Sen. Bob Archuleta

Existing law prohibits an agency from disclosing personal information that would link the information to the individual unless, among other things, the information is provided to a governmental entity by law, or the disclosure is to the individual to whom the information pertains. Existing law makes vital records related to adoptions, other than a newly issued birth certificate, available only upon the order of the superior court of the county of residence of the adopted child or of the county granting the order of adoption. This bill would authorize, beginning on July 1, 2028, the disclosure of an original birth certificate, as defined, to an adopted person, or descendant, as defined, of a deceased adopted person, would require the State Registrar to provide a copy of the original birth certificate to those persons, and would establish a process to request an original birth certificate, as specified. The bill would also require the State Registrar to create and make available to a birth parent a contact preference form on or before July 1, 2028, containing certain elections that would be available for release when a request for an original birth certificate is made. Existing law requires the clerk of the court to report the decree to the State Registrar within 5 days after a decree of adoption. Existing law requires the State Registrar to generate a new birth certificate when the State Registrar receives a report of adoption from a specified court or when the State Registrar receives a specified court order. Existing law requires the new birth certificate to bear certain information and be identical to the certificate issued to the natural parents, except, when requested by the adopting parents, the certificate is required to omit the facility of birth and the race and color of the parents. This bill would remove the adopted parents exception described above that required the certificate to omit the facility of birth and the race and color of the parents. Existing law authorizes the adopting parents to request an amended certificate that omits, among other things, the city and county of birth, or the color and race of the parents. This bill would repeal that authorization.

Existing law makes it a misdemeanor or a felony to engage in specified acts of fraud or material misrepresentation for the purpose of obtaining or denying workers' compensation, as specified. Existing law, the Workers' Compensation Insurance Fraud Reporting Act (the act) , requires insurers and licensed rating organizations to release upon request to an authorized governmental agency, as defined, relevant information deemed important to the authorized governmental agency that the insurer or licensed rating organization may possess relating to any specific workers' compensation insurance fraud investigation. The act requires, under specified circumstances, an insurer or licensed rating organization to notify the local district attorney's office and the Fraud Division of the Department of Insurance, and requires that entity, unless specified circumstances exist, to notify any other authorized governmental agency of suspected fraud, as specified. The act also requires the Employment Development Department (EDD) to release, upon written request, to an authorized governmental agency relevant information that the EDD may possess relating to any specific workers' compensation insurance fraud investigation. The act requires, unless specified circumstances exist, an authorized governmental agency that is provided with information pursuant to those provisions to release or provide that information in a confidential manner to any other authorized governmental agency for purposes of investigation, prosecution, or prevention of insurance fraud or workers' compensation fraud. This bill would require an insurer or licensed rating organization to notify the EDD, in addition to the local district attorney's office and Fraud Division on the Department of Insurance, of suspected fraud when the fraudulent act relates to premium fraud. The bill would authorize an insurer to submit wage records and employee counts for an employer to the EDD and would require the EDD to identify discrepancies in the submitted information, as specified, and report any discrepancies back to the submitting insurer. Upon request by an insurer, the bill would require the EDD to release or provide detailed payroll information, including payroll summary totals, allowing the requester to compare the records with the information they are otherwise entitled to receive from employers in workers' compensation claims or pursuant to workers' compensation policies, unless doing so would violate federal law or compromise an ongoing investigation. The bill would require the EDD to only provide the information if specified requirements are met, and the requesting insurer to reimburse the department's actual, direct costs of releasing or providing this information. The bill would prohibit the provided documents from being used for specified purposes. Existing federal regulations generally prohibit the disclosure of confidential unemployment compensation information unless disclosure is on the basis of, among other things, informed consent to an agent of an employer. This bill would provide that by entering into a policy of workers' compensation insurance with an insurer, an employer in California consents and designates that insurer as the employer's agent to act for or in the place of the employer only with respect to a request for the above-described payroll information. 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 26, 2026, as "I ♥ SGV Day" to encourage people in the San Gabriel Valley to celebrate the occasion. It does not create new laws or change existing regulations but serves as a symbolic resolution to recognize the date. The measure was passed by the Senate and is currently awaiting final approval by the Assembly.

This measure would acknowledge and celebrate 50 years of coastal protection and affirm the state's longstanding commitment to protecting its coastal waters, as specified.

This measure would request that the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management hold public hearings in California on the proposed 2026–2031 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, prepare an environmental impact statement to accompany the program, and provide the public the opportunity to comment on a draft programmatic environmental impact statement for potential offshore oil and gas leasing in California. The measure would strongly and unequivocally oppose any new offshore drilling and declare unequivocal support for the current federal prohibition on new oil or gas drilling in federal waters offshore of the Pacific coast.

Maddy summaryCalifornia Senate Resolution 121 formally recognizes the Killed in Action flag as a symbol honoring military personnel who died in combat. The resolution encourages the voluntary display of this flag at state and local public buildings, schools, and private homes to express remembrance for fallen service members. It also suggests that Californians display the flag during specific observances such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Independence Day. Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to the Governor, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and various veterans' service organizations.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors Korean American veterans who served in the Vietnam War and currently reside in California. It formally recognizes their contributions to freedom and democracy and expresses gratitude for their service. The bill also encourages ongoing cooperation between the United States and South Korea to support the welfare of these aging veterans. Finally, it directs the Senate Secretary to send copies of the resolution to state and federal officials and the South Korean consulate for distribution.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 21, 2026, as Father's Day to honor fathers and father figures. It establishes this specific date as an official observance within the state statutes. The measure does not create a legal holiday or mandate time off from work. Instead, it serves as a formal recognition of the contributions made by fathers and father figures.

Maddy summarySCR 84 designates May 2025 as "California Rail Month" through a symbolic recognition. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change existing policies. The bill directly affects the state legislature and public awareness efforts related to rail transportation. This is a purely ceremonial measure with no concrete policy changes or direct impact on residents or rail services.

The Department of Water Resources operates the State Water Resources Development System, commonly referred to as the State Water Project. Existing law requires that construction work for a project that will put appropriated water to beneficial use be commenced, prosecuted with due diligence, and completed within the time period specified in the water right permit. Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to extend the deadline specified in the permit to commence or complete construction work and to put appropriated water to beneficial use for good cause shown. This bill would require that the time periods for the application of water to beneficial use and for the completion of construction work for specific water right permits held by the Department of Water Resources for the operation of the State Water Project be December 31, 2046.