Asm. Chris Ward

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes July 19 through July 25, 2026, as Probation Services Week to honor the work of California's probation professionals. It directly affects probation officers and the public by formally recognizing their role in balancing accountability with rehabilitation within the justice system. The resolution highlights the extensive training and diverse background of these workers while celebrating their efforts to connect individuals with essential services like mental health care and education. Ultimately, the measure serves as a commemorative acknowledgment of the probation system's contribution to community safety and successful reentry rather than enacting new operational rules.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution officially designates the week of July 17 to July 26, 2026, as California Craft Beer Week to celebrate the state's brewing heritage. The bill highlights the industry's significant economic impact, noting that it supports nearly 1,000 breweries and approximately 46,700 jobs across the state. By proclaiming this specific time frame, the resolution aims to recognize the contributions of craft brewers to California's economy and community life.

Under existing law, there are programs providing assistance for, among other things, emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing, home ownership for very low and low-income households, and downpayment assistance for first-time home buyers. Existing law also authorizes the issuance of bonds in specified amounts pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law and requires that proceeds from the sale of these bonds be used to finance various existing housing programs, capital outlay related to infill development, brownfield cleanup that promotes infill development, and housing-related parks. Existing law, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018, authorized, the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,000,000,000 to finance various existing housing programs, as well as infill infrastructure financing and affordable housing matching grant programs, as well as financing for a specified program for farm, home, and mobilehome purchase assistance for veterans, pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law. This bill would enact the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, which, if adopted, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $11,250,000,000, pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law. Of the proceeds from the sale of these bonds, $10,000,000,000 would be used to finance programs to fund affordable rental housing and home ownership programs, including, among others, the Multifamily Housing Program, the CalHome Program, and the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program, and $1,250,000,000 would be used to provide additional funding for the above-described program for farm, home, and mobilehome purchase assistance for veterans, as provided. This bill would provide for submission of the bond act to the voters at the November 3, 2026, statewide general election, in accordance with specified law. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Existing law, the Information Practices Act of 1977, prescribes a set of requirements, prohibitions, and remedies applicable to agencies, as defined, with regard to their collection, storage, and disclosure of personal information, as defined. Existing law exempts from the provisions of the act counties, cities, any city and county, school districts, municipal corporations, districts, political subdivisions, and other local public agencies, as specified. This bill would, beginning January 1, 2028, recast those provisions to, among other things, remove that exemption for local agencies, and would revise and expand the definition of "personal information." The bill would make other technical, nonsubstantive, and conforming changes. Because the bill would expand the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires an agency to provide on or with any form used to collect personal information from individuals an initial notice that includes specified information, followed by a periodic notice of not more than one-year intervals, as provided. This bill would make changes to that notice requirement, including requiring periodic notice at least once every three years. Existing law requires an agency to establish rules of conduct for persons involved in the design, development, operation, disclosure, or maintenance of records containing personal information and instruct those persons with respect to specified rules relevant to the act. This bill would provide that the above-described rules of conduct shall be subject to any limitations or conditions set forth in any applicable collective bargaining agreement, and would prohibit an agency from using records containing personal information for any purpose or purposes other than the purpose or purposes for which that personal information was collected, except as required or authorized by state or local law. Existing law prohibits an agency from disclosing any personal information in a manner that would link the information disclosed to the individual to whom it pertains, except under specified circumstances. This bill would revise the circumstances that may allow the disclosure of personal information in a manner that could link the information disclosed to the individual to whom it pertains, including by authorizing disclosure for specified purposes related to real property, social safety net programs, and medical information, and would make conforming changes. Existing law makes an intentional violation of any provision of the act, or of any rules or regulations adopted under the act, by an officer or employee of any agency a cause for discipline, including termination of employment. This bill would also make a negligent violation of the act a cause for discipline. Existing law provides that the intentional disclosure of medical, psychiatric, or psychological information in violation of the disclosure provisions of the act, that is not otherwise permitted by law, is punishable as a misdemeanor if the wrongful disclosure results in economic loss or personal injury to the individual to whom the information pertains. This bill would remove the requirement that the wrongful disclosure result in economic loss or personal injury. Because the bill would expand the scope of an existing crime by deleting this condition, the 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law, the Corporation Tax Law, imposes taxes based upon gross income, and defines "gross income" as all income from whatever source derived, unless specifically excluded. Existing law allows various credits against the taxes imposed by that law. The Corporation Tax Law conforms to federal law in its treatment of certain exclusions and credits. Existing law provides for certain programs for free legal services for indigent persons. This bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, enact the No Tax Breaks for ICE Contractors Act of 2026, which would deny all tax credits otherwise available under the Corporation Tax Law to any taxpayer that contracts with United States Department of Homeland Security, except as provided. The bill would establish the California Immigrant Resilience Fund in the State Treasury. The bill would require the Franchise Tax Board, in consultation with the Department of Finance, to estimate the amount of additional revenue resulting from the provisions of the bill, notify the Controller of that amount, and require the Controller to transfer that amount to the fund. The bill would make moneys in the fund available to provide immigration-related services, including removal defense, as provided, upon appropriation by the Legislature. 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. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.

Maddy summarySCR 112 designates January 2026 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month within the state. This symbolic resolution, adopted unanimously by the Senate on January 29, 2026, does not create new laws or alter existing policies. It formally recognizes the month for public awareness purposes but has no direct effect on individuals, programs, or legal obligations. The measure serves solely to acknowledge and promote awareness of human trafficking issues during that time period.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages and the granting of licenses for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages within the state. A violation of the act is generally a misdemeanor. The act imposes specified labeling requirements for containers of alcoholic beverages sold within this state, including prescribed requirements for the use of appellations from specified geographic regions in California. The act generally provides that these labeling requirements do not preclude the use of a label containing a truthful, nonmisleading appellation of origin or geographic description that complies with federal appellation law, except as specified. Existing federal law authorizes the use of the appellation "American" if at least 75% of the wine is derived from fruit or agricultural products grown in the United States, as specified. This bill, notwithstanding the above-described provisions and for wine bottled on or after July 1, 2027, would prohibit the use of the appellation "American" or "United States" on wine produced, bottled, labeled, offered for sale, or sold in California unless 100% of the wine is derived from grapes or agricultural products grown in the United States, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to seize any wine in California that is labeled or packaged in violation of this prohibition and would make related findings and declarations. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution officially designates June 2026 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month in California. The measure serves as a commemorative acknowledgment of the community's contributions to society and highlights historical milestones, such as recent Supreme Court rulings on marriage equality and the appointment of openly LGBTQ+ officials to federal cabinet positions. By recognizing these achievements, the resolution aims to promote awareness and celebrate the progress made toward equality and inclusion within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as Youth Mental Health Awareness Week in California. It directly affects state officials and the public by officially recognizing this specific time period to highlight mental health issues among young people. The measure does not change laws or allocate funding but serves to raise awareness through an official state designation. Once enacted, this resolution allows for public events and discussions focused on youth mental health during the specified dates.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 2026 as Lyme Disease Awareness Month to highlight the importance of recognizing and preventing the disease. It does not change laws or allocate funding but serves as a formal proclamation to encourage public education and awareness during that time. The measure directly affects state officials and the general public by setting aside a specific month for focus on Lyme disease prevention.