Sen. Henry Stern

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.

(1) The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law, in conformity with federal income tax law, generally define "gross income" as income from whatever source derived, except as specifically excluded, and provides various exclusions from gross income. This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2029, would provide an exclusion from gross income for amounts received, on or after March 1, 2024, as compensation for specified costs and losses related to the Chiquita Canyon elevated temperature landfill event in the County of Los Angeles, as provided. Existing law requires a bill authorizing a new tax expenditure to contain, among other things, specific goals, purposes, and objectives 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. (2) Existing law establishes various means-tested public social services programs administered by counties to provide eligible recipients with certain benefits, including, but not limited to, cash assistance under the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, nutrition assistance under the CalFresh program, and health care services under the Medi-Cal program. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, to administer the California Guaranteed Income Pilot Program to provide grants to eligible entities for the purpose of administering pilot programs and projects that provide a guaranteed income to participants. Existing law defines an eligible entity, for purposes of the program, as a nonprofit organization, as specified, or a city, county, or city and county. This bill would, to the extent permitted by federal law, prohibit any Chiquita Canyon elevated temperature landfill event payment amount received by a taxpayer from being considered income or resources when determining eligibility or benefit amounts for any means-tested program or guaranteed income payments, as defined. To the extent that the bill would expand eligibility for programs administered by counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) This bill would make legislative findings and declarations related to a gift of public funds. (4) 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.

This measure would, among other things, declare that using executive orders to silence opposition and chill legal advocacy is an unlawful attack on the right of Americans to seek counsel and would designate May 1 as Law Day to not only commemorate the importance that law plays in California but to stand in solidarity with the legal community.

This measure would, among other things, recognize the serious and urgent threat maladaptation poses to the success and cost effectiveness of the state's climate resilience actions.

This measure would recognize June 14, 2025, as Flag Day in California and encourage the citizens of the state to celebrate the symbol of our freedom and remember the hard work and sacrifices that so many made to ensure that freedom.

Maddy summarySCR 83 designates May 2025 as Hypertension Awareness Month in the state. This symbolic resolution encourages public health awareness efforts focused on hypertension prevention and education during that month. It does not create new laws, change funding, or impose obligations on any entity. The measure applies only to state government communications and activities related to the designated month.

This measure would proclaim April 24, 2025, as California Holocaust Memorial Day and would urge all Californians to observe this day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust in an appropriate manner.

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.

Maddy summarySCR 71 designates the week of May 11-17, 2025, as National Hospital Week in California. This resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes hospitals and healthcare workers through a symbolic observance. It directly affects the state of California by authorizing the legislature to acknowledge this week for hospitals and their staff. The bill has no funding, regulatory, or operational impact - its sole purpose is commemorative.