Asm. Heather Hadwick

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution formally recognizes the events of 1915 to 1923 as the Armenian Genocide, stating that the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey systematically persecuted and killed over 1.5 million Armenians. The measure details how these actions included massacres, forced marches to death, and the displacement of survivors, while also noting the subsequent ethnic cleansing of other Christian groups in the region. It further highlights the historical role of Near East Relief in providing humanitarian aid to Armenians following the atrocities. As a commemorative resolution, this bill does not alter laws or budgets but serves to acknowledge the historical facts and honor the victims within the California Legislature.

Existing law authorizes public and private secondary schools to participate in interscholastic sports, and authorizes schools to enter into associations or consortia to enact and enforce rules relating to eligibility for, and participation in, these activities. Existing law requires the governing board of a school district that maintains one or more schools containing any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to establish a policy regarding participation in extracurricular and cocurricular activities by pupils in those grades as a condition for the receipt of specified school funding allocations. Existing law requires the policy to condition pupil participation in extracurricular and cocurricular activities upon satisfactory educational progress in the previous grading period. This bill would authorize the governing board of a school district to adopt, as part of the above-described policy regarding participation in extracurricular and cocurricular activities, provisions establishing a drug testing program for pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive. The bill would require an adopted program to include nicotine testing for athletic extracurricular activities, and authorize the program to include testing for alcohol and controlled substances. The bill would, among other things, require the basis for testing to be random and suspicionless, unless the school has a reasonable suspicion that a pupil used nicotine, or, if applicable, alcohol or a controlled substance. The bill would authorize an adopted drug testing program to condition the voluntary participation in athletic extracurricular activities on participation in the drug testing program, as provided. The bill would prohibit the results of these drug tests from being made available to criminal or juvenile authorities, except as provided, and would require the results to be shared with the superintendent of the school district or their designee, the coach of the extracurricular athletic team, and the pupil's parents or other person having legal custody, as provided. The bill would authorize a pupil drug testing program to require a pupil to participate in a diversion program as a condition of continuing to participate in athletic extracurricular activities upon at least 3 cumulative instances of a positive drug test. Existing law prohibits a pupil from being suspended from school or recommended for expulsion, unless the superintendent of the school district or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed a specified act, including, among other acts, that the pupil (1) unlawfully possessed, used, sold, or otherwise furnished, or had been under the influence of, a controlled substance, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind, or (2) possessed or used tobacco, or products containing tobacco or nicotine products. Existing law prohibits the suspension of a pupil who voluntarily discloses, in order to seek help through services or supports, their use of a controlled substance, alcohol, intoxicants of any kind, tobacco, products containing tobacco, or nicotine products solely for that disclosure. This bill would additionally prohibit the suspension of a pupil who tests positive for a controlled substance, alcohol, intoxicants of any kind, tobacco, products containing tobacco, or nicotine products pursuant to an adopted pupil drug testing program solely for that positive test. Existing law authorizes a principal or the principal's designee who, in their professional capacity, has knowledge of or observes a pupil whom they know, or reasonably suspect as evidenced by the pupil's apparent intoxication, has consumed an alcoholic beverage or abused a controlled substance, to report the known or suspected instance of alcohol or controlled substance abuse to the parent or parents, or other person having legal custody, of the pupil. Existing law prohibits a principal or principal's designee who so reports from being subject to civil or criminal liability, except as specified. This bill would extend the above-described authorization to report to the parent or parents, or other person having legal custody, and related liability protections, to a principal or the principal's designee who knows or reasonably suspects that a pupil has used nicotine, as provided.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that formally recognizes April 14 through April 16, 2026, as Khmer New Year in California. It acknowledges the cultural significance of this three-day celebration for the Cambodian community, which includes traditions like family gatherings, charitable acts, and religious ceremonies. The resolution calls on all Californians to participate in appropriate activities and programs related to the holiday. This measure serves as a commemorative recognition rather than establishing a legal public holiday or changing existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the week of April 17 to April 23, 2026, as Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week in California. It aims to honor the survivors and descendants of the Cambodian people while remembering those who died during the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 and 1979. The resolution calls on all Californians to observe this week by participating in appropriate activities and programs that recognize the tragedy and the resilience of the Cambodian community.

Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to provide for the transportation of pupils to and from school whenever, in the judgment of the governing board, the transportation is advisable and good reasons exist to do so. Existing law requires a driver employed by a local educational agency, contracted by a local educational agency, or contracted by any entity with funding from a local educational agency, who provides school-related pupil transportation for compensation to be subject to specified requirements including, among others, having a satisfactory driving record, as provided. Existing law exempts from these requirements a school employee when the employee provides transportation to pupils due to or because of the employee's supervision of pupils for a field trip, extracurricular activity, or athletic program, or when the employee provides transportation to pupils for other activities, not to exceed 40 hours of drive time per school year per employee. This bill would, for a local educational agency with fewer than 2,500 units of average daily attendance and a frontier school district, as defined, set that limit at 200 hours of drive time instead of 40 hours. The bill would, contingent upon an appropriation, establish the Rural Transportation Safety Grant Program to provide funding to small and rural local educational agencies for costs associated with training, inspections, and compliance with, among other things, the above-described driver requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 14, 2026, as California Holocaust Memorial Day to honor the victims of the Holocaust and promote awareness of the tragedy. It urges all Californians to observe this day with appropriate remembrance activities, such as educational events or moments of reflection. The resolution also highlights the importance of combating antisemitism and other forms of hatred by remembering the historical events and the heroism shown during that time.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution officially recognizes Vaisakhi as a significant cultural and religious observance for Sikh, Hindu, and Buddhist communities in California. The bill formally acknowledges the festival's historical roots as a harvest celebration and its modern importance for Sikhs, who mark the day with religious ceremonies and the initiation of new members into the Khalsa faith. By designating April 14, 2026, as the date for this recognition, the resolution encourages Californians to participate in the festivities and expresses respect for the diverse traditions associated with the holiday.

Existing law prohibits the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission from certifying a nuclear fission thermal powerplant, except for specified powerplants, and provides that a nuclear fission thermal powerplant, except specified powerplants, is not a permitted land use in California unless certain conditions are met regarding the existence of technology for the construction and operation of nuclear fuel rod processing plants and of demonstrated technology or means for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste, as specified. This bill would exempt a nuclear microreactor, as defined, from those provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill urges state and local education leaders to formally evaluate new reporting requirements by asking six specific questions about their purpose, audience, value, feasibility, duplication, and duration. It aims to reduce administrative burdens on school districts by ensuring that any new data collection efforts directly support student learning rather than diverting resources. The resolution calls on the Legislature, Governor, and various state agencies to adopt this structured analysis process before implementing additional planning or accountability mandates. By promoting a more coherent system, the bill seeks to help schools use public funds more effectively for classrooms and pupil well-being.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution honors Major League Baseball Opening Day 2026 and celebrates the sport's deep historical and cultural significance within California. It acknowledges the state's status as home to five MLB teams and recognizes the contributions of players, coaches, staff, and fans to the community. The text expresses gratitude to team owners and executives for their investment in the franchises while pledging continued support for baseball in the state. Ultimately, the bill serves as a commemorative statement rather than enacting new laws or policy changes.