Asm. John Harabedian

Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. This bill would require a community water system that services more than 100 customers that are located in a high or very high fire risk area, as defined, to include an annex to its disaster preparedness plans, as provided, that includes information regarding system preparedness and resiliency during a wildfire. The bill would require the annex to contain several things, including, among others, an assessment that identifies the minimum number of and type of water pumps that are necessary to maintain average daily capacity, including, but not limited to, the operation of fire hydrant systems at the rated capacity. The bill would require the community water system, beginning January 1, 2028, to review the annex at least once every 3 years and to update the annex as necessary. The bill would prohibit anything contained in the annex from enlarging or diminishing any existing liability and would prohibit information provided in the annex from, on its own, demonstrating a substantial cause of any damages resulting from a wildfire.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution officially designates May 4, 2026, as Star Wars Day in California. The bill honors the science fiction franchise created by George Lucas, highlighting his connection to Modesto and the series' cultural impact. It serves as a commemorative measure to recognize the fan celebration that began with the pun "May the Fourth be with you."

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution designates the week of May 5 as Cinco de Mayo Week to honor the historical victory of Mexican forces at the Battle of Puebla and the contributions of Latinos in California. The bill recognizes the role of Latino Americans in defending democratic institutions, both during the American Civil War and in supporting the Republic of Mexico against French intervention. It highlights the cultural, economic, and civic achievements of the Latino community while urging Californians to celebrate the holiday with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

This measure would designate the portion of State Route 94 from Potrero Valley Road to Bell Valley Truck Trail in the County of San Diego as the Border Patrol Agent Daniel H. Salazar Memorial Highway. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

This measure would designate a specified portion of State Route 101 in the County of Humboldt as the Assembly Member Patty Berg Memorial Highway. The measure would request that the Department of Transportation determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution designates April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in California and formally recognizes April 30, 2025, as Denim Day. It encourages all Californians to wear jeans on Denim Day to symbolize that no one "invites" or "deserves" sexual assault, reinforcing the message that a survivor’s clothing is never relevant to consent. The resolution references California’s existing law (AB 939, 2021), which prohibits using a survivor’s attire as evidence of consent in sexual assault cases. As a symbolic gesture - not a new law - it aims to raise public awareness and support survivors, aligning with California’s established victim-centered approach to sexual violence.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution encourages California high schools to participate in High School Voter Education Weeks, a designated period from September 14 to 25, 2026. The measure asks school administrators to promote voter preregistration and registration for eligible students, designate coordinators to lead civic engagement activities, and participate in the statewide Student Mock Election. It also reminds schools that students in grades 6 through 12 may take an excused absence to attend civic events with prior notice. The resolution does not change existing laws but serves as a formal recommendation to boost youth participation in the upcoming 2026 general election.

Existing law regulates the issuance, use, and processing of credit cards and credit card transactions. Existing law, the Areias Credit Card Full Disclosure Act of 1986, requires a credit card issuer, with each billing statement provided to a cardholder in this state, to provide certain information on the front of the first page of the billing statement. This bill would regulate offers for a medical credit card, which the bill would define as a credit card issued under an open-end or closed-end plan offered specifically for the payment of medical services, products, or devices. Specifically, the bill would require an entity that offers a medical credit card to provide a clear and conspicuous disclosure to an individual stating that the product is a credit card and not a payment plan. The bill would require the disclosure to include the annual percentage rate applicable to the medical credit card. The bill would require the entity to obtain the individual's express written consent, as evidenced by a signature, acknowledging that the individual has received the disclosure and understands that the medical credit card is a credit card and is not a payment plan. Existing law, the Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act, defines and regulates consumer credit reports and consumer credit reporting agencies. Existing law regulates the treatment of medical debt in this regard by, among other things, prohibiting a consumer credit reporting agency from making any consumer credit report containing medical debt information, prohibiting a person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with a credit transaction from using medical debt as a negative factor when making a credit decision, and prohibiting a person from furnishing information regarding a medical debt to a consumer credit reporting agency. Existing law makes a violation of certain provisions related to medical debt by a person holding a license or permit issued by the state to be deemed a violation of the law governing that license or permit. Existing law, the Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act, defines and regulates investigative consumer reports and investigative consumer reporting agencies. Existing law prohibits an investigative consumer reporting agency from making or furnishing any investigative consumer report containing specified items of information, including medical debt. Existing law defines "medical debt" for the purposes of the Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act and the Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act as a debt owed by a consumer to a person whose primary business is providing medical services, products, or devices, or to the person's agent or assignee, for the provision of medical services, products, or devices, as specified. This bill would, instead, define "medical debt" for these purposes as a debt related to, in whole or in part, a transaction, account, or balance arising from a medical service, product, or device, except as provided. By changing the scope of what is considered medical debt, and because certain violations of the Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act are deemed a violation of a licensing statute and the violation of some licensing statutes is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would prohibit a consumer credit reporting agency from making a consumer credit report that contains information from a medical credit card for a purchase made at specified medical facilities, including a general acute care hospital, a special hospital, or a pharmacy. 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 measure would, among other things, designate March 2026 as Irish American Heritage Month in honor of 102 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland and would commemorate the multitude of contributions that Irish Americans have made to this country and state.

This measure would recognize and commend the California Association of Future Farmers of America for its nearly 100 years of service to students, educators, and the agricultural industry and would honor members, advisors, alumni, and supporters of the association for their dedication to developing future leaders and sustaining California's agricultural legacy.