insurance affordability programs, including Medi-Cal, for use by all entities authorized to make an eligibility determination for those programs. Existing law authorizes all insurance affordability programs to accept self-attestation for age, date of birth, family size, household income, state residence, pregnancy, work or community engagement activities or exemptions, and any other applicable criteria needed to determine eligibility, to the extent permitted by state and federal law. This bill would instead require those programs to accept self-attestation, to the extent permitted by state and federal law. Existing law requires department, the California Health and Human Services Agency, and the California Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) board to establish a process for receiving and acting on stakeholder suggestions and concerns regarding the Exchange, as specified. Existing law requires this process to include regular updates on the work to analyze, prioritize, and implement corrections to confirmed defects and proposed enhancements to the eligibility systems and to monitor screening and evaluation for Medi-Cal eligibility. The bill would instead require the establishment of a process for receiving and acting on stakeholder suggestions and concerns regarding the functionality, accuracy, and legally appropriate determination of specified electronic eligibility systems and public internet websites that support Medi-Cal and the Exchange. The bill would also instead require the process to include regular updates on the work to analyze, prioritize, and implement corrections to confirmed defects and proposed enhancements to the eligibility systems and to monitor screening and evaluation for insurance affordability program eligibility. To the extent these provisions expand duties for counties relating to Medi-Cal and insurance affordability program eligibility, 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 each county to provide aid, commonly known as a general assistance program, to the county's indigent residents who are not supported by other means and are ineligible for the Medi-Cal program, as specified. Existing law sets forth various provisions relating to county-based health care services for indigent individuals and to reporting systems for those services. This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services, by July 1, 2027, to establish an internet website where the public can access information on safety-net health care services in the state. The bill would require that the website include certain information and resources, including, among other items, information about each county that provides health care to low-income county residents who are uninsured or underinsured, including eligibility requirements, the cost structure for applicants, and other specified elements. The bill would require the department, in consultation with certain entities, to review the information and resources on the website, as specified. The bill would require each county to submit any changes to the above-described elements to the department within 120 calendar days, as specified. By creating new data-reporting duties for counties, 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.
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 land use, circulation, housing, safety, and environmental justice element. Existing law requires a city or county to update its general plan elements subject to certain criteria and timelines. This bill would require a city, county, or city and county, no later than January 1, 2033, to prepare and adopt a childcare plan or integrate a childcare plan into the next adoption of the city, county, or city and county's general plan to address the childcare needs of the jurisdiction, as specified. 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.
Existing law, as amended by Proposition 9, the Victim's Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy's Law, at the November 4, 2008, statewide general election, requires the Board of Parole Hearings, following a decision denying parole, to schedule the next hearing 3, 5, 7, 10, or 15 years from the date of the last hearing, as specified. Existing law also authorizes the board, in its discretion and after considering the views and interests of the victim, to advance a hearing to an earlier date, when a change in circumstances or new information establishes a reasonable likelihood that consideration of the public and victim's safety does not require additional incarceration. Existing law authorizes an inmate to request that the board exercise its discretion to advance a hearing and provides the procedure for an inmate to make that request. This bill would require the board, in coordination with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to collect and publish annual data regarding requests to advance parole consideration hearing dates and the board's review of those requests, as specified. The bill would require the board to submit the report to the Legislature by March 1, 2027, and annually thereafter. Following submission of the report to the Legislature, the bill would also require the board to make the report publicly available on its internet website on that date and annually thereafter. This bill, for each request to advance a parole consideration hearing date, would require the board to maintain a written summary of the decision, including the basis for approval or denial and the primary factors considered. The bill would require the summaries to be made available to certain entities, including the incarcerated person or their counsel. This bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2032.
Existing law establishes a small claims division, known as a small claims court, in each superior court. Existing law provides that the small claims court has jurisdiction over actions seeking certain forms of relief, including money damages in specified amounts and claims brought by natural persons, not exceeding $12,500, except as specified. Existing law prohibits a person from filing more than 2 small claims actions in any calendar year in which the amount demanded exceeds $2,500, except as specified. This bill would increase the small claims court jurisdiction over actions brought by a natural person, except as specified, and other specified actions within the jurisdiction of the small claims court if the amount does not exceed $15,000. The bill would also allow a person to file no more than 3 small claims actions, as specified, in any calendar year.
Existing law requires the Employment Development Department, among other duties, to establish, in conjunction with other state entities, a systemwide policy of actively promoting the training of women in nontraditional occupations. Existing law defines "nontraditional occupations" as any job classification in which not more than 25% of the employees are women, according to the statistics of the United States Department of Labor. This bill would require the department to collect specified data on construction workers, including, among other data, the training and educational capacity to produce trained, certified, and licensed construction workers. This bill would also require the department to work with the Department of Industrial Relations' Division of Apprenticeship Standards to determine this capacity within state-registered construction preapprenticeship and apprenticeship programs and to determine the number of construction preapprentices and apprentices in any given year who are women. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2027, and every 3 years thereafter, to report this data to the Legislature and post the report on its internet website.
