Asm. Patrick Ahrens

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.

This measure would designate the month of December each year as Multifaith Heritage Month, and would encourage residents of California to join in fostering a community grounded in mutual respect, understanding, and harmony among diverse faiths and cultures.

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.

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 creates the Office of Farm to Fork within the Department of Food and Agriculture, and requires the office, to the extent that resources are available, to work with various entities, as prescribed, to increase the amount of agricultural products available to underserved communities and schools in the state. Existing law requires the office, among other things, to identify distribution barriers that affect limited food access and work to overcome those barriers through various actions and to coordinate with school districts and representatives to increase the nutritional profile of foods provided in schools. This bill, the Food Affordability Act, would create the Food Desert Elimination Grant Program under the administration of the department to expand access to healthy foods in food deserts, as defined, and areas at risk of becoming food deserts, by providing grants to developers and grocery store operators, as specified. The bill would create the Food Desert Elimination Fund and would authorize the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to expend moneys in the fund for the purpose of the program. The bill would authorize the department to collect nonstate, federal, and private moneys for the purpose of the program, require those moneys to be deposited into the California Equitable Food Access Account within the Food Desert Elimination Fund, which the bill would create, and continuously appropriate those moneys to the department for the purpose of the program. The bill would authorize the department to award grants for specified purposes to developers or grocery store operators seeking to locate grocery stores in food deserts or to existing grocery stores located in food deserts. The bill would require a developer or grocery store operator that received a grant to locate a grocery store in a food desert and opened a grocery store accordingly, to return any unused grant moneys to the department if the grocery store closes within 2 years of the date of opening. The bill would also authorize the department to award grants to grocery store operators of existing large grocery stores that provide essential food access to food deserts to support the retention, stabilization, or continued operation of the large grocery store, as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2028, to report the number of grants awarded under the program and the location of grant recipients to the relevant policy committees of the Legislature. The bill would authorize the department to adopt guidelines to implement these provisions. The bill would also require a local government to require, for new housing development projects, as defined, proposed for approval by a local government in a food desert, or an area at risk of becoming a food desert, the applicant to demonstrate that the new housing development project does not reduce site capacity for a large grocery store, or, if site capacity is reduced, to provide equivalent mitigation, as provided. The bill would require local governments to report annually to the department on new housing development projects that meet these requirements, as specified. The bill would require the department to prioritize developers and grocery store operators seeking to locate a grocery store in a food desert as part of a new housing development project when awarding grants pursuant to these provisions. By placing new requirements on local governments relating to new housing development projects in food deserts or areas at risk of becoming food deserts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would repeal its provisions on January 1, 2031. 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, 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 Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one segment of public postsecondary education in the state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, and authorizes them to provide instruction at the campuses they operate and maintain. Existing law establishes the California Online Community College, under the administration of the board of governors, for specified purposes, and requires the college to develop a Research and Development Unit to, among other things, focus on using technology, data science, behavioral science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to build out student supports. This bill would enact the Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Development Act to accomplish specified goals, including, among others, empowering and supporting community college instructors in using and deploying artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly in administrative and classroom settings, and strengthening the state's AI and technology workforce pipeline by upskilling and educating all workers so they can benefit from AI. This bill would require the California Community Colleges, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to, among other things, develop and disseminate to community college districts statewide guidance on the use of AI in community colleges, explore, facilitate, and support specified partnerships to develop and implement AI literacy and skills development initiatives, support the integration of AI literacy into the preparation and ongoing professional development of community college instructors, and establish a pilot program encouraging integration and adoption of AI tools in community college classrooms, as specified. The bill would also require the California Community Colleges, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to submit a report to the Legislature based on findings provided by a working group convened by the California Community Colleges for this purpose that includes, among other things, a summary of barriers to support community college districts in providing and deploying cloud-based AI services into administrative or educational settings in community colleges, as specified. Existing law establishes the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, also known as "GO-Biz," to, among other duties, serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. Existing law establishes the Office of Small Business Advocate within GO-Biz to advocate for causes of small business and to provide small businesses with the information they need to survive in the marketplace. This bill would require the Office of Small Business Advocate, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to establish and maintain for small businesses educational resources and modules containing information on specified topics related to AI, as provided. The bill would require the office, within one year following funding, to prepare and submit a progress report to the Legislature and other appropriate state officials and agencies summarizing its efforts in developing and publishing the educational resources and modules. The bill would require the office to convene an AI advisory group, with a prescribed membership, and consult with other state agencies and individuals, as specified, regarding the educational resources and modules. This bill would require GO-Biz, upon appropriation by the Legislature, and in close partnership with the California Community Colleges, to support training, reskilling, and upskilling initiatives for workers using AI or supporting the AI industry in order to bolster state economic competitiveness and maximize opportunities for the labor force. The bill would require GO-Biz, on or before January 1, 2029, and every 2 years thereafter, to submit a report to the Legislature and other appropriate state officials and agencies summarizing its efforts on the initiatives. This bill would also require GO-Biz, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to establish local AI training hubs, including physical or virtual centers that provide education and hands-on training in AI development and application for the purpose of building a skilled local workforce, as provided. The bill would require GO-Biz, upon appropriation by the Legislature and in coordination with other state agencies, to convene a working group to administer a statewide program to develop the skilled workforce to support infrastructure and energy requirements of the AI industry, as provided. The bill would authorize funding to be awarded through a competitive application process to local workforce development boards and other specified entities to deliver education and hands-on experience in AI data center operations, energy infrastructure, and other sectors, as provided. The bill would also require GO-Biz to undertake other specified duties related to workforce development.

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.