Asm. Blanca Pacheco

Existing law generally regulates formation and enforcement of contracts, including what constitutes an unlawful contract. Existing law provides that, except as provided, a contract entered into on or after January 1, 2018, to transfer ownership of a dog or cat in which ownership is contingent upon the making of payments over a period of time subsequent to the transfer of possession of the dog or cat is void as against public policy. Existing law provides that a contract entered into on or after January 1, 2018, for the lease of a dog or cat that provides for or offers the option of transferring ownership of the dog or cat at the end of the lease term is void as against public policy. This bill would provide that a contract entered into on or after January 1, 2025, to transfer ownership of a dog or cat that is offered, negotiated, brokered, or otherwise arranged by a broker and where the buyer is located in California is void as against public policy if specified conditions are met, including that the contract requires a nonrefundable deposit. The bill would require a contract entered into on or after January 1, 2025, between a broker and a buyer who is located in California to include specified information, including that the broker is required to disclose the original source of the dog or cat involved in the contract. The bill would authorize any court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin a person who offers a contract that contains a term that violates the above-described provisions. The bill would authorize a buyer harmed by a violation to bring a civil action pursuant to that provision against any person in violation of the above-described provisions, and would entitle a prevailing plaintiff to reasonable attorney's fees and costs. The bill would require, if money has been exchanged pursuant to a contract that is void pursuant to these provisions, the seller to refund the money to the buyer within 30 days of receiving notice that the contract is void. The bill would specify that nothing in its provisions are to be construed to limit a contract for the transfer of ownership of an animal trained as a service animal or police dog, and would define various terms for these purposes.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions as the segments of postsecondary education in the state. The Donahoe Higher Education Act requires public higher education entities to adopt regulations to withhold institutional services, including withholding grades and diplomas, upon notice to a student that they are in default on a loan made pursuant to specified federal law. Notwithstanding any other law, the Educational Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits a school, as defined, from refusing to provide a transcript for a current or former student on the grounds that the student owes a debt, conditioning the provision of a transcript on the payment of a debt, charging a higher fee for obtaining a transcript, providing less favorable treatment of a transcript request because a student owes a debt, or using a transcript issuance as a tool for debt collection, as specified. This bill would expand the provisions described above to also prohibit a school from refusing to provide a diploma, as defined, for a current or former student on the grounds that the student owes a debt, conditioning the provision of a diploma on the payment of a debt, charging a higher fee for obtaining a diploma, providing less favorable treatment of a diploma request because a student owes a debt, or using a diploma issuance as a tool for debt collection. The bill would make other conforming changes. This bill would prohibit an institution of higher education, as defined, from taking specified actions, including, among other things, charging a higher tuition or fee on the grounds that the student owes an institutional debt, as defined. The bill would authorize an institution of higher education to prevent a current or former student that owes an institutional debt from enrolling or registering for courses on the basis that the student owes an institutional debt if the institution of higher education complies with specified conditions, including, among other conditions, that the institution grants a one-time exemption from an enrollment or registration hold on a current or former student on the grounds that the student owes an institutional debt, as provided. The bill would require an institution of higher education to establish a written policy defining standards and practices for the collection of institutional debt, as provided, and to provide the written policy to current or former students that owe an institutional debt. The bill would prohibit an institution of higher education from taking specified actions when collecting an institutional debt. The bill would require the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and the Trustees of the California State University, and request the office of the President of the University of California, to require each public institution to report, beginning on or before July 1, 2026, using a specified uniform format, and on a biennial basis, specified information regarding the number and dollar amount of institutional debts at each institution. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the bill would constitute a state-mandated local program. Existing law authorizes the Controller, in their discretion, to offset any amount due to a state agency from a person or entity, against any amount owing to that person or entity, including any tax refund, by any state agency, except as specified. This bill would prohibit the Controller, for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2025, from offsetting any amount due to a public or private postsecondary educational institution, as defined, from a current or former student, that was incurred in their capacity as a student, against any amount owing to that current or former student by a state agency, until 730 days after the amount was incurred. The bill would make its provisions severable. 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 authorizes the city attorney of any general law city or chartered city to, with the consent of the district attorney of that county, prosecute any misdemeanor committed within the city arising out of violation of state law, as specified. This bill would, notwithstanding the above-described authorization for city attorneys, authorize the city attorney of any general law city to prosecute any misdemeanor committed within the city arising out of violation of state law, provided that specified conditions are met, including that the legislative body of a city passes an ordinance granting that prosecutorial authority to the city attorney.

