Sen. Bob Archuleta

The California Constitution declares that all property is taxable and establishes or authorizes various exemptions from tax for real property, including a homeowners' exemption in the amount of $7,000 of the full value of a dwelling unless the dwelling receives another real property exemption. If the Legislature increases the homeowners' exemption, the California Constitution requires that the Legislature provide a benefit increase to qualified renters comparable to the average increase in benefits to homeowners. The California Constitution and existing property tax law establish a veterans' exemption in the amount of $4,000 for a veteran who meets certain military service requirements, including that the veteran is serving in or has served in and has been discharged under honorable conditions from one of specified branches of the United States military, and generally exempts from property taxation the same value of property of a deceased veteran's unmarried spouse and parents. The California Constitution authorizes and existing property tax law establishes a disabled veterans' exemption in the amount of $100,000 or $150,000 for the principal place of residence of a veteran or a veteran's spouse, including an unmarried surviving spouse, if the veteran, because of an injury incurred in military service, is blind in both eyes, has lost the use of 2 or more limbs, or is totally disabled, as those terms are defined, or if the veteran has, as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, died while on active duty in military service. Existing law prohibits receiving the veterans' exemption on property owned by an unmarried person who owns more than $5,000 of property or a married person who owns more than $10,000 of property. Existing law prohibits receiving the deceased veterans' exemption on property owned by a deceased veteran's unmarried spouse who owns more than $10,000 of property, a deceased veteran's unmarried parent who owns more than $5,000 of property, or a deceased veteran's married parent who owns more than $10,000 of property. This measure would add the United States Space Force to the military branches, the service in which satisfies the veterans' exemption military service requirement described above. This measure would allow a dwelling that receives the veterans' exemption or the disabled veteran's exemption to also receive the homeowners' exemption. The measure would authorize the Legislature to exempt property eligible for the veterans' exemption in an amount up to the full value of the property. If the Legislature increases the homeowners' exemption, the measure would require that the Legislature provide the same increase in the veterans' exemption, except as limited by the full value of the property. The bill would remove the above-described prohibitions on a property receiving the veterans' or deceased veterans' exemption based on the amount of property that a veteran or veteran's parent or spouse owns.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates the week of May 3 through May 10, 2026, as Cinco de Mayo Week in California. The measure urges all Californians to celebrate the historical victory at the Battle of Puebla and to acknowledge the contributions of Latinos to the state's culture, economy, and defense of democratic institutions. It highlights the role of Latino communities in various fields, including the arts, business, and public service, while recognizing their support for free institutions both in California and Mexico. The resolution is a commemorative action intended to honor the spirit and achievements of Latinos rather than to enact new laws or policies.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 103 designates the first full week in May 2026 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week in California. This proclamation aims to raise public and medical awareness about tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder that can occur in people taking antipsychotic medications for mental health conditions. The resolution emphasizes the importance of early detection and routine screening for this condition, which affects a significant portion of patients who may be undiagnosed. By highlighting these issues, the bill encourages healthcare providers and patients to prioritize regular check-ups and education regarding the risks and symptoms associated with long-term antipsychotic use.

The Uniform Commercial Code-Secured Transactions (UCC) generally regulates the perfection of certain security interests, including a financing statement filed as a fixture filing. This bill would prohibit the filing of a financing statement against owner-occupied residential real property in a manner that purports to create or otherwise perfect a security interest in, or otherwise encumber, title to that owner-occupied residential real property and would make a person who knowingly files, or causes to be filed, a financing statement in violation of the bill liable to the owner of the owner-occupied residential real property identified in the financing statement, as specified.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes them to provide instruction at the campuses they operate. Existing law authorizes the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to authorize the establishment of community college district baccalaureate degree programs, as provided. This bill would authorize the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to authorize the Cerritos Community College District to offer up to 3 applied baccalaureate degree programs in the fields of public safety management, paralegal studies, and automotive technology. The bill would require each baccalaureate degree program to be designed to meet documented regional workforce demand and developed in consultation with employers, labor organizations, and workforce development partners, and meet specified requirements. The bill would require the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to monitor the baccalaureate degree programs and would authorize the chancellor to report outcomes to the Legislature, as provided. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Cerritos Community College District.

This measure would recognize March 26, 2026, as Women's Equal Pay Day in California, in recognition of the need to eliminate the gender gap in earnings by women and to promote policies to ensure equal pay for all.

Under existing law, it is unlawful to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or 0.08% or more, by weight, of alcohol in one's blood. A first violation of this prohibition is punishable as a misdemeanor. Under existing law, if a person is convicted of a DUI violation and the offense occurs within 10 years of one or 2 separate DUI violations that resulted in specified convictions, the offense is also punishable as a misdemeanor, as specified, with escalating fines, suspensions, and other sanctions. Under existing law, if a person is convicted of a DUI violation and the offense occurs within 10 years of 3 or more separate DUI violations that resulted in specified convictions, the offense is punishable either as a misdemeanor or as a felony. This bill would make a conviction of a DUI violation with the offense occurring within 10 years of one or 2 separate DUI violations that resulted in specified convictions also punishable either as a misdemeanor or as a felony. By increasing the punishment for a crime, the bill imposes a state-mandated local program. 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.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges the Pro Football Hall of Fame to induct legendary quarterback Jim Plunkett into its hall for the Class of 2027. The bill highlights Plunkett's historic achievements, including winning two Super Bowls as the only Latino player to do so and being the first Latino selected first overall in the NFL Draft. It notes that despite his accolades and previous nominations, he has not yet been inducted and requires 80 percent of the votes from the selection committee to be honored. The resolution formally requests the Hall of Fame to consider his induction as a matter of pride for California residents.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution formally acknowledges the Armenian Genocide, a systematic campaign of mass killing and deportation that occurred between 1915 and 1923 against Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire and later Turkey. The document details historical events, including the deaths of over 1.5 million people, the seizure of their property, and the subsequent denial of these atrocities by the modern Republic of Turkey. By reciting these facts, the resolution aims to preserve the historical record and honor the survivors and victims of this event.

Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, provides for the involuntary commitment and treatment of persons with specified mental disorders. Under the act, when a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to others or to themselves, or is gravely disabled, the person may, upon probable cause, be taken into custody by specified individuals, including, among others, peace officers, and placed in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Health Care Services for up to 72 hours for evaluation and treatment. This bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency (agency) to establish the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Advisory Group for the purpose of examining the role of law enforcement in behavioral health crisis response, as specified. The bill would require the membership of the advisory group to include representatives from, among others, the agency, the State Department of Health Care Services, law enforcement agencies, and county behavioral health departments, as appointed by the Governor. The bill would require the advisory group to meet on or before July 1, 2027, and at least once per quarter thereafter until December 31, 2028. The bill would require the agency, in collaboration with the advisory group, to make recommendations on specified topics, to the extent they relate to law enforcement interaction with behavioral health crisis response, including, among others, a state governance structure to support coordination between behavioral health crisis services accessed through 988 and emergency response systems. The bill would require the agency, in collaboration with the advisory group, to conduct an assessment of the risks associated with categorical nonresponse or limited-response policies adopted by local law enforcement agencies and whether statewide minimum standards or procedural safeguards are needed to prevent gaps in behavioral health crisis response. The bill would require the agency on January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter until January 1, 2030, to report recommendations and assessment results, as specified, to the Legislature. By imposing additional duties on local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2031. 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.