Legislate: All Bills

CA AB 1005 - Laurie Davies
Drowning prevention: public schools: informational materials: swim lesson vouchers and swim lesson directory.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 1005, as amended, Davies. Drowning prevention: public schools: informational materials: swim lesson vouchers and swim lesson directory. (1) Existing law authorizes specified drowning or injury prevention organizations (DIP organization) to provide informational materials, in electronic or hardcopy form, to a public school regarding specified topics relating to drowning prevention. Existing law requires a DIP organization that chooses to provide informational materials to provide, upon request by a public school, the informational materials in the 3 most commonly spoken languages associated with the population attending the school.This bill would instead require a DIP organization that chooses to provide informational materials to provide, upon request by a public school, the informational materials in English and would encourage the DIP organization to provide informational materials in the other most commonly spoken languages associated with the population attending the school. The bill would require a DIP organization that chooses to provide informational materials to a public school to provide those materials at no cost to the public school, allow the school to offer copies of the materials to pupils and parents, and provide written evidence to a school administrator that demonstrates that the informational materials provided by the DIP organization align with the drowning, drowning prevention, water safety, rescue, and swim skills lesson information found on the drowning prevention web page of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as provided. The bill also would require the State Department of Education to gather and make available on its internet website school-based water safety and drowning prevention education resources and curriculum, as provided. The bill would authorize public schools to provide to their pupils those water safety informational materials identified by the department and provided by a DIP organization, as provided.(2) Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to adopt and enforce regulations relating to public swimming pools, as defined.This bill would establish the Swim Lesson Voucher and Swim Lesson Directory Development Plan Partnership for the purposes of increasing water safety in this state by offering vouchers for swim lessons at no cost to children under 18 years of age whose families have an income of no more than 250% of the federal poverty level and making it easier for parents, caregivers, and guardians to access swim lessons for their children, as provided. The bill would require the partnership to consist of no more than 10 members and be composed of representatives of California’s local parks and recreation district leadership, as identified by the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts and appointed by the Governor, state agencies with experience in water safety or drowning prevention, as appointed by the Governor, and experts in drowning prevention identified by the Drowning Prevention Foundation and appointed by the Governor. The bill would require the partnership to, among other things, (A) develop model written agreements to establish a network of public and private swim lesson programs and swim lesson vendors that accept vouchers in exchange for providing swim lessons, (B) establish a model application method and eligibility criteria for swim lesson vouchers, (C) develop, in consultation with other organizations, a free and publicly accessible online statewide directory of swim lesson programs, listed by county, and (D) make recommendations and an action plan to seek various contributors that will fund or match funds to cover the cost of the voucher programs and the development of the online statewide directory. The bill would require the partnership to provide directions and options for administering the voucher program and swim lesson directory through a combination of state and regional public or private partners. The bil

CA AB 1043 - Thomas J. Umberg
Age verification signals: software applications and online services.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 1043, as amended, Wicks. Age verification signals: software applications and online services. Existing law generally provides protections for minors on the internet, including the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act that, among other things, requires a business that provides an online service, product, or feature likely to be accessed by children to do certain things, including estimate the age of child users with a reasonable level of certainty appropriate to the risks that arise from the data management practices of the business or apply the privacy and data protections afforded to children to all consumers and prohibits an online service, product, or feature from, among other things, using dark patterns to lead or encourage children to provide personal information beyond what is reasonably expected to provide that online service, product, or feature or to forego privacy protections.This bill would require, among other things related to age verification on the internet, a covered manufacturer to provide an accessible interface at account setup that requires an account holder, as defined, to indicate the birth date, age, or both, of the user of that device for the sole purpose of providing a signal regarding the user’s age bracket to applications available in a covered application store and would require the covered manufacturer to provide developers, as defined, with a digital signal via a real-time application programming interface regarding whether a user is in any of several age brackets, as prescribed. The bill would define “covered manufacturer” to mean a person who is a manufacturer of a device, an operating system for a device, or a covered application store. The bill would require a developer with actual knowledge of a user’s age to connect account holders with any existing tools to support a user with respect to the user’s use of the service and as appropriate given the risks that arise from use of the application.This bill would punish noncompliance with a civil penalty to be enforced by the Attorney General, as prescribed.This bill would declare its provisions to be severable.

CA AB 1069 - Jasmeet Kaur Bains
Older adults: emergency shelters.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 1069, as amended, Bains. Older adults: emergency shelters. Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes various programs that serve older individuals. The act requires the California Department of Aging to designate various private nonprofit or public agencies as area agencies on aging (AAAs) to work within a planning and service area and provide a broad array of social and nutritional services.The act also establishes Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) programs to provide information to consumers and their families on available long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs, with assistance to older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in accessing LTSS programs at the local level. Under the act, AAAs and independent living centers are the core local partners in developing ADRC programs.Existing law sets forth various provisions relating to emergency shelters, including, among others, the California Emergency Services Act. Under the California Emergency Services Act, the State Emergency Plan is the official document approved by the Governor that describes the principles and methods to be applied in carrying out emergency operations or rendering mutual aid during emergencies. Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to update the State Emergency Plan on or before January 1, 2019, and every 5 years thereafter. Existing law authorizes the Governor to assign to a state agency any activity concerned with the mitigation of the effects of an emergency of a nature related to the existing powers and duties of that agency, including sheltering support duties.This bill would, as part of disaster planning and response, require the lead agency designated with sheltering support duties under the State Emergency Plan Emergency Support Functions to coordinate a memorandum of understanding with an AAA or an ADRC program to allow access by the AAA or the ADRC program to an emergency shelter, as defined, established for evacuation purposes during an active event, in order to ensure that older adults and persons with disabilities receive continuous services and necessary support.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.

CA AB 1074 - Darshana Patel
CalWORKs.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 1074, as amended, Patel. CalWORKs. (1) Under existing law, if the federal government provides funds for the care of a needy relative with whom a needy child is living, aid to the child for any month includes aid to meet the needs of that relative, except as prescribed. Existing law establishes the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families using federal, state, and county funds. Existing law provides that the parent or parents are to be considered living with the needy child for a period of up to 6 months, or for a time period as determined by the State Department of Social Services, of the needy child’s absence from the family assistance unit, and that the parents are eligible for CalWORKs aid and childcare services if specified conditions are met, including, among others, that the child has been removed from the parent or parents and that the family was receiving aid under when the child was removed.This bill would specify that the department may determine the time period the parent or parents are considered living with the needy child to be a longer time period than 6 months and that the parents are eligible to receive aid as if the child or children were living with them. The bill would also specify that those provisions do not require (A) all children to be removed from the parent or parents or (B) that, at the time of removal, the needs of the parent or parents were included in the grant. The bill would make these provisions effective only upon the department determining that they will be either cost neutral or result in savings.(2) Existing law generally requires a recipient of CalWORKs to participate in welfare-to-work activities as a condition of eligibility. Existing law requires the recipient and the county welfare department to enter into a written welfare-to-work plan that includes the activities and services that will move the individual into employment. Existing departmental guidance strongly encourages, for individuals receiving benefits as described in paragraph (1), counties to use a CalWORKs family reunification plan, which is the case plan developed by the county child welfare services agency for the provision of services to those individuals, in lieu of the welfare-to-work plan.This bill would instead require, for those individuals, a county to include welfare-to-work activities and services in a CalWORKs reunification plan or in a jointly developed child welfare services and CalWORKs welfare-to-work plan, which would serve as the CalWORKs reunification plan. The bill would specify that use of the CalWORKs reunification plan would satisfy the requirement to have a welfare-to-work plan and would define a CalWORKs reunification plan for the purposes of these provisions. By imposing new duties on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(3) Existing law generally prohibits the governing authority of a school or other institution from unconditionally admitting a person as a pupil of a public or private elementary or secondary school, childcare center, day nursery, nursery school, family daycare home, or development center, unless prior to the person’s admission to that institution they have been fully immunized against various diseases, including measles, mumps, and pertussis, subject to any specific age criteria.Existing law requires all applicants for or recipients of CalWORKs to ensure and provide documentation that each child in the assistance unit who is not required to be enrolled in school has received all age-appropriate immunizations, as specified, and prohibits the needs of all parents or caretaker relatives in the assistance unit from being considered in determining the grant to the assistance unit until the required documentation is provided. Existing law requires a notice of that immunization requirement to be given to an applicant or recipi

