Asm. Sade Elhawary

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution recognizes March 21, 2026, as the International Day of Nowruz in California to honor the Persian New Year celebrated by over 300 million people globally. The bill highlights Nowruz as a 3,000-year-old tradition symbolizing renewal, peace, and community unity that is observed by diverse groups including Afghan, Iranian, Armenian, and Jewish communities, as well as Americans of various backgrounds. By formally acknowledging this date, the resolution aims to celebrate cultural heritage and strengthen ties among different peoples within the state.

Existing law designates specific days as holidays in this state, including Cesar Chavez Day on March 31, and requires the Governor to annually proclaim March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day. This bill would instead designate March 31 as Farmworkers Day and would require the Governor to annually proclaim March 31 as Farmworkers Day. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Existing law defines human trafficking to include both sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Existing law allows a child who is sexually trafficked, or who receives food or shelter in exchange for, or who is paid to perform, sexual acts, and whose parent or guardian has failed or was unable to protect the child, to be adjudged a dependent of the juvenile court. This bill would instead authorize a child who is or was a victim of human trafficking, and whose parent or guardian has failed or was unable to protect the child, to be adjudged a dependent of the juvenile court, thereby expanding the bases on which a child can be adjudged a dependent child of the juvenile court to explicitly include children who are victims of labor trafficking. The bill would make various related changes to reflect this expansion, including, among other things, revising a requirement relating to the case plan for a child or nonminor dependent who is, or who is at risk of becoming, the victim of commercial sexual exploitation, to instead apply to a child or nonminor dependent who is, or who is at risk of becoming, the victim of human trafficking. By expanding county duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law authorizes a social worker, in specified circumstances, to take temporary custody of a child who is or may be subject to the dependency jurisdiction of the court. The bill would generally prohibit a social worker from taking temporary custody of a child who is the victim of human trafficking if the child's parent or guardian has not participated, either directly or indirectly, in the child's trafficking. Existing law establishes the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Program, which is administered by the State Department of Social Services. The program requires the department to provide funds to participating counties to provide training to county children's services workers to identify, intervene, and provide case management services to children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking and to foster caregivers for the prevention and identification of potential victims. Existing law requires the department to provide specified information to the Legislature regarding the implementation of these provisions, including the number of victims served by each county and the types of services provided, no later than April 1, 2017. This bill would change the name of the program to the Human Trafficked Children Program and revise all parts of the program to include all children who are victims of human trafficking, including those who are the victims of labor trafficking. The bill would require the department to provide and update information provided to the Legislature regarding implementation of these provisions, and to provide additional information relating to serving child victims of labor trafficking, no later than April 1, 2028. Existing law requires the department, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association, to ensure that the child welfare information system is capable of collecting data concerning children who are commercially sexually exploited, as specified. This bill would require the department to ensure that the Child Welfare Services/Case Management System is capable of collecting data concerning children who are victims of human trafficking no later than June 1, 2027. 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, the Office to Housing Conversion Act, starting July 1, 2026, deems an adaptive reuse project, as defined, a use by right in all zones, regardless of the zoning of the site, and subject to a streamlined, ministerial review process, if the project meets specified requirements. Existing law authorizes a local government to adopt an ordinance implementing the act and specifying the process and requirements applicable to adaptive reuse projects. If a local agency does not adopt an above-described ordinance, existing law requires the local agency to ministerially, without discretionary review, approve or disapprove applications for a permit to create or serve an adaptive reuse project, as specified. Existing law, the authorizes a city or county, or city and county, commencing in the 2026–27 fiscal year, to establish an adaptive reuse investment incentive program. If a city or county, or city and county, establishes that program, existing law requires, upon approval of the governing body, the city or county, or city and county, to pay adaptive reuse investment incentive funds to the proponent of a qualified adaptive reuse project property, approved pursuant to the streamlined, ministerial process described above, to subsidize the affordable housing required under the Office to Housing Conversion Act, as specified. Existing law defines "qualified adaptive reuse project property" to mean an adaptive reuse project proposed pursuant to the Office to Housing Conversion Act that is located within the city or county. This bill would expand the definition of qualified adaptive reuse project property to include adaptive reuse projects that fall under the Office to Housing Conversion Act regardless of compliance with affordability criteria or labor standards specified in that Act, thereby expanding payment of adaptive reuse investment incentive funds to certain adaptive reuse projects that do not have the requisite affordability or labor standards as specified in the Act, as provided. The bill would also expand the requirement on those cities, counties, and cities and counties to pay adaptive reuse investment incentive funds to the proponent to, in addition to subsidizing affordable housing units, subsidize the project's housing units. Existing law authorizes a city or special district to pay to the city or county, or city and county, an amount equal to the amount of ad valorem property tax revenue allocated to that city or special district, but not the actual allocation, derived from the taxation of that portion of the total assessed value of that real property that is in excess of the property's valuation at the time of the proponent's initial request for funding, for the purpose of subsidizing the affordable housing units required pursuant to the Office to Housing Conversion Act. This bill would expand the authorization for a city or special district to pay to the city or county, or city and county, as described above, for the purpose of subsidizing the project's housing units.

Maddy summaryCalifornia House Resolution 93 designates May 22, 2026, as Harvey Milk Day to honor his contributions to LGBTQ+ civil rights and his legacy as the first openly gay man elected to public office in a major U.S. city. The resolution details Milk's life, including his political career in San Francisco, his role in passing anti-discrimination ordinances, and his assassination in 1978. It also notes recent efforts to remove his name from a U.S. Navy ship and the establishment of Harvey Milk Terminal 1 at San Francisco International Airport. The bill directs the Chief Clerk of the Assembly to transmit copies of the resolution to its author for distribution.

This measure would recognize February 2026 as the centennial anniversary of Black History Month, urge all citizens to join in celebrating the accomplishments of African Americans during Black History Month, and encourage the people of California to recognize the many talents of African Americans and the achievements and contributions they make to their communities to create equity and equality for education, economics, and social justice. The measure would recognize the significance in protecting the fundamental human rights enshrined in the United States Constitution and its Amendments, the United States Bill of Rights, and the California Constitution, as specified. The measure would also affirm the commitment of the Legislature all people are equal and shall be treated with respect and dignity and shall enjoy the equal application of the law for which the Legislature has been entrusted.

Maddy summaryThis bill, House Resolution 83, is a commemorative resolution that formally recognizes March 2026 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in California. It does not create new laws or change funding but instead serves to honor the progress made in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, such as autism and intellectual disabilities, and their families. The resolution salutes the contributions of self-advocates, service providers, regional centers, and families who work together to improve community inclusion and quality of life. Additionally, it directs the Assembly's Chief Clerk to send copies of the resolution to the bill's author for distribution.

This measure would designate February 28, 2026, as Rare Disease Day and, with respect to rare diseases and disorders, would recognize the importance of improving awareness, encouraging accurate and early diagnosis, and supporting national and global efforts to develop effective treatments, diagnostics, and cures.

Maddy summaryACR 127 designates February 2-6, 2026, as National School Counseling Week. This is a symbolic resolution recognizing the role of school counselors, with no new policies or funding changes. It directly affects no specific group but aims to raise awareness for school counseling services during that week. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Assembly on February 5, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that formally declares March 2026 as Women's History Month in California. It aims to honor the historical and ongoing contributions of women across various fields such as business, science, and civil rights. The resolution does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women throughout history.