Existing law, the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act, regulates persons engaging in the business of making residential mortgage loans or servicing of residential mortgage loans, as administered by the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation. A willful violation of any provision of the act constitutes a crime, as specified. The act requires a trust account to be placed in a non-interest-bearing account in a federally insured depository institution, a federal home loan bank, or other similar government-sponsored enterprise, except as specified. This bill would authorize a financial institution, as defined, to deposit hazard insurance proceeds in an interest-bearing account in a federally insured depository institution, a federal home loan bank, a federal reserve bank, or another similar government-sponsored enterprise. Existing law requires a financial institution that makes loans upon the security of real property containing only a one- to four-family residence in this state or purchases obligations secured by the property and that receives money in advance for payment of taxes and assessments on the property, for insurance, or for other purposes relating to the property to pay interest on those amounts to the borrower, as specified. Existing law prohibits those financial institutions from imposing any fee or charge in connection with the maintenance or disbursement of money received in advance for the payment of taxes and assessments on real property securing loans made by the financial institution, or for the payment of insurance, or for other purposes relating to that real property, which would result in an interest rate of less than 2% per annum being paid on the moneys received. Existing law defines the term financial institution for purposes of those provisions to include, among other things, savings associations. This bill would require a financial institution that makes loans or purchases obligations as described above and that holds hazard insurance proceeds in a loss draft account pending property rebuilding or repair to pay interest on those funds at a rate of at least 2% simple interest per annum, except as specified. The bill would require that interest to start accruing on the effective date of the bill, as specified. The bill would prohibit those financial institutions from imposing any fee or charge in connection with the maintenance or disbursement of hazard insurance proceeds held in a loss draft account pending rebuilding or repair of the real property that would result in an interest rate of less than 2% per annum being paid on the amounts held. The bill would specify that the above provisions do not apply to hazard insurance proceeds held in a loss draft account that are required by a state or federal regulatory authority to be placed by a financial institution other than a bank in a non-interest-bearing demand trust fund account of a bank. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 56 designates September 2025 as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in California. The resolution highlights statistics on ovarian cancer (including 2025 U.S. estimates of 20,890 new diagnoses and 12,730 deaths) and emphasizes the importance of early detection through symptom awareness. It does not create new laws or allocate funding; instead, it serves as a symbolic proclamation to honor those affected by the disease and encourage community awareness efforts. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the California Senate on August 29, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution, not a bill with policy changes. It recognizes key historical milestones of transgender people in California, including Indigenous gender diversity documented in 1775, 19th-century transgender figures in San Francisco's Tenderloin, early activism like the 1959 Cooper Do-nuts Riot, and legal precedents such as Sir Lady Java's 1967 employment discrimination case. The resolution has no binding effect and does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals or groups. It serves solely to honor these historical contributions.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 58 is a ceremonial resolution commemorating the 105th anniversary of the 19th Amendment (ratified in 1920), which granted women the right to vote in the U.S. It honors the suffrage movement and California's early role in women's voting rights (1911) while acknowledging ongoing voting barriers faced by women of color and people with disabilities. The resolution has no binding policy effect - it simply expresses the Senate's recognition of this historical milestone through formal commemoration. It was unanimously adopted by the California Senate on August 25, 2025.
The California Constitution establishes the Citizens Redistricting Commission, which is required to adjust the boundary lines of congressional, Senate, Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts in the year following the year in which the national census is taken at the beginning of each decade. This measure, which would include a legislative finding that it is in response to redistricting in Texas in 2025, would, notwithstanding the authority of the Citizens Redistricting Commission, require the state to temporarily use the congressional districts reflected in AB 604 of the 2025–26 Regular Session for every congressional election until the new congressional boundary lines are drawn by the commission in 2031.