(1) Existing law authorizes the legislative body of any county or city to adopt ordinances that regulate the use of buildings, structures, and land as between industry, business, residences, and open space, including agriculture, recreation, enjoyment of scenic beauty, use of natural resources, and other purposes. Existing law establishes a streamlined approval process for a local permit for a tenant improvement relating to a restaurant, as those terms are defined. This bill would establish a streamlined approval process for a local permit for a like-for-like equipment installation relating to a restaurant, as those terms are defined. In this regard, the bill would require a local building department, upon the request and at the expense of the permit applicant, to allow a qualified licensed contractor certifier, defined as a licensed contractor that meets certain requirements, to submit a certification of the installation's compliance with applicable codes. The bill would require a qualified licensed contractor certifier to prepare certain affidavits related to the equipment installation under penalty of perjury. The bill would require the local building department to approve or deny the permit application within 10 business days of receipt and would deem the plan approved for permitting purposes if the local building department does not approve or deny the application within that timeframe, provided that all required fees have been paid. The bill would make qualified licensed contractor certifiers liable for damages arising from negligent or false certification. The bill would also require the applicant to indemnify the local agency from any property damage or personal injury arising from construction performed under the above-described provisions. (2) Existing law, 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 does not apply to the approval of ministerial projects. To the extent that the streamlined, ministerial review processes established by the bill would apply to final, discretionary approval of a like-for-like equipment installation, the bill would exempt those projects from CEQA. (3) Existing law, the Contractors State License Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of contractors by the Contractors State License Board. Under existing law, willful or deliberate disregard by a licensed contractor of various state building, labor, and safety laws constitutes a cause for disciplinary action by the board. Existing law provides for related disciplinary proceedings and requires the board to promulgate regulations covering the assessment of civil penalties under those disciplinary provisions, as prescribed. Existing law, beginning on July 1, 2026, requires a civil penalty to be assessed of not less than $1,500 and not to exceed $30,000 for certain violations of the Contractors State License Law, as provided. This bill would make a false statement made in a certification submitted pursuant to the above-described provisions grounds for disciplinary action by the Contractors State License Board and grounds for a conviction of perjury. The bill would also require that false statement to be assessed as a civil penalty in accordance with the amounts described above. (4) Existing law, the California Building Standards Law, establishes the California Building Standards Commission within the Department of General Services. Existing law requires the commission to approve and adopt building standards and to codify those standards in the California Building Standards Code. Existing law authorizes local governments to enact ordinances or regulations that make building standards amendments to the California Building Standards Code, as specified. This bill would require the commission, as a part of the next triennial update of the California Building Standards Code that occurs on or after January 1, 2027, to adopt building standards authorizing a business establishment to take various actions, including authorizing a business establishment that is takeout only to operate without providing customer restrooms. (5) Existing law, the California Retail Food Code, establishes uniform health and sanitation standards for retail food facilities. Under existing law, local health agencies are primarily responsible for enforcing these standards. A person who violates any provision of the California Retail Food Code is guilty of a misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided. This bill would make various changes to the standards for handwashing facilities, refrigeration units, grease traps, and passthrough window service openings. The bill would require raw animal foods that are cooked using noncontinuous cooking, as defined, to be subject to an initial heating process that is no longer than 60 minutes and cooled in a specified manner, among other things. The bill would revise the definition of "limited food preparation" to no longer include the handling of milk or milk products. The bill would change the temperature range for the definition of "warm water" from at least 100ºF to at least 85ºF but not greater than 108ºF. (6) Existing law requires a food facility's walls and ceilings to be durable, smooth, nonabsorbent, and easily cleanable. Existing law exempts from this requirement walls and ceilings of bar areas in which alcoholic beverages are sold or served directly to the consumers, except wall areas adjacent to bar sinks and areas where food is prepared, among other things. Existing law also exempts from this requirement restrooms that are used exclusively by the consumers, except that the walls and ceilings in the restrooms shall be of a nonabsorbent and washable surface. This bill would instead exempt walls and ceilings of bar areas in which any beverage is sold, served, or dispensed directly to the consumers. The bill would also exempt restrooms that are used exclusively by employees. (7) Existing law requires temporary food facilities to be equipped with overhead protection for all food preparation, food storage, and warewashing areas. Existing law requires overhead protection to be made of wood, canvas, or other materials that protect the facility from precipitation, dust, bird and insect droppings, and other contaminants. Existing law exempts from these requirements a temporary food facility that is approved for limited food preparation if flying insects, vermin, birds, and other pests are absent due to the location of the facility or other limiting conditions. This bill would additionally exempt a temporary food facility that is approved for limited food preparation from these requirements if environmental factors that could contaminate the food are absent due to the location of the facility or other limiting conditions. (8) By revising the standards that are required to be enforced by local health agencies, by increasing the duties of local building officials, and by expanding the scope of existing crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (9) 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. (10) 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the Transportation Agency, which has the power of general supervision over specified state entities. Existing law requires the agency to develop and report on legislative, budgetary, and administrative programs to accomplish comprehensive, long-range, coordinated planning and policy formation in the matters of public interest related to the agency. This bill would establish specified goals for the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI) , consistent with state law.
