Sen. Roger Niello

Maddy summarySCR 7 is a Senate resolution (not a law) that formally acknowledges the health benefits of adopting permanent standard time instead of changing clocks for daylight saving time. It cites medical evidence linking biannual time changes to health issues like medical errors, heart attacks, and sleep disruption, particularly affecting shift workers and students. The resolution notes support from medical associations and references how Arizona, Hawaii, and other regions already use permanent standard time. It does not change timekeeping laws but urges consideration of permanent standard time as a health and safety measure.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 137 formally declares October 2026 as National Chiropractic Health Month in California. The resolution highlights chiropractic care as a drug-free option for treating musculoskeletal conditions and notes that the profession is regulated by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, which operates without using state general fund money. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to the California Chiropractic Association and the bill's author.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 135 is a commemorative measure that formally honors the 40th Infantry Division of the California National Guard for its more than century-long history of service. The resolution highlights the unit's contributions in major conflicts, including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and post-9/11 operations, as well as its role in responding to natural disasters within California. It specifically acknowledges the division's Medal of Honor recipients and notes that Major General Laura L. Yeager became the first woman to command an infantry division in 2019. The bill directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to the Adjutant General of California, the division commander, and the author for distribution.

Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge children to be dependents of the court under certain circumstances, including when the child suffered or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer serious physical harm, or a parent fails to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment. Existing law requires a social worker who has cause to believe that a child meets the requirements to be adjudged a dependent of the court to immediately conduct an investigation to determine whether child welfare services should be offered to the family and whether proceedings in the juvenile court should be commenced. Existing law authorizes a court to make any reasonable orders to the parents or guardians of the child as the court deems necessary and proper. This bill would require a social worker, if an investigation involves an allegation that a parent or guardian has used or is under the influence of fentanyl or other opioids, to document whether the risk of fentanyl or opioid exposure to the child was specifically assessed, as specified. The bill would also require a juvenile court that finds a risk of fentanyl use, as specified, by a parent or guardian to order the parent or guardian to submit to testing for fentanyl. If the court finds a risk of fentanyl use, the bill would require the case plan for the parent or guardian to include certain resources, including, among others, information on the proper storage of controlled substances and prescription medications. By imposing additional duties on county social workers, this bill would create 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.

Existing law defines vehicular manslaughter as, among other things, driving a vehicle in the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, or driving a vehicle in the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, that results in the unlawful killing of a human being without malice. Under existing law, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, as defined, is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year or by imprisonment in the state prison for 2, 4, or 6 years, and vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year. Existing law authorizes a judge in the superior court in which a misdemeanor is being prosecuted to offer diversion to a defendant, and requires the judge, at the end of the diversion period and if the defendant has complied with the imposed terms and conditions, to dismiss the action against the defendant. Existing law imposes 2 violation points against a driver's record for purposes of the suspension or revocation of the privilege to drive if a driver is convicted of vehicular manslaughter. This bill would impose 2 violation points against a driver's record for a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter violation that was dismissed by a judge upon the completion of diversion.

Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to develop a plan and timeline of target dates for the testing, implementation, and operation of a Next Generation 911 emergency communication system, including text to 911 service, throughout California. This bill would require the office to provide quarterly reports to the Legislature on the development, implementation, and spending on the Next Generation 911 system, as specified.

The Small Business Procurement and Contract Act permits a state agency or the California State University to award a contract for goods, services, or information technology with an estimated value between $5,000 and $250,000 to a certified small business, including a microbusiness and a disabled veteran business enterprise, without complying with specified competitive bidding requirements. This bill would increase the maximum estimated value of a contract for services or information technology awarded pursuant to the act from $250,000 to $350,000. Commencing January 1, 2029, and biennially thereafter, the bill would require the Director of General Services to conduct a review of that maximum value, and would authorize the director to adjust that value to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index.

Existing law authorizes a court to grant pretrial diversion to a defendant suffering from a mental disorder, on an accusatory pleading alleging the commission of a misdemeanor or felony offense, to allow the defendant to undergo mental health treatment. Existing law prescribes specified criteria for a defendant to be eligible for pretrial diversion and for a court to consider whether the defendant is suitable for pretrial diversion. Existing law authorizes a court to require the defendant to make a prima facie showing that they will meet the minimum requirements of eligibility for diversion and that the defendant and the offense are suitable for diversion and authorizes the court, if that showing is not made, to summarily deny diversion and grant alternate relief. This bill, if the court intends to summarily grant diversion or any other relief, would require the court to conduct an additional hearing if requested by either party. By increasing the duties on local prosecutors, this bill would impose 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, 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.

The Unclaimed Property Law prescribes the circumstances under which property escheats to the state. Existing law provides different requirements for escheatment of various types of property, including the time period for escheatment to the state. Existing law provides that the Controller may liquidate various forms of property after escheatment. This bill would increase the time for escheatment of all forms of property to 7 years from the last contact with the owner, as specified. This bill would require the Controller to maintain the property in the form in which it was escheated, as specified.

Existing property tax law provides, pursuant to a requirement of the California Constitution, that the property tax base year value of real property that is substantially damaged or destroyed by a disaster, as declared by the Governor, may be transferred to a comparable property located within the same county that is acquired or newly constructed, or to replacement property reconstructed on the site of the damaged or destroyed property, within 5 years after the disaster as a replacement property. This bill would authorize the county board of supervisors of any county proclaimed by the Governor to be in a state of emergency, or otherwise determined or declared by the Governor to be in a state of disaster, on or after January 1, 2026, but before January 1, 2031, to extend both of the above-described time periods to transfer by up to 3 years. The bill would apply to the determination of base year values for lien dates occurring on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2034. Existing law requires the state to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation. This bill would provide that, notwithstanding those provisions, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.