(1) Existing law authorizes a candidate for elective office to submit a petition containing a specified number of signatures in lieu of all or part of the fee for filing nomination papers. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to make forms for securing signatures available to each candidate commencing 60 days before the first day for circulating nomination papers, except as specified, and requires candidates to file in-lieu-filing-fee petitions at least 30 days before the close of the nomination period. This bill, for the June 2, 2026, statewide direct primary election, would require the Secretary of State to make those forms available beginning December 19, 2025. This bill would require the Secretary of State to prepare a calendar of key election dates and deadlines and requirements for the nomination of candidates by the date that the in-lieu-filing-fee petition forms are made available. (2) Existing law requires each county elections official to provide the Secretary of State with specified information regarding the number of voters and their party preferences in the county and each supervisorial, Congressional, Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization district in the county on the 135th day before each direct primary election, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 154th day before the primary election. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to compile a statewide list of this information within 30 days after receiving it from each county elections official. This bill would require the Secretary of State to determine, by December 19, 2025, whether it is feasible to include in the statewide list described above the number of voters by party preference in each congressional district with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 154th day before the June 2, 2026, statewide direct primary election. If the Secretary of State determines it is not feasible, the bill would not require that information to be included in the information provided by the counties and the compiled statewide list. The bill would require the Secretary of State to prepare a supplemental statewide list showing that information on a date specified by the Secretary of State, but not later than the 88th day before the June 2, 2026, statewide direct primary election. (3) Existing law authorizes a candidate for elective office to designate that certain specified words appear below the candidate's name on the ballot, including, among others, the word "incumbent." This bill, for the June 2, 2026, statewide direct primary election, would prohibit a candidate for the office of Representative in Congress from choosing the word "incumbent" as a designation to appear on the ballot. The bill would make conforming changes relating to the deadline for a person to file nomination documents for an office if a current holder of the office does not file nomination documents. These provisions would become operative only if ACA 8 of the 2025–26 Regular Session is approved by the voters and another state adopts a new congressional district map that takes effect after August 1, 2025. (4) The bill would repeal the provisions described in paragraphs (1) to (3) above on January 1, 2027. (5) Existing law requires a constitutional amendment submitted to the people by the Legislature to appear on the ballot of the first statewide election occurring at least 131 days after the adoption of the proposal. This bill would call a special election to be held throughout the state on November 4, 2025, and, notwithstanding the 131-day requirement, would require the submission of ACA 8 of the 2025–26 Regular Session to the voters at that special election. The bill would authorize a local election called on or before August 8, 2025, and scheduled to be held on November 4, 2025, to be consolidated with the statewide special election. The bill would require that the impartial analysis prepared by the Legislative Analyst for the state voter information guide for the special election include specified content regarding 2021 and 2025 congressional district maps. The bill would specify the procedures under which the special election would be conducted. Counties that conduct all-mailed ballot elections using vote centers would be required to maintain at least one vote center for every 30,000 registered voters from November 1, 2025, to November 4, 2025, and at least one vote center for every 60,000 registered voters from October 25, 2025, through October 31, 2025. Other counties would be authorized to consolidate polling places at a maximum ratio of one for every 10,000 registered voters. The bill would appropriate an amount from the General Fund to the Controller for the actual and reasonably necessary costs for counties to conduct the special election, as determined by the Director of Finance. The bill would also appropriate an amount from the General Fund to the Secretary of State for the actual and reasonably necessary costs for the Secretary of State to administer the special election, as determined by the Director of Finance. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Maddy summaryACR 92 designates June 2025 as Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Month in the state. This ceremonial resolution does not create new laws or affect specific individuals or groups; it is a symbolic recognition of the EDM community and its cultural impact. The measure serves solely to commemorate the genre during that month. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding policy changes or fiscal implications.
This measure would applaud the California Girl Scout Councils for 113 years of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place, and recognize March 12, 2025, as Girl Scout Day in California.
This measure would declare May as Food Allergy Awareness Month and would encourage all Californians to increase their understanding of food allergies, support preventative practices, and learn how to respond in the event of a severe allergic reaction.