CA AB 1078 - Marc Berman
Firearms.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 1078, as amended, Berman. Firearms. Existing (1) Existing law prohibits a person from carrying a concealed firearm or carrying a loaded firearm in public. Existing law authorizes a licensing authority, as specified, if certain requirements and other criteria are met, including, among other things, the applicant has completed a specified course of training, to issue a license to carry a concealed handgun or to carry a loaded and exposed handgun, as specified. Existing law requires a licensing authority to conduct an investigation to determine whether an applicant can receive or renew a license that includes, among other things, a review of all information provided in the application for a license, and a review of the information in the California Restraining and Protective Order System. Existing law prohibits the licensing authority from issuing a license if, among other things, the applicant has been convicted of contempt of court, has been subject to a restraining order, protective order, or other type of court order, unless that order expired or was vacated or otherwise canceled more than 5 years prior to receipt of the completed application, or, in the 10 years prior to the licensing authority receiving the completed application, has been convicted of specified criminal statutes.This bill would also prohibit a licensing authority from issuing a license if an applicant was convicted of, under any federal law or law of any other state that includes comparable elements of, contempt of court or specified criminal statutes in the 10 years prior to the completed application or was subject to any restraining order, protective order, or other type of court order.This bill would require the review of the California Restraining and Protective Order System to include information concerning whether the applicant is reasonably likely to be a danger to self, others, or the community at large, as specified. By imposing new duties on local licensing authorities, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.The bill would additionally exempt from the licensure prohibition for applicants previously subject to a restraining order, protective order, or other type of court order, applicants who were previously subject to an above-described order that did not receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the order was issued.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.(2) Existing law prohibits a person who is licensed to carry a firearm from carrying a firearm in specified places, including schools, government buildings, hospitals, zoos, parks, churches, and a bus, train, or other form of public transportation. Existing law exempts a firearm that is secured in a lock box, as specified, under certain circumstances, from these prohibitions.This bill would exempt a firearm that is unloaded and locked in a lock box for the purpose of transporting the firearm from the prohibition on carrying the firearm on a bus, train, or other form of public transportation, including a building, real property, or parking area under the control of a public transportation authority.(3) Existing law requires, when a person applies for a new license or license renewal to carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, a licensing authority, as specified, to issue or renew a license if the applicant has provided proof that, among other things, the applicant has completed a specified course of training, including live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range, and the applicant is the recorded owner of the pistol, revolver, or other

CA AB 1094 - Jasmeet Kaur Bains
Crimes: torture of a minor: parole.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 1094, as amended, Bains. Crimes: torture of a minor: parole. Existing law makes a person who, with the intent to cause cruel or extreme pain and suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any sadistic purpose, inflicts great bodily injury upon the person of another guilty of torture, and makes the crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of life. Existing law specifies that an inmate imprisoned under a life sentence shall not be paroled until they have served a term of at least 7 years or as established pursuant to a law that establishes a minimum term.This bill would prohibit a person imprisoned for committing the crime of torture from being eligible for parole until they have served at least 14 years, if the defendant is an adult who had care or custody of the victim and the victim was 14 years of age or younger at the time of the crime. By creating a new sentencing enhancement, the 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

CA AB 1120 - Sade Elhawary
Foster care: rights of foster youth.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 1120, as introduced, Elhawary. Foster care: rights of foster youth. Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families, and restoring to their families children who have been removed. Existing law provides that it is the policy of the state that all minors and nonminors in foster care have specified rights, including, among others, the right to receive medical, dental, vision, and mental health services, the right to receive grooming and hygiene products that respect the child’s culture, ethnicity, and gender identity and expression, the right to be informed of these rights in an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate manner, and the right to receive a copy of these rights, at specified intervals.This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to provide to foster parents and others as appropriate educational resources related to grooming and hygiene products appropriate for the child’s culture and ethnicity.

CA AB 1186 - Darshana Patel
Data collection: race and ethnicity: minimum categories.
05/23/2025 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 1186, as amended, Patel. Data collection: race and ethnicity: minimum categories. Existing law requires state agencies, boards, or commissions that directly or by contract collect demographic data on the ethnic origin, ethnicity, or race of Californians to use specified collection categories for Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Black, and African American groups.Existing law establishes the Demographic Research Unit within the Department of Finance, which, among other things, acts as the primary state government liaison with the United States Census Bureau in the acquisition and distribution of census data and related documentation to state agencies.This bill, subject to a specified exception, would require any state agency, board, or commission that directly or by contract collects demographic data on the ethnic origin, ethnicity, or race of Californians to collect data on at least the minimum categories on race and ethnicity, as defined, as well as at least the top 9 largest detailed categories, and prescribed write-in options, as provided. The bill would require compliance with these provisions by January 1, 2029.The bill would establish, within the Demographic Research Unit, the position of the Chief Statistician of California, who would be required to, among other things, standardize collection of demographic data across state agencies, as provided. The bill would require the Chief Statistician of California and the Demographic Research Unit to oversee implementation of these provisions and provide technical assistance.The bill would also require, on or before January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, each state agency, board, or commission required to comply with the bill’s provisions to submit a report to the Legislature and the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization on compliance with these provisions, as provided. The bill would require data collected pursuant to this section to be made available to the public in accordance with state and federal law, except for personal identifying information, as specified. The bill would prohibit an agency from disclosing personal identifying information to any federal agency unless the disclosure is expressly required by federal law.

CA AB 1310 - Gail Pellerin
School accountability: school climate report.
04/25/2025 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
AB 1310, as amended, Pellerin. School accountability: school climate report. Existing law requires the governing board of each school district and county board of education to adopt a local control accountability plan and to update its local control and accountability plan before July 1 of each year. Existing law requires a local control and accountability plan to include, among other things, a description of the annual goals to be achieved for each state priority, as specified, for all pupils and certain subgroups of pupils. The state’s delineated priorities include, among others, pupil engagement, as measured by specified attendance, dropout, and graduation rates, and school climate, as measured by pupil suspension and expulsion rates and other local measures, as provided.Existing law requires the State Department of Education, in collaboration with, and subject to the approval of, the executive director of the State Board of Education, to develop and maintain the California School Dashboard, a web-based system for publicly reporting performance data on the state and local indicators included in the evaluation rubrics. The department, pursuant to the requirement of developing the California School Dashboard, has included as one of several local indicators, school climate, as measured by a local climate survey.This bill, commencing with the 2026–27 school year, would require a school district, county office of education, or charter school that serves pupils in any of grades 5 to 12, inclusive, to annually (1) compile a school climate report detailing the pupil engagement and school climate data collected for purposes of their local control and accountability plan, and (2) if the local educational agency identifies any deficiencies in school climate, detail a plan to improve school climate to be included in the report. The bill would require the school climate report, including the plan to improve school climate, if applicable, to be presented at a regularly scheduled meeting of the governing board or body of the local educational agency and made public accessibly on the local educational agency’s internet website, as provided. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the 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.

CA AB 1314 - Patrick Ahrens
Transitional housing placement providers.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
AB 1314, as amended, Ahrens. Transitional housing placement providers. Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, requires the State Department of Social Services to license and regulate transitional housing placement providers, which is defined as organizations licensed by the department to provide transitional housing to foster children at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age and to nonminor dependents to promote their transition to adulthood. Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations governing transitional housing placement living arrangement requirements for minors and nonminor dependents, including allowing a participant to share a bedroom or unit with certain other individuals and requiring all counties and program contracts to allow participants and those certain other individuals to share bedrooms, bathrooms, and units together, regardless of gender identity. Under existing law, a violation of the act is a misdemeanor.This bill would require all counties and program contracts to follow, and not have requirements that are more stringent than, the requirements adopted pursuant to the above-described provisions, as specified. By increasing county duties, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to maintain a dental program, as specified, and requires the department to appoint a dentist licensed in California to administer the program.This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that provision.

