Sen. Melissa Hurtado

Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to maintain a canteen at its active facilities, and until January 1, 2028, prohibits the sale prices of the articles offered for sale in a canteen from exceeding a 35% markup above the price of the articles paid to the vendors. Existing law, commencing on January 1, 2028, requires the sale amounts of the articles to be offered for sale to be fixed by the secretary at amounts that will render each canteen self-supporting. This bill would prohibit the sale price of an article offered for sale in a commissary, as defined, at a private detention facility, defined as a detention facility that is operated by a private, nongovernmental, for-profit entity, and operating pursuant to a contract or agreement with a governmental entity, from exceeding a 35% markup above the amount paid to a vendor for that article.

Existing law establishes the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the State Department of Social Services and requires the office to apply for federal funding for the administration of its functions. Existing law requires the office to use those funds to undertake specified activities, including, among other things, supporting coordination and sharing of best practices implemented by family resource centers with other agencies, when the best practices reflect strategies and outcomes that were achieved and supported by evidence-informed programs and data. Existing law authorizes a county to establish a child abuse multidisciplinary personnel team within that county to allow provider agencies to share confidential information in order for provider agencies to investigate reports of suspected child abuse or neglect, as specified, or for the purpose of child welfare agencies making a detention determination. Existing law specifies that the multidisciplinary personnel team may include a representative of a local child abuse prevention council or family-strengthening organization, including, but not limited to, a family resource center. Existing law defines "family resource center," for purposes of these provisions, to mean an entity providing family-centered and family-strengthening services that are embedded in communities, culturally sensitive, and include cross-system collaboration to assist in transforming families and communities through reciprocity and asset development based on impact-driven and evidence-informed approaches with the goal of preventing child abuse and neglect and strengthening children and families. This bill would instead define "family resource center" to mean a family-friendly entity serving as a hub for multigenerational, family-centered, and family-strengthening support services that are provided at no cost or low cost to participants, embedded in communities, culturally sensitive, reflective of, and responsive to, community needs and interests, build communities of peer support for families, and include cross-system collaboration to assist in transforming families and communities through reciprocity, development of social connections that reduce isolation and stress, and asset development based on impact-driven and evidence-informed approaches with the goal of preventing child abuse and neglect and strengthening children and families.

This measure would proclaim October 25, 2026, as Larry Itliong Day in California and encourage all public schools and educational institutions to conduct exercises remembering his life, recognizing his accomplishments, and familiarizing pupils with the contributions he made to California.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 135 is a commemorative measure that formally honors the 40th Infantry Division of the California National Guard for its more than century-long history of service. The resolution highlights the unit's contributions in major conflicts, including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and post-9/11 operations, as well as its role in responding to natural disasters within California. It specifically acknowledges the division's Medal of Honor recipients and notes that Major General Laura L. Yeager became the first woman to command an infantry division in 2019. The bill directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to the Adjutant General of California, the division commander, and the author for distribution.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 108 formally recognizes May 5, 2026, as World Asthma Day in California. The measure highlights the disproportionate impact of asthma on vulnerable populations, including communities of color and farmworker families, who face higher risks due to poor air quality and limited healthcare access. While the resolution does not create new laws, it expresses the Senate's support for asthma education, improved air quality standards, and evidence-based management practices in schools and healthcare settings. Additionally, the bill honors the Central California Asthma Collaborative for its work in community health programs.

Existing law establishes the State Department of Education in state government, and vests the department with specified powers and duties relating to the state's public school system. Existing law declares the policy of the state to ensure that all local educational agencies work to reduce violence, improve pupil safety at schools, and improve the connections between pupils and supportive adults, schools, and communities. This bill would require the department, in consultation with the Office of Emergency Services, to establish and administer the Violence Prevention, Pupil Wellness, and School Safety Grant Program to, upon appropriation by the Legislature, award grants to eligible school districts, county offices of education, or charter schools for evidence-based violence prevention, pupil wellness, and public safety initiatives, as specified. The bill would require the department to consult with representatives of the office, local educational agencies, county behavioral health departments, community-based organizations, and public safety agencies when it develops guidelines for the program. The bill would require each grant recipient to submit findings to the department on the effectiveness of its activities funded by the grant and would require the department to use those findings to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2029, evaluating the effectiveness of the grant program and providing recommendations regarding violence prevention, pupil wellness, school safety, and behavioral health investments.

Existing law declares that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food. Existing law establishes various food assistance programs, including, among others, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. This bill would establish the Office of Food Security and Affordability, an independent public entity not affiliated with another state agency or department, to be administered by a Director of Food Security and Affordability. The bill would require the director to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill would require the office to collaborate with appropriate state agencies or departments to, among other things, coordinate statewide outreach for food insecurity programs and establish best practices for food banks and emergency food providers, as specified. The bill would create the Food Security and Affordability Fund for the receipt and deposit of moneys from federal, state, local, or private sources, and upon appropriation by the Legislature, would require the office to use those moneys to implement and administer these provisions. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2037.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September 20, 2026, as Soju Day within the state to honor the traditional Korean alcoholic beverage. The measure does not alter existing laws regarding alcohol sales or consumption but serves as a commemorative observance. It requires no changes to regulations or funding, functioning solely as a symbolic recognition of cultural heritage.

This measure would urge the Congress and President of the United States to permit states to extend burial and memorial benefits in state cemeteries to Republic of Korea veterans who served in the Vietnam War and who subsequently became United States citizens.

Maddy summaryThis California Senate Resolution commemorates Pakistani-American relations and urges all Californians to celebrate the friendly ties between the two nations. It highlights the historical contributions of Pakistani immigrants to California communities across various fields such as finance, technology, and medicine. The resolution also notes the ongoing need for Pakistani Americans to have access to resources and a voice in government. As a procedural measure, it directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the text to the author for distribution.