Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh

The California Constitution provides that the electors may propose a statute or an amendment to the California Constitution by initiative and approve or reject a statute by referendum. An initiative measure may be proposed by presenting to the Secretary of State a petition that sets forth the text of the proposed statute or amendment to the Constitution and is certified to have been signed by the required number of electors, as prescribed. A referendum measure may be proposed by presenting to the Secretary of State a petition that sets forth the statute or part of the statute to be submitted to the electors, and is certified to have been signed by the required number of electors. Before the circulation of an initiative or referendum petition for signatures, the California Constitution requires that a copy of the petition be submitted to the Attorney General, who must prepare a title and summary of the measure. Existing statutory law also directs the Attorney General to prepare the ballot label and the ballot title and summary that is included in the state voter information guide for each measure that appears on a statewide ballot. This measure would transfer from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst the duty of preparing the title and summary for a proposed initiative or referendum. The measure would also require, for each measure that appears on a statewide ballot, the Legislative Analyst to prepare the ballot label and the ballot title and summary for the state voter information guide.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the month of April as California Rodeo Appreciation Month to recognize the state's rodeo culture. It directly affects rodeo enthusiasts, participants, and organizations by officially acknowledging their contributions through a state resolution. The measure does not change laws or allocate funding; instead, it serves as a commemorative gesture to highlight the importance of rodeos in California. Once passed, the designation appears in the state statutes as a formal recognition of the event.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates May 2026 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in California to highlight the challenges faced by individuals with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The measure calls on the public and government officials to support research funding, advocate for better access to medical equipment, and stand in solidarity with patients and their families. While the resolution does not change laws or allocate specific funds, it serves to raise awareness about the disease's impact and the need for continued clinical trials and treatment development.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes April 16 as National Librarian Day in California to honor the profession. It requires state agencies and public entities to acknowledge this date, though it does not mandate specific actions or funding. The measure serves as a commemorative recognition rather than a policy change affecting daily operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 2, 2026, as World Autism Awareness Day within the state of California. It directly affects state agencies and the general public by officially recognizing this specific date for awareness activities. The primary mechanism is a simple legislative declaration that adds this observance to the state calendar without creating new laws or funding requirements. Once enacted, the resolution serves as a formal record of the state's acknowledgment of the global observance.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 7, 2026, as the National Day of Prayer. It directly affects the state by officially recognizing this specific date on the state calendar. The measure requires no changes to laws or funding but serves as a formal acknowledgment of the day.

The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law allow various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws. This bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, allow a credit against those taxes equal to 50% of the cost of a backup electricity generator or solar battery, as specified, by a qualified taxpayer, as defined, for use in a residence or commercial property. The bill would limit the credit to $5,000 per residence or commercial property in the case of the purchase of a backup electricity generator, and to $7,500 in the case of a solar battery. The bill would only apply these provisions in taxable years for which an appropriation is made in the Budget Act or another statute for the purposes of administering the credits. Existing law requires any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure to contain, among other things, specific goals the tax expenditure will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements. This bill would include additional information required for any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.

The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law allow various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws. This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, would allow a credit against the taxes imposed by those laws for specified agricultural businesses that operate on at least 50 acres of land, as provided, equal to 25% of the business's qualified expenditures, as defined. The bill would increase the credit to 30% of qualified expenditures if the taxpayer purchases specified low-emission equipment or the qualified taxpayer has qualified expenditures related to operations in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, as specified. The bill would limit the credit to no more than $1,000,000. The bill would cap the aggregate amount of the credit allowed at $250,000,000 for each taxable year, and would require a taxpayer to request a credit reservation from the Department of Food and Agriculture, as provided. The bill would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to coordinate with the Franchise Tax Board for the administration of the credit. The bill would require the Franchise Tax Board and the Department of Food and Agriculture to share specified information, and would make the unauthorized disclosure of that information a misdemeanor. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure to contain, among other things, specific goals, purposes, and objectives that the tax expenditure will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements. This bill would also include additional information required for any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure. 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 bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution establishes April 16, 2026, as "Breaking the Silence Day of Awareness" in California to highlight the issue of unreported child sexual abuse. The measure encourages individuals, schools, and community organizations to participate in educational outreach that helps people recognize signs of abuse and fosters open dialogue about the topic. By promoting awareness and reducing stigma, the resolution aims to support survivors and encourage early intervention without imposing new legal requirements or funding mandates.

The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act prohibits any person or public agency from importing into the state, exporting out of the state, or taking, possessing, purchasing, or selling within the state, a western Joshua tree or any part or product of the tree, except as specified. The act authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife to permit the taking of a western Joshua tree if specified conditions are met, including, but not limited to, that the permittee mitigates all impacts to, and taking of, the western Joshua tree through measures that are roughly proportional in extent to the authorized taking of the western Joshua tree. The act authorizes, in lieu of completing the mitigation measures, a permittee to elect to satisfy the mitigation obligation by paying fees pursuant to a specified fee schedule, as provided. This bill would authorize the department to permit the taking of a western Joshua tree without payment of fees or other mitigation upon demonstration to the department that the taking of a western Joshua tree is related to the maintenance, operation, or construction of a life-sustaining service connection to a single-family residence or multifamily residence, including distribution infrastructure, as specified. The bill would require the department to grant or deny that permit within 30 days of a request, or within 10 days of a request to address a threat to health or safety. The bill would allow the permittee 60 days to complete the taking authorized by that permit and the department may extend this 60-day period at its discretion.