CA AB 1332 - Patrick Ahrens
Medicinal cannabis: shipments.
05/29/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
AB 1332, as amended, Ahrens. Medicinal cannabis: shipments. Existing law, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, an initiative measure enacted by Proposition 215 at the November 6, 1996, statewide general election, declares that its purpose is, among other things, to ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes, as specified, and exempts from state criminal liability certain patients and their primary caregivers who possess or cultivate marijuana for the personal medical purposes of the patient. The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult-Use of Marijuana Act of 2016 (AUMA), an initiative measure approved as Proposition 64 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, established a comprehensive system to legalize, control, and regulate the cultivation, processing, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of nonmedical marijuana. Existing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), among other things, consolidates the licensure and regulation of commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis activities, including the retail sale of medicinal cannabis. MAUCRSA also authorizes specified licensees to provide free medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products to medicinal cannabis patients if specified criteria are met.Existing law, the Medicinal Cannabis Patients’ Right of Access Act, prohibits a local jurisdiction from adopting or enforcing any regulation that prohibits the retail sale by delivery within the local jurisdiction of medicinal cannabis to medicinal cannabis patients or their primary caregivers by medicinal cannabis businesses, as defined, or that has the effect of prohibiting the retail sale by delivery within the local jurisdiction of medicinal cannabis to medicinal cannabis patients or their primary caregivers, as specified.This bill, until January 1, 2029, would authorize a licensed microbusiness with an M-license whose licensed activities include retail sale, distribution, and outdoor cultivation to directly ship certain medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products to a medicinal cannabis patient in the state, if the licensed microbusiness complies with specified requirements, including that the medicinal cannabis is only shipped to a medicinal cannabis patient who cannot access or utilize a cannabis retailer or delivery within 60 miles of the patient’s location, the amount shipped to a medicinal cannabis patient in a single day does not exceed specified possession limits, and the package is received and signed for by someone 21 years of age or older. The bill would require a microbusiness shipping directly to a patient to comply with specified laws and regulations governing cannabis retailers for purposes of that shipment. If the medicinal cannabis patient is a qualified patient that possesses a valid physician’s recommendation, the bill would require the retailer to certify in writing that they verified the recommendation and would require the retailer to keep a copy of that certification for no less than 7 years. The bill would amend the Medicinal Cannabis Patients’ Right of Access Act to, among other things, prohibit a local jurisdiction from adopting or enforcing any regulation that prohibits the retail sale by shipment within the local jurisdiction of medicinal cannabis to medicinal cannabis patients or their primary caregivers by a licensed microbusiness with an M-license, as specified. The bill would also authorize free medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products provided to medicinal cannabis patients in compliance with MAUCRSA to be shipped to those patients by a licensed microbusiness with an M-license, as provided.To the extent this bill would impose additional duties on local jurisdictions, and to the extent the bill would expand the crime of perjury by requiring the retailer to certify verification of physician recommendations, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California

CA AB 1365 - Robert Garcia
CalAccount Program.
05/23/2025 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 1365, as amended, Garcia. CalAccount Program. Existing law requires the Treasurer to convene the CalAccount Blue Ribbon Commission and requires the commission, on or before July 1, 2024, to conduct a market analysis to determine if it is feasible to implement a CalAccount Program, which, if implemented, would have certain characteristics, including offering Californians access to a voluntary, zero-fee, zero-penalty, federally insured transaction account known as a CalAccount, and related payment services at no cost to accountholders.This bill would repeal those provisions and would establish the CalAccount Program, which would provide every Californian with access to a voluntary, zero-fee, zero-penalty, federally insured transaction account and related payment services at no cost to accountholders. The bill would require the CalAccount Commission, which would continue in existence the former CalAccount Blue Ribbon Commission, to administer the program. The bill would require the commission to, among other things, enter into contracts with financial institutions to ensure access to ATM networkers and locations where accountholders can deposit funds. The bill would require the commission to solicit proposals for and select a financial services network administrator and establish their duties and functions, and establish a mechanism by which an accountholder may deposit funds into or withdraw funds from a CalAccount account. The bill would allow for participation in the program by providers of in-home supportive services, subject to specified requirements. The bill would establish the CalAccount Fund in the State Treasury, and would make moneys in the fund available upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would require all employers and hiring entities to maintain a payroll direct deposit arrangement that enables voluntary worker participation in the program, and would require all employers and hiring entities to take specified actions in that regard, including coordinating their payroll process with the CalAccount Program to facilitate payment by direct deposit. The bill would require the commission to submit an annual report by August 1 to the Governor and the Legislature, among other entities, that contains specified information relating to the CalAccount Program. The bill would require the commission to market the program to the residents of the state if funds are available. The bill would require the Labor Commissioner to investigate complaints of employers or hiring entities failing to allow workers to participate in the CalAccount Program, and would impose a civil penalty for a violation. The bill would require those civil penalties to be deposited into the CalAccount Fund. The bill would require the commissioner to reimburse the Labor Commissioner for the costs of enforcement.Existing law provides that if the state or a county makes or provides for a direct payment to a provider chosen by a recipient or to the recipient for the purchase of in-home supportive services, the department is required to perform or ensure the performance of all rights, duties, and obligations of the recipient related to those services as required for, among other things, unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, and retirement savings accounts.This bill would also require the department under those circumstances to ensure the performance of all rights, duties, and obligations of the recipients related to those services required for payroll direct deposit arrangements offered pursuant to the CalAccount Program.Existing law regulates the hiring of real property and imposes various requirements on landlords relating to the leasing of residential real property. Existing law requires a landlord or their agent to allow a tenant to pay rent and a security deposit by at least one form of payment that is neither cash nor an electronic funds transfer.This bill would also require a landlord to allow a tenant to pay rent and a security de

CA AB 1376 - Mia Bonta
Wards: probation.
05/28/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
AB 1376, as amended, Bonta. Wards: probation. Existing law subjects a minor between 12 and 17 years of age, inclusive, who violates any federal, state, or local law or ordinance, who persistently or habitually refuses to obey the reasonable and proper orders or directions of the minor’s parents, guardian, or custodian, or who is beyond the control of that person, who violates an ordinance establishing a curfew or is truant, and a minor under 12 years of age who is alleged to have committed specified serious offenses, to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge the minor to be a ward of the court. When a minor is adjudged to be a ward of the court, as previously described, and is placed under the supervision of the probation officer or committed to the care, custody, and control of the probation officer, existing law authorizes the court to make any and all reasonable orders for the conduct of the ward, and to impose and require any and all reasonable conditions that it may determine fitting and proper to the end that justice may be done and the reformation and rehabilitation of the ward enhanced.This bill would limit to 9 months the period of time a ward may remain on probation, except that a court may extend the probation period for a period not to exceed increments of 6 months after a noticed hearing and upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence that it is in the ward’s best interest. The bill would require the probation agency to submit a report to the court detailing the basis for any request to extend probation at the noticed hearing. The bill would require the court to provide the ward and the prosecuting attorney with the opportunity to present relevant evidence, as specified. The bill would require the court to hold a noticed hearing for the ward not less frequently than every 6 months for the remainder of the wardship period if the court extends probation. The bill would additionally require, among other things, that conditions of probation for a ward be individually tailored, developmentally appropriate, and reasonable.Existing law authorizes the court, as part of the order adjudging the minor to be a ward of the court, to order the ward to pay restitution, to pay a fine up to $250 for deposit in the county treasury if the court finds the minor has the financial ability to pay, or to participate in an uncompensated work program.This bill would remove the authority of the court to order the minor to pay the $250 fine or participate in an uncompensated work program in lieu of restitution.Existing law requires the court, for specified offenses, to order certain actions as a condition of a minor’s probation, including attending counseling, repairing property, repaying the cost of apprehension to the city or county, and performing community service. This bill would, in specified instances, no longer require the court to order certain actions as a condition of a minor’s probation.