Existing law makes it a crime for a person to assault, among other people, a judge of any local, state, or federal court of record in retaliation for or to prevent the performance of their official duties, as specified. Existing law requires a county elections official to, upon application by a public safety officer, make confidential that officer's residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit of voter registration, as specified. Existing law requires, upon request of specified persons, including an active or retired judge, that the person's home address that appears in a record of the Department of Motor Vehicles be made confidential. This bill would additionally make it a crime for a person to assault a judge or former judge of a tribal court in retaliation for or to prevent the performance of their official duties, as specified. The bill would clarify that a tribal judge of a federally recognized California Indian tribe can request to make their records confidential pursuant to the above-described provisions. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. 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 regulates public utilities, including electrical and gas corporations. The Public Advocate's Office of the Public Utilities Commission is established as an independent office within the Public Utilities Commission to represent and advocate on behalf of the interests of public utility customers and subscribers within the jurisdiction of the commission. This bill would request the office to establish, by January 1, 2026, a program to, upon request of the Legislature, analyze legislation that would establish a mandated requirement or program or otherwise affect electrical or gas ratepayers, as specified. The bill would request the office to develop and implement conflict-of-interest provisions that would prohibit a person from participating in an analysis for which the person knows or has reasons to know that the person has a financial interest. The bill would require the commission, on June 15 of each year, to assess an annual fee on all large electrical and gas corporations, as defined, to fund the projected costs incurred by the office in implementing the bill, not to exceed $2,000,000 annually, divided evenly among each large electrical and gas corporation, as specified, for deposit into the Energy Programs Benefit Fund, which would be established by the bill. The bill would continuously appropriate the moneys in the fund to the office to support the work of the office in providing analyses under the bill. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2030. This bill would include a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 23 of the membership of each house of the Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis California Assembly resolution encourages the U.S. Congress to pass legislation creating a National Infrastructure Bank to fund critical repairs and upgrades for roads, bridges, dams, and other public works. The bill cites reports from the American Society of Civil Engineers highlighting billions of dollars in investment gaps and poor conditions affecting California's transportation and water systems. It advocates for a financing model that uses existing federal debt rather than new taxes, aiming to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and prioritize projects in disadvantaged communities. The resolution formally requests that federal leaders adopt this approach to address the state's urgent infrastructure needs.

Maddy summaryThis California House Resolution condemns the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump and calls for an end to political violence. The measure highlights the event where Trump was wounded while speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and notes that one attendee died and others were injured while trying to protect him. It urges the state to foster a political environment based on respectful discourse and nonviolence. The resolution is a formal statement of the Assembly's stance and does not create new laws or change existing policies.

This measure would recognize the importance of California Native American Day, celebrated this year on September 27, 2024, and the annual California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference, to the enhancement of awareness of California Indian culture.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Filipino American History Month to recognize the long-standing contributions of Filipinos to California and the United States. It directly affects state officials and the public by designating a specific month for commemoration and education. The resolution highlights historical milestones, including early Spanish-era interactions, the development of Filipino communities in cities like Stockton and San Francisco, and the significant roles Filipinos played in agriculture, shipbuilding, and military service during World War II. By formally acknowledging these events, the bill aims to promote awareness of Filipino American heritage within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates November 22, 2024, as Kimchee Day in California to honor the traditional Korean dish and its cultural significance. It acknowledges the long history of kimchee, the contributions of Korean Americans, and the dish's recognized health benefits and growing popularity in the United States. The resolution directs the Assembly's Chief Clerk to send copies of the document to the author for distribution.