(1) The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law allow various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws, including various motion picture credits, commonly referred to as motion picture credit 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0, and the certified studio credit, to be allocated by the California Film Commission in differing amounts equal to specified percentages of the qualified expenditures of a qualified motion picture in this state. Existing law allows a qualified taxpayer, if a motion picture credit exceeds the taxpayer's tax liability, to elect to assign a portion of the credit to one or more affiliated corporations for each taxable year in which the credit is allowed, as specified. This bill, if a qualified taxpayer is a single member limited liability company that is disregarded for tax purposes, would additionally allow that qualified taxpayer to elect to assign any portion of a motion picture credit to one or more affiliated corporations, as specified. The bill, for purposes of the motion picture credit 3.0 and 4.0, and for purposes of the certified studio credit, would also expand the definition of a qualified taxpayer to include a single member limited liability company that is disregarded for tax purposes. (2) Existing law allows a motion picture credit (motion picture credit 4.0) to be allocated by the California Film Commission on or after July 1, 2025, in an amount equal to 20% or 25% of qualified expenditures for the production of a qualified motion picture in this state, and limits the aggregate amount of the credit that may be allocated for a fiscal year to $330,000,000, as specified. Existing law allows the California Film Commission to increase the credit amount allocated to a qualified taxpayer if specified conditions are met, including if the qualified taxpayer submits a diversity workplan that is broadly reflective of California's population in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, and disability status, and a final diversity assessment that includes specified data. Existing law defines a "qualified motion picture" for purposes of these tax credits to include a motion picture that is produced for distribution to the general public that includes, among other productions, a feature with a specified minimum production budget, an independent film, a new television series produced in California, as specified, or a television series that relocated to California. Existing law allows a qualified taxpayer to elect to be paid a refund equal to 90% of the total refundable amount, as specified, if the amount allowable as a credit under the motion picture credit 4.0 exceeds the qualified taxpayer's tax liability for the taxable year, and allows the excess to be carried over, as specified. This bill, with respect to motion picture credit 4.0, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, would revise the definition of qualified motion picture to include live action and animated series with episodes averaging 20 minutes or more, animated films, and large-scale competition shows, as specified. The bill would specify that a television series that completed principal photography on the previous season more than 48 months prior to applying for an allocation of this credit is considered a new television series for purposes of the definition of qualified motion picture, unless certain conditions are met. The bill would increase the credit amount allowed for a qualified motion picture to 35% or 40%, as specified. The bill would additionally increase the amount of qualified expenditures the California Film Commission is allowed to consider when determining the credit amount allocated to a qualified motion picture. The bill would include veteran status and ZIP Code in the diversity workplan and final diversity assessment. The bill would increase the aggregate amount of credits that may be allocated in a fiscal year to $750,000,000, and would revise the allocation limitations for specified qualified motion pictures within that aggregate amount. The bill would additionally correct erroneous cross-references in those provisions. By requiring additional moneys to be paid from the Tax Relief and Refund Account, a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. (3) Existing law also allows a credit for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2032, in an amount equal to 20% or 25%, or as modified, of qualified expenditures paid or incurred during the taxable year by a qualified motion picture produced in this state at a certified studio construction project. Existing law requires a qualified motion picture, for purposes of this credit, to provide a diversity workplan that includes goals broadly reflective of California's population, in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, and disability status. This bill, with respect to the certified studio credit, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, would revise specified provisions of the definition of qualified motion picture, the credit amount allowed for a qualified motion picture, and the total credit amount allowed to be allocated to a television series, as specified, in conformity with the motion picture credit 4.0, as described above. The bill would also end the requirement that a certified studio construction project is produced by a qualified taxpayer that either owns more than 50% of the soundstage or soundstages on which the production is filmed or entered into a contract or lease of 10 years or more. The bill would require the diversity workplan to also include veteran status, and to indicate specified ZIP Code data related to members of the workforce. (4) Existing law requires the California Film Commission to develop an application process for the allocation of the motion picture credit 4.0 and the certified studio credit. Existing law requires the issuance of a credit for any subsequent season for the life of a television series that has been approved and issued a credit allocation under any of those credits. Existing law requires the California Film Commission to limit the amount of credits any recurring television series receives in subsequent seasons to no more than the amount reserved in the prior fiscal year it received the credit. This bill would instead limit the amount of credits received by a recurring television series to the sum of the base year allocation and the product of the base year allocation, the number of subsequent years, and 3%, as those terms are defined. The bill would additionally, for purposes of the motion picture credit 4.0, require a recurring television series to reapply for the credit if it does not request a credit allocation within 18 months from the date of completion of principal photography of the previous season, as specified. (5) Existing law establishes a Career Pathways Program, under the California Film Commission, to fund technical skills training for individuals from underserved communities for entry into film and television jobs. Existing law requires the program to work with nonprofit organizations that have an established record of training and job placement in the entertainment industry, focus on training individuals from traditionally underserved communities, and offer training courses focused on skilled, technical positions, as specified. Existing law requires a qualified motion picture to pay a fee equal to 0.5% of their approved credit amount to the program, and authorizes the California Film Commission to increase the fee amount, as specified. This bill would require the California Film Commission to expand the number of nonprofit organizations that partner with the Career Pathways Program, and would require the California Film Commission to establish an application process for nonprofit organizations to obtain approval as a Career Pathways Program. The bill would require the application meet specified requirements to be approved and would provide criteria for the California Film Commission to consider when approving applications. The bill would require the California Film Commission, before July 1, 2026, to develop criteria to incentivize the placement of trainees from the Career Pathways Program in qualified productions, and for the motion picture credit 4.0, would authorize the California Film Commission to increase the credit amount up to 2% of the credit amount allocated for qualified productions that employ trainees from a Career Pathways Program, as specified. (6) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.