CA AB 1396 - Alexandra M. Macedo
Crimes: sexual assault.
05/23/2025 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 1396, as amended, Macedo. Crimes: sexual assault. Existing law provides that, except as specified, a person who assaults another with the intent to commit, among other things, mayhem, rape, sodomy, or oral copulation, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for 2, 4, or 6 years. Existing law provides that a person who commits those offenses against a person under 18 years of age shall be punished by imprisonment for 5, 7, or 9 years.This bill would additionally punish assault with the intent to commit those specified offenses when committed against a dependent person, as defined, by a caretaker or other adult who has care or custody of the dependent person, if the caretaker or other adult knows or should reasonably know that the victim is a dependent person, with imprisonment for 5, 7, or 9 years. By expanding the definition of a crime, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

CA AB 1482 - Leticia Castillo
Bowie’s Law: animals: adoption, shelter overcrowding, and breeding.
05/23/2025 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 1482, as amended, Castillo. Bowie’s Law: animals: adoption, shelter overcrowding, and breeding. (1) Existing law declares that it is the policy of the state that no adoptable animal should be euthanized if it can be adopted into a suitable home. Existing law also declares that it is the policy of the state that no treatable animal should be euthanized.This bill, Bowie’s Law, would require an animal shelter, as defined, to provide in a conspicuous location on its internet website or a third-party internet website a list of all animals that are available for adoption or that are being held pursuant to specified laws, except as provided. The bill would also require the Department of Food and Agriculture to conduct a study on certain topics, including, among other topics, the overcrowding of California’s animal shelters, and, on or before January 1, 2028, to submit a report on that study to the Legislature, as provided. The bill would repeal these study and reporting requirements on January 1, 2032.To the extent that this bill would impose a new program or higher level of service on local public animal control agencies or shelters, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(2) The existing Polanco-Lockyer Pet Breeder Warranty Act requires every breeder of dogs to meet certain requirements relating to housing and maintaining dogs and to disclose specified information. The act defines “dog breeder” and “breeder” to mean a person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other association that has sold, transferred, or given away all or part of 3 or more litters or 20 or more dogs during the preceding 12 months that were bred and reared on the premises of the person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other association.This bill would change that definition to a person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other association that has sold, transferred, or given away all or part of 2 or more litters or 10 or more dogs during the preceding 12 months, as specified. The bill would additionally require a breeder, before a dog reaches eight weeks of age, to have a microchip device implanted in the dog that identifies the breeder, except as provided. The bill would require the breeder, upon the sale or transfer of the dog, to register the identity of the new owner with the microchip registry company as the primary owner on the microchip device and would require the breeder to provide certain information to the new owner regarding the microchip. The bill would prohibit a dog from being sold or otherwise transferred by a breeder, whether for compensation or otherwise, until it has been immunized against common diseases, in accordance with veterinary recommendations for the age and breed of the dog, and has a documented health check from a California-licensed veterinarian.(3) 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.

CA AB 220 - Corey A. Jackson
Medi-Cal: subacute care services.
02/03/2025 - Referred to Com. on Health.
AB 220, as introduced, Jackson. Medi-Cal: subacute care services. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law requires the department to establish a subacute care program in health facilities, as specified, to be available to patients in health facilities who meet subacute care criteria. Existing law requires that medical necessity for pediatric subacute care be substantiated by specified conditions. Existing regulations require a treatment authorization request for each admission to a subacute unit. This bill would require a health facility that provides pediatric subacute or adult subacute care services pursuant to these provisions to submit with a treatment authorization request, including an electronic treatment authorization request, a specified form when requesting authorization for subacute care services. The bill would prohibit a Medi-Cal managed care plan from developing or using its own criteria to substantiate medical necessity for pediatric subacute or adult subacute care services with a condition or standard not enumerated in those forms. The bill would require the department to develop and implement procedures, and authorize the department to impose sanctions, to ensure that a Medi-Cal managed care plan complies with these provisions.

CA AB 283 - Esmeralda Soria
In-Home Supportive Services Employer-Employee Relations Act.
03/19/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 19). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
AB 283, as introduced, Haney. In-Home Supportive Services Employer-Employee Relations Act. (1) Existing law establishes the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, which is administered by the State Department of Social Services, counties, and other entities, under which qualified aged, blind, or disabled persons are provided with supportive services in order to permit them to remain in their own homes. Existing law authorizes a county board of supervisors to elect to contract with a nonprofit consortium to provide for the delivery of in-home supportive services or to establish, by ordinance, a public authority to provide for the delivery of those services, in accordance with certain procedures. Existing law deems a public authority created under these provisions to be the employer of in-home supportive services personnel under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, which governs labor relations between local public employers and employees. Existing law also deems a nonprofit consortium contracting with a county to be the employer of in-home supportive services personnel for purposes of collective bargaining over wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. Existing law grants recipients of in-home supportive services the right to hire, fire, and supervise the work of any in-home supportive services personnel providing services for them.Existing law prohibits the state and specified local public employers from deterring or discouraging public employees from becoming or remaining members of an employee organization. Existing law also requires specified public employers to provide exclusive employee representatives access to new employee orientations. Existing law generally grants the Public Employment Relations Board jurisdiction over violations of these provisions. Existing law defines “public employers” who are subject to these provisions as including, among others, public agencies, cities, counties, and districts.This bill would expand the definition of “public employer,” for purposes of those provisions, to include an employer who is subject to the In-Home Supportive Services Employer-Employee Relations Act, which the bill would create. The bill would establish a method for resolving disputes regarding wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment between the state and recognized employee organizations representing individual providers. The bill would provide for the right of employees, also known as individual providers under the act, to form, join, and participate in activities of employee organizations for the purposes of representation on all matters within the scope of employee organizations. The bill would define “employee” or “individual provider” for these purposes to mean a person authorized to provide in-home supportive services pursuant to the individual provider mode or waiver personal care services, as prescribed.This bill would, for purposes of collective bargaining, deem the state to be the employer of record of individual providers in each county. The bill would grant the in-home supportive services recipient with the right to hire, fire, and supervise the work of the individual providers providing services to them. Among other things, the bill would specify that individual providers employed by a predecessor agency before January 1, 2026, shall retain employee status and not be required by the state to requalify to receive payment for providing in-home supportive services.Among other things, for purposes of collective bargaining, this bill would provide that existing bargaining units consisting of individual providers in a single county that are represented by the same recognized employee organization shall be deemed merged into the largest possible multicounty bargaining units represented by that employee organization. In counties where no recognized employee organization exists as of January 1, 2026, the bill would specify that a bargaining unit consisting of all employees in that

CA AB 450 - Juan Carrillo
Public social services: support for aging immigrant and undocumented older adults.
03/17/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on Aging & L.T.C.
AB 450, as amended, Carrillo. Public social services: support for aging immigrant and undocumented older adults. Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the California Department of Aging and states that the mission of the department is to provide leadership to the area agencies on aging in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments.This bill would, subject to an appropriation for these purposes, require the department to oversee a stakeholder process to support findings and recommendations on how to best support undocumented older adults, as defined, as they age in California. The bill would require the department to establish a panel, as specified, and would require the panel to invite stakeholder and subject matter experts to participate. The bill would require the panel to consider specified issues, including affordability and access to social services and housing. The bill would require the first meeting to occur no later than 90 days after funding for the panel becomes available and authorizes the department to contract with academic research entities to supplement the process.The bill would require the panel to issue findings and recommendations to the department by July 1, 2028, on the most effective ways to implement policies and programs to support aging immigrant and undocumented older adults. The bill would require the department to submit a report containing the panel’s findings to the Legislature on or before December 1, 2028. The bill would also require the department to provide any policy recommendations the panel makes to the California Health and Human Services Agency to include in their Master Plan for Aging.The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2029. The bill makes relating findings and declarations.Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to establish and supervise a county- or county consortia-administered program to provide cash assistance to aged, blind, and disabled legal immigrants who are not citizens and who successfully complete an application process, except as specified. Existing law requires the department to conduct disability evaluations for the program. Existing law requires the department to contract with the federal government to administer the program, if the federal government agrees to do so.This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.

CA AB 474 - Christopher M. Ward
Housing discrimination: nonprofit home-sharing program: income tax exclusion: eligibility for public social services.
04/09/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on Rev. & Tax. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on Rev. & Tax.
AB 474, as amended, Ward. Housing discrimination: nonprofit home-sharing program: income tax exclusion: eligibility for public social services. (1)Existing law allows a lodger, as defined, occupying a room on a periodic basis within a dwelling unit occupied by the owner or the owner of the dwelling unit to terminate the hiring of the room by giving written notice to the other party at least as long before the expiration of the term of hiring as the term itself, as specified. Upon expiration of the notice period, the right of the lodger to remain in the dwelling unit or any part of the dwelling unit is terminated and the lodger may be removed from the premises.This bill would repeal these provisions.(2)(1) Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, prohibits housing discrimination based on specified characteristics. Existing law defines discrimination to include refusal to sell, rent, or lease housing accommodations. Under existing law, discrimination does not include refusal to rent or lease a portion of an owner-occupied single-family house to a person as a roomer or boarder living within the household if no more than one person is to live within the household, as specified.This bill would specify that discrimination does not include refusal to rent or lease to a person as a tenant, instead of a roomer or a boarder, and would increase the number persons living in the household under these provisions to 2.(3)(2) The Personal Income Tax Law, in modified conformity with federal law, generally defines “gross income” as income from whatever source derived, except as specifically excluded, and provides various exclusions from gross income for purposes of computing tax liability. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2031, the bill would additionally exclude from gross income any payment received by a lower income household from a tenant while participating as a landlord in a nonprofit home-sharing program. The bill would define various terms for these purposes.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.(4)(3) Existing law establishes various public social services programs that are 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.This bill would exempt income received through renting bedrooms or units as a landlord in a nonprofit home-sharing program, as defined, from consideration as income or assets for the purposes of determining eligibility and benefit amounts for public social services, as specified. By expanding the scope of eligibility for public social services, thereby increasing duties on counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(5)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.(6)(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

CA AB 48 -
Education finance: postsecondary education facilities: College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026.
12/03/2024 - From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.
AB 48, as introduced, Alvarez. Education finance: postsecondary education facilities: College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026. (1) The California Constitution prohibits the Legislature from creating a debt or liability that singly or in the aggregate with any previous debts or liabilities exceeds the sum of $300,000, except by an act that (A) authorizes the debt for a single object or work specified in the act, (B) has been passed by a 2/3 vote of all the Members elected to each house of the Legislature, (C) has been submitted to the people at a statewide general or primary election, and (D) has received a majority of all the votes cast for and against it at that election.This bill would set forth the College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026 as a state general obligation bond act that would provide $____ to construct and modernize education facilities, as specified. This bond act would become operative only if approved by the voters at the ____, statewide primary election. The bill would also provide for the submission of the bond act to the voters at that election.(2) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to impose, as specified, an alternative fee, charge, dedication, or requirement on developers to fund school facilities, until the date new construction bond proceeds authorized by the Preschool-College Public Education Bond Act of 2016 are expended, or December 31, 2020, whichever is earlier.This bill would remove this authority beginning the earlier of an unspecified date or the date new construction bond proceeds authorized by the 2016 bond act are expended or apportioned, until an unspecified date. The bill would also exempt multifamily housing developments that are located no further than 1/2 mile from a major transit stop, and reduce by 20% from specified amounts for any other multifamily housing developments, as specified, from any fee, charge, dedication, or other requirement for the construction or reconstruction of school facilities, as provided.(3) This bill, except for the provision making the provisions of the bill severable, would become effective upon the adoption of the College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026 by the voters at the ____, statewide primary election.

CA AB 495 - Celeste Rodriguez
Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025.
03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
AB 495, as amended, Celeste Rodriguez. Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025. (1) Under existing law, a caregiver who is 18 years of age or older and signs a caregiver’s authorization affidavit under penalty of perjury for a minor who lives in their home is authorized to enroll the minor in school and consent to school-related medical care on behalf of the minor. Under existing law, a caregiver who is 18 years of age or older, signs the caregiver’s authorization affidavit under penalty of perjury, and who is a certain type of relative of the minor who lives in their home, has the same rights to authorize medical care and dental care for the minor that are given to guardians, as specified. Under existing law, a person who acts in good faith reliance on a completed caregiver’s authorization affidavit to provide medical or dental care, without actual knowledge of facts contrary to those stated on the affidavit, is not subject to criminal or civil liability or professional disciplinary action for that reliance, but is not relieved from liability for violations of other provisions of law. Existing law requires a caregiver to notify any school, health care provider, or health care service plan that has been given the affidavit if the minor stops living with the caregiver. Under existing law, a caregiver’s authorization affidavit is invalid after the school, health care provider, or health care service plan receives notice that the minor is no longer living with the caregiver.This bill, the Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025, would instead provide that a caregiver’s authorization affidavit is valid until the parent, legal guardian, person having legal custody, or caregiver rescinds the affidavit. The bill would require that, in any case, the caregiver’s authorization affidavit would not be valid for more than one year after the date on which it was executed.The bill would also expand the type of person who is authorized to execute a caregiver’s authorization affidavit to include a “nonrelative extended family member,” as defined, and grant them the same rights to authorize school-related medical care, as defined, for the minor that are given to guardians, as specified. By expanding who is authorized to sign a caregiver’s authorization affidavit for these purposes under penalty of perjury, this bill would expand the crime of perjury, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program.This bill would amend the statutory form for a caregiver’s authorization affidavit.(2) Existing law generally provides for the establishment and administration of guardianships. Existing law authorizes a court to appoint joint guardians of a person, an estate, or a person and an estate. Existing law requires a nomination of a guardian to become effective when made, and remain effective, unless stated otherwise in writing, as specified.This bill would specifically authorize a court, if a custodial parent is subject to an immigration administrative action where the parent may be temporarily unavailable to care for their child, in its discretion, to appoint the custodial parent and a person nominated by the custodial parent as joint guardians of the person of the minor, as specified. The bill would make all records, petitions, orders, and documents related to these proceedings to be confidential, as specified, and would prohibit this information from being disclosed to federal immigration authorities or any entity engaged in immigration enforcement without a court order, as specified. The bill would also make these proceedings closed to the public, except as specified.The bill would provide that the circumstances of a person making the nomination of a guardian being subject to an order of deportation, physical absence from the United States due to deportation, or prolonged detention by immigration authorities is a basis for a delayed effectiveness of a guardianship and that such circumstances would not be a basis for subsequent legal incapacity for the nominat

CA AB 561 - Sharon Quirk-Silva
Restraining orders.
03/26/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
AB 561, as amended, Quirk-Silva. Restraining orders. (1) Existing law authorizes a person who has suffered harassment, as defined, to seek a temporary restraining order and an order prohibiting harassment. Existing law prohibits a filing fee for, and a fee for the service of process by a sheriff or marshal of, a protective or restraining order if the order is based upon stalking, unlawful violence, or a credible threat of violence. This bill would authorize a petitioner, at no cost, to file a petition for a protective or restraining order electronically and remotely appear at the hearing if the order is based upon stalking, unlawful violence, or a credible threat of violence.(2) Existing law requires a court or court facility that receives petitions for domestic violence restraining orders to permit the petitions and related filings to be submitted electronically, as specified. Existing law requires the superior court of each county to develop local rules and instructions for remote appearances and requires them to be posted on the court’s internet website.This bill would require a court or court facility that receives petitions for domestic violence restraining orders to accept electronic filings at no charge to the petitioner, and would prohibit a superior court from charging a fee for a party, support person, or witness to appear remotely at a domestic violence restraining order hearing. (2)(3) Existing law authorizes an elder or dependent adult who has suffered abuse to seek protective orders.This bill would require a court or court facility that receives petitions for protective orders for elder or dependent adults to permit those petitions and any filings related to those petitions to be submitted electronically, as specified. The bill would authorize a party, representative of the county adult protective services agency, or witness to appear remotely at the hearing on a petition for a protective order for an elder or dependent, adult, and prohibit the superior court from charging a fee for the remote appearance. The bill would require the superior court of each county to develop, and post on its internet website, local rules and instructions regarding remote appearances for protective orders for elder or dependent adults. The bill would require information regarding electronic filing and access to the court’s self-help center to be prominently displayed on each superior court’s home page, and require each self-help center to maintain and make available information related to elder abuse restraining orders. The bill would authorize the Judicial Council to adopt or amend rules and forms to implement these provisions.Existing law, upon the filing of a petition for protective orders for an elder or dependent adult, requires the respondent to be personally served with a copy of the petition, notice of the hearing or order to show cause, temporary restraining order, if any, and any declarations in support of the petition, at least five days before the hearing.This bill would authorize a court to permit an alternative method of service, as specified, if at the time of a hearing with respect to an order issued based on an ex parte temporary protective order, the court determines that, after diligent effort, the petitioner has been unable to accomplish personal service, and that there is reason to believe that the restrained party is evading service or cannot be located.

CA AB 563 - Corey A. Jackson
Childcare: strategic planning councils.
04/09/2025 - From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 8).
AB 563, as introduced, Jackson. Childcare: strategic planning councils. Existing law requires the county board of supervisors and the county superintendent of schools to select members for the local childcare and development planning council, known as a local planning council, for that county. Existing law provides requirements for the makeup of a local planning council. Existing law requires a local planning council, by May 30 of each year, and upon approval by the county board of supervisors and the county superintendent of schools, to submit to the State Department of Education the local priorities it has identified that reflect all childcare needs in the county, and requires the local planning council, in order to identify those local priorities, to do certain things, including, among others, encourage public input in the development of the priorities, collaborate with specified entities to foster partnerships designed to meet local childcare needs, and conduct an assessment of childcare needs in the county at least once every 5 years. Existing law defines “childcare” for purposes of these provisions to mean all licensed childcare and development services and license-exempt childcare for all children up to and including 12 years of age, as provided.This bill would rename “local planning council” to “strategic planning council” and would revise the definition of “childcare” to include early childhood education services. The bill would revise the makeup requirements for strategic planning councils, as provided. The bill would authorize a county board of supervisors and a county superintendent of schools to merge the strategic planning council with the Quality Rating and Improvement System local consortia or with another strategic planning council in a contiguous county under certain conditions, as provided. The bill would repeal all of the requirements imposed on strategic planning councils in order for the strategic planning council to identify local priorities, except those listed above, as provided. The bill would require the needs assessment to be due by May 30 of each year in which it is due, and would require a strategic planning council, beginning in 2027, to use the needs assessment template developed by the department in collaboration with the strategic planning councils. The bill would require specified state and local entities to provide to the department the information necessary for a strategic planning council to complete the needs assessment, and would require the department to share data and information necessary to complete the needs assessment with strategic planning councils and counties implementing individualized county childcare subsidy plans.The bill would require a strategic planning council, on or before March 30, 2027, and every 3 years thereafter, to develop and submit to the county board of supervisors and the county board of education a strategic plan and investment priorities, and would require the strategic plan to address facility needs, workforce needs, family access, and quality and transition planning, as provided. The bill would require the county board of supervisors and the county board of education to hold public hearings on the proposed strategic plan and investment priorities at a regularly scheduled meeting. The bill would require a strategic planning council, at least twice each year, to convene a forum for stakeholders to provide input to and receive updates from the Quality Rating and Improvement System local consortium. The bill would require a strategic planning council to work with the county office of education, special education local plan areas, and the school districts and regional centers in the county to facilitate the transition of children with exceptional needs into the K–12 system. By imposing new duties on strategic planning councils and specified local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would provide that the operation of these

CA AB 617 - Tina McKinnor
Developmental services: personal care or assistance and in-home respite services.
04/10/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
AB 617, as amended, McKinnor. Developmental services: personal care or assistance and in-home respite services. Existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Lanterman Act), requires the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities through various programs, including personal care or personal assistance services and in-home respite services. Existing law requires the Director of Developmental Services to develop program standards for in-home respite services purchased by regional centers from agencies vendored to provide these services.Existing law establishes the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act, which provides for the licensure and regulation of home care organizations by the State Department of Social Services, and for the registration of home care aides who provide home care services, as defined, on the home care aide registry. Existing law exempts from these provisions an organization vendored or contracted through a regional center or the State Department of Developmental Services pursuant to the Lanterman Act to provide services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities, as specified. A violation of the act is a misdemeanor.This bill would require, prior to providing personal care or personal assistance services or in-home respite services to a consumer receiving services under the Lanterman Act, an organization vendored or contracted through a regional center or the department to provide personal care or personal assistance services or in-home respite services to a consumer receiving services under the Lanterman Act to be licensed as a home care organization, and an individual who is employed by such an organization to be listed on the home care aide registry, as specified. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.Existing law establishes an Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) program, administered by the California Department of Aging, to provide information to consumers and their families on available long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs and to assist older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in accessing LTSS programs at the local level. Existing law requires the California Department of Aging to administer the ADRC Infrastructure Grants Program for the purpose of implementing a No Wrong Door System, a system that enables consumers to access all LTSS through one agency, organization, coordinated network, or portal. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that the No Wrong Door System serve seniors and individuals with disabilities by, among other things, providing consumers and their caregivers access to information and services. Existing law also establishes the Aging and Disability Resource Connection Advisory Committee, within the California Department of Aging, as the primary adviser in the implementation of the No Wrong Door System, and authorizes the committee to use the staff of the California Department of Aging to accomplish its purposes.This bill would instead require the committee to use the staff of the California Department of Aging. The bill would also instead require the No Wrong Door System to serve seniors and individuals with disabilities, as specified, and would require, no later than December 31, 2027, the system to also establish a statewide respite referral registry to connect consumers enrolled in the Medi-Cal program with culturally competent, prescreened respite providers, and create and implement a consumer-directed employer program to

CA AB 627 - Catherine Stefani
California Health Facilities Financing Authority Act.
04/08/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
AB 627, as amended, Stefani. California Health Facilities Financing Authority Act. The California Health Facilities Financing Authority Act authorizes the California Health Facilities Financing Authority to, among other things, make loans from the continuously appropriated California Health Facilities Financing Authority Fund to participating health institutions for financing or refinancing the acquisition, construction, or remodeling of health facilities. Under existing law, participating health institutions are specified entities authorized by state law to provide or operate a health facility and undertake the financing or refinancing of the construction or acquisition of a project or of working capital, as defined. Existing law defines “working capital” as moneys to be used by, or on behalf of, a participating health institution for specified expenses in connection with the ownership or operation of a health facility, including interest not to exceed 2 years on any loan for working capital made pursuant to these provisions. Existing law requires a participating health institution that is a private nonprofit corporation or association and that borrows money to finance working capital to repay and discharge the loan within 24 months of the loan date.This bill would change the definition of “working capital” to remove the 2-year cap on interest on any loan for working capital. The bill would delete the provision requiring a participating health institution that is a private nonprofit corporation or association to repay and discharge a loan for working capital within 24 months. Existing law requires the authority to establish financial eligibility standards by studying the creditworthiness and earning capacity of each project, together with the amount of pledged revenues, debt service coverage, and basic security.The bill would also require the authority to establish financial eligibility standards for working capital loans by studying the creditworthiness of a participating health institution, along with the amount of pledged venues, debt service coverage, and basic security. The bill would prohibit a participating health institution that is determined to be in financial distress from being deemed financially eligible.By expanding the purpose for which the above-described continuously appropriated fund may be used, the bill would make an appropriation from that fund. The bill would make legislative findings relating to the purpose of the bill.

CA AB 890 - Laurie Davies
Nonminor dependents: county of residence.
05/07/2025 - Referred to Coms. on HUMAN S., JUD. and APPR.
AB 890, as amended, Lee. Nonminor dependents: county of residence. Existing law specifies the rules to be used when determining the residence of a child or a nonminor dependent for purposes of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and under certain circumstances, the county in which the child or nonminor dependent is living is deemed the county of residence if the child or nonminor dependent has had a physical presence in the county for one year, and in the case of a nonminor dependent, they have expressed their intent to remain in that county. Existing law authorizes the residence of a nonminor dependent to be changed to another county where they are living if the court finds that the nonminor dependent has had a continuous physical presence in the new county for one year as a nonminor dependent and the nonminor dependent expressed intent to remain in that county. Existing law requires the juvenile court of the county where that nonminor dependent then resides to take jurisdiction of the case upon the receipt and filing of the finding of the facts and an order transferring the case.This bill would decrease that time period of physical presence in the county in order to establish the county of residence to 6 months, and would additionally authorize the residence of a nonminor dependent to be changed to another county where they are living if the nonminor dependent requests the transfer of jurisdiction to the new county and demonstrates an intent to remain in the new county by establishing a significant connection to the new county, as specified. The bill would require a court issuing an order to transfer the case pursuant to this new authority to issue the order within 60 calendar days of the nonminor dependent’s request, and deems the new county to have jurisdiction over the nonminor dependent within 20 calendar days of an issuance of an order to transfer.Existing law specifies conditions for a review hearing that is the last hearing held before a child attains 18 years of age or that is held in the 6-month period before the child attains 18 years of age, and for subsequent review hearings for the nonminor dependent, including that the hearings be conducted in a manner that respects the nonminor’s status as a legal adult and is focused on the goals and services described in the youth’s transitional independent living case plans.This bill would require during those and other certain review hearings that the court consider whether the nonminor dependent requests the transfer of jurisdiction to a new county.Existing federal law establishes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to convene a workgroup, with a certain composition, to consider changes to semiannual reporting with the goal of reducing the reporting burden on recipients and reducing the workload for county eligibility staff. Existing law required that the consensus recommendations of the workgroup be submitted to the Legislature not later than October 1, 2021, as specified.This bill would require the department to convene a workgroup, as described above, for purposes of preparing annual reports that would serve as updates to the previous recommendations. The bill would require that the annual reports be submitted to the Legislature, with the first one submitted by January 1, 2027.

CA AB 896 - Robert A. Rivas
Foster care: placement transition planning.
05/08/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
AB 896, as amended, Elhawary. Foster care: placement transition planning. Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings. Existing law requires, prior to making a change in the placement of a dependent child, a social worker or placing agency to develop and implement a placement preservation strategy to preserve the dependent child’s placement.This bill would, among other things, require each county child welfare agency to adopt a placement transition planning policy for supporting foster children who are transitioning between placement settings and who are transitioning from foster care to reunification, and requires that the policy ensures that foster children are provided the opportunity to provide input on their placement transition and provides guidance to social workers for obtaining input and sharing information in placement transition planning. The bill would require, if a child’s placement cannot be preserved, the social worker to ensure that there is appropriate placement transition planning, consistent with the county’s adopted policy. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to issue guidance to county child welfare agencies to describe best practices and strategies for successful placement transition planning, and would require county child welfare agencies to submit to the department its placement transition planning policy, as specified. By imposing new duties on counties, the 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.Existing law requires the state, through the State Department of Social Services and county welfare departments, to establish and support a public system of statewide child welfare services to be developed as rapidly as possible and to be available in each county of the state. Existing law requires all counties to establish and maintain specialized organizational entities within the county welfare department, having sole responsibility for the operation of the child welfare services program.This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.

CA AB 898 - Isaac Bryan
The Family Urgent Response System.
05/08/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
AB 898, as introduced, Bryan. The Family Urgent Response System. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to establish a statewide hotline as the entry point for the Family Urgent Response System, as defined, to respond to calls from caregivers or current or former foster children or youth during moments of instability, as specified. Existing law requires the hotline to include, among other things, referrals to a county-based mobile response system, as specified, for further support and in-person response. Existing law requires the department to collect deidentified, aggregated data, including the number of current and former foster children or youth served through the statewide hotline and the disposition of each call, and requires the department to publish a report on its internet website, as specified.This bill would instead specify that the statewide hotline shall be the primary entry point for the Family Urgent Response System.Existing law also requires county child welfare, probation, and behavioral health agencies, in each county or region of counties, as specified, to establish a joint county-based mobile response system that includes a mobile response and stabilization team for the purpose of providing supportive services to, among other things, address situations of instability, preserve the relationship of the caregiver and the child or youth, and stabilize the situation. Existing law requires county child welfare, probation, and behavioral health agencies, in consultation with other relevant specified entities, to submit a single coordinated plan to the department describing how the county-based mobile response system meets the requirements described above.This bill would require the plan to be revisited on a biennial basis. The bill would also authorize a county-based mobile response system that is not otherwise responding to calls placed through the statewide hotline to utilize mobile response team staff based on local needs, including by providing ongoing support to a child, youth, or caregiver who has received mobile response services, The bill would also require the county-based mobile response system to prioritize calls placed through the statewide hotline for urgent responses and maintain sufficient staffing to ensure county-based mobile response teams maintain compliance. By increasing the duties of county agencies, 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.

CA AB 940 - Timothy S. Grayson
Quantum Innovation Zones.
05/28/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
AB 940, as amended, Wicks. Quantum Innovation Zones. Existing law establishes procedures for the formation of infrastructure financing districts, enhanced infrastructure financing districts, infrastructure and revitalization financing districts, and community revitalization and investment authorities, as specified, to undertake various economic development projects, including financing public facilities and infrastructure, affordable housing, and economic revitalization.This bill would authorize the establishment of a Quantum Innovation Zone by two or more cities and counties upon the adoption of a resolution by the legislative body of each city and county that states the intent of the city or county to participate in the Quantum Innovation Zone. The bill would require a Quantum Innovation Zone to be governed by a board of directors with a specified membership. The bill would task a Quantum Innovation Zone with various duties, including, among other things, identification of projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and improve the economic vitality of the Quantum Innovation Zone in a coordinated effort to support the development of the quantum computing economy.The bill would require a Quantum Innovation Zone to create and maintain an internet website that is managed and updated by an entity designated by the board of directors, would require the board of directors to appoint a steering committee to produce a report each year gauging the progress of the zone, and would require the report to be posted on the zone’s internet website, as specified.Existing law requires an operator of an internet website, online service, online application, or mobile application (website) directed to minors or an operator of a website that has actual knowledge that a minor is using its website to take certain actions, including permitting a minor who is a registered user of the operator’s website to remove or, if the operator prefers, to request and obtain removal of, content or information posted on the operator’s website by the user.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.

CA AB 980 - Joaquin Arambula
Health care: medically necessary treatment.
04/22/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
AB 980, as amended, Arambula. Health care: medically necessary treatment. Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to provide coverage for medically necessary treatment of mental health and substance use disorders under the same terms and conditions applied to other medical conditions, as specified. Existing law generally authorizes a health care service plan or health insurer to use utilization review to approve, modify, delay, or deny requests for health care services based on medical necessity.This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, to provide coverage for medically necessary treatment of physical conditions and diseases under the same terms and conditions applied to other medical conditions, as specified. The bill would require the delivery of medically necessary services out of network if those services are not available within geographic and timely access standards. The bill would require a plan or insurer to apply specified clinical criteria and guidelines in conducting utilization review of the covered health care services and benefits for physical conditions and diseases. The bill would authorize the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care or the Insurance Commissioner, as applicable, to assess administrative or civil penalties, as specified, for violation of the requirements relating to utilization review. Because a willful violation of these requirements relative to health care service plans would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.Under existing law, a health care service plan or managed care entity has a duty of ordinary care to arrange for the provision of medically necessary health care services to its subscribers or enrollees and is liable for all harm legally caused by its failure to exercise that ordinary care when the failure resulted in the denial, delay, or modification of the health care service recommended for, or furnished to, a subscriber or enrollee and the subscriber or enrollee suffers substantial harm, as defined.This bill would define “medically necessary health care service” for purposes of the above-described provision to mean legally prescribed medical care that is reasonable and comports with the medical community standard.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.

CA SB 16 - Catherine S. Blakespear
Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program: housing element: unsheltered and chronic homelessness: assessment and financing plan.
05/23/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 16, as amended, Blakespear. Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program: housing element: unsheltered and chronic homelessness: assessment and financing plan. (1) The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use development that includes, among other things, a housing element. Existing law requires the housing element to consist of an identification and analysis of existing and projected housing needs and a statement of goals, policies, quantified objectives, financial resources, and scheduled programs for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing. Existing law requires the housing element to include, among other things, an assessment of housing needs and an inventory of resources and constraints that are relevant to meeting these needs. Existing law establishes the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program (HHAP) for the purpose of providing jurisdictions with grant funds to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address their immediate homelessness challenges, as specified.For a local government that does not receive funding pursuant to HHAP, this bill would require the assessment to include, among other things, the most up-to-date data on the number of individuals who are unhoused and a description of key actions that will be taken to reduce the number of individuals who are unhoused based on the data. By imposing additional duties on local governments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(2)Existing law establishes the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program (HHAP) for the purpose of providing jurisdictions with grant funds to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address their immediate homelessness challenges, as specified. Existing law provides for the allocation of funding under the program among continuums of care, cities, counties, and tribes in 6 rounds, which are administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development.Upon appropriation by the Legislature, this bill would establish Round 7 of the HHAP program. To be eligible for a Round 7 base program allocation, the bill would require specified jurisdictions to apply as part of a region and be signatory to a Round 7 regionally coordinated homeless action plan that has been approved by the department. The bill would require the plan to include an inventory of existing and planned city-operated shelters, the expected cost for those shelters, and a commitment by counties to contribute 50% of the expected costs, as specified.On or before the end of the 2025–26 fiscal year, the bill would require a grantee to submit to the department an update on its regionally coordinated homeless action plan activities for department review, as specified. The bill would authorize a board of supervisors of a county to adopt a resolution determining that contributing 50% of expected costs is financially infeasible, as specified. If a county adopts the resolution, the bill would require the department to determine the contribution percentage of the county, as specified. On or before the end of the 2025–26 fiscal year, the bill would require cities to submit to the department the actual operating cost of city-operated shelters and require counties to reimburse cities for any excess contributions. The bill would authorize the department to withhold 50% of funds from a grantee until the department has approved the update.(3)Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, funds a system of county mental health plans for the provision of mental health services, as specified. Existing law authorizes the MHSA to be amended by a 23 vote of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with and further the intent of the MHSA. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to add provisions to clari

CA SB 21 - Maria Elena Durazo
Single-room occupancy units: demolition and replacement: housing assistance programs: eligibility for homeless individuals and families.
05/28/2025 - In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
SB 21, as amended, Durazo. Single-room occupancy units: demolition and replacement: housing assistance programs: eligibility for homeless individuals and families. (1) Existing law, known as the Housing Crisis Act of 2019, among other things, prohibits an affected city or an affected county, as defined, from approving a housing development project that will require the demolition of occupied or vacant protected units, as defined, or that is located on a site where protected units were demolished in the previous 5 years unless specified requirements are met. Among these requirements, existing law requires that the project replace all existing protected units and protected units demolished on or after January 1, 2020, and, if the project is a housing development project, as defined, it will include at least as many residential dwelling units as the greatest number of residential dwelling units that existed on the project site within the last 5 years.This bill, notwithstanding the above-described requirements, in the case of rehabilitation or replacement of an existing single-room occupancy building that meets prescribed criteria, would permit an affected city or an affected county to reduce the number of replacement units required if the project meets specified requirements, including, among others, that the reduction in replacement units is necessary to accommodate the conversion of single-room occupancy units, as provided, and that the converted units will be rental units with affordable rents, as specified. The bill would include specified findings declaring legislative intent with respect to these provisions.(2) Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development and requires it to administer various programs intended to promote the development of housing, including, among others, the Multifamily Housing Program, pursuant to which the department provides financial assistance in the form of deferred payment loans to pay for the eligible costs of development of specified types of housing projects. Existing law sets forth various general powers of the department in implementing these programs, including authorizing the department to enter into long-term contracts or agreements of up to 30 years for the purpose of servicing loans or grants or enforcing regulatory agreements or other security documents.This bill, for purposes of determining eligibility for a unit that received funds from the department and is for a homeless individual or family, would (A) specify that an individual is deemed homeless if they meet certain criteria and (B) prohibit an individual or family meeting these criteria from being subject to a requirement that the unit be filled through a referral from a coordinated entry system, as defined, or a similar referral system. The bill would make implementation of these provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature.

CA SB 290 - Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
CalWORKs.
05/29/2025 - In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
SB 290, as introduced, Smallwood-Cuevas. CalWORKs. Existing law generally prohibits the governing authority of a school or other institution from unconditionally admitting any person as a pupil of any public or private elementary or secondary school, childcare center, day nursery, nursery school, family daycare home, or development center, unless prior to the person’s admission to that institution they have been fully immunized against various diseases, including measles, mumps, and pertussis, subject to any specific age criteria.Existing law establishes the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families using federal, state, and county funds. Existing law also requires all applicants for or recipients of CalWORKs to ensure and provide documentation that each child in the assistance unit who is not required to be enrolled in school has received all age-appropriate immunizations, as specified, and prohibits the needs of all parents or caretaker relatives in the assistance unit from being considered in determining the grant to the assistance unit until the required documentation is provided. Existing law requires a notice of that immunization requirement to be given to an applicant or recipient at the time of application and at the next redetermination of eligibility for aid.This bill would, commencing July 1, 2026, or the date when the State Department of Social Services has made a specified determination, whichever is later, repeal the requirement under CalWORKs for children who are not required to be enrolled in school to be immunized and repeal the prohibition on considering the needs of parents or caretaker relatives in determining the grant to the assistance unit until the required documentation is provided. The bill would instead require that notice to advise applicants and recipients of the existing obligation for children admitted to a public or private elementary or secondary school, childcare center, day nursery, nursery school, family daycare home, or development center, to secure the immunizations required for that admission.Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program.This bill would provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for the purposes of implementing the bill.

CA SB 297 - Melissa Hurtado
Valley Fever Screening and Prevention Act of 2025.
05/28/2025 - In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
SB 297, as amended, Hurtado. Valley Fever Screening and Prevention Act of 2025. (1) Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health to, among other things, implement and administer various programs relating to public health. Existing law, the Valley Fever Education, Early Diagnosis, and Treatment Act, states the intent of the Legislature to raise awareness of the symptoms, tests, and treatments for valley fever among the general public, primary health care providers, and health care providers who care for persons at higher risk for getting valley fever. This bill, the Valley Fever Screening and Prevention Act of 2025, would require the department to annually analyze and identify regions with high rates of valley fever using public health surveillance data. The bill would require the department to publish its first list of high-incidence regions for valley fever on or before March 1, 2027. The bill would require the department to provide local health departments in high-incidence regions with detailed infection data and standardized screening protocols for valley fever. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2030, and every 2 years thereafter, to evaluate the effectiveness of the valley fever screening and prevention program and report its findings to the Legislature.This bill would require local health departments in high-incidence areas to conduct outreach to health care providers and the general public to raise awareness of valley fever risks, symptoms, and prevention strategies. The bill would require local health departments to annually report the number of confirmed cases of valley fever to the department, as specified. By imposing duties on local health departments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities and clinics by the State Department of Public Health. A violation of these provisions is a crime. This bill, commencing January 1, 2028, would require an adult patient receiving primary care services in a facility, clinic, unlicensed clinic, center, office, or other setting, and in a high-incidence region for valley fever, to be offered a valley fever screening test, as specified. The bill would prohibit a health care provider who fails to comply with these provisions from being subject to any disciplinary action related to their licensure or certification, or to any civil or criminal liability for that failure.By expanding the scope of a crime applicable to the health care settings described above, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy, except as specified, that is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed on or after June 1, 2027, to cover, without cost sharing, valley fever screening test, as specified, in high-incidence regions for valley fever, as identified by the State Department of Public Health. Because a violation of this requirement relative to health care service plans would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would add the aforementioned screening tests as a Medi-Cal covered benefit, subject to any necessary federal approvals and federal financial participation, as specified. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory pr

CA SB 352 - Eloise Gomez Reyes
Disaster preparedness.
05/29/2025 - In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
SB 352, as amended, Reyes. Disaster preparedness. The California Emergency Services Act generally prescribes duties with regard to various types of emergencies and disasters. The act requires the Office of Emergency Services, in consultation with specified persons and entities, including the access and functional needs community, to develop guidelines for alerting and warning the public of an emergency, as specified, and then to provide those guidelines to each city, county, and city and county. If a state of emergency is proclaimed, the act authorizes an eligible private nonprofit organization to receive state assistance for distribution of supplies and other disaster or emergency assistance activities resulting in extraordinary cost, as specified.This bill would require eligible area agencies on aging and independent living centers that provide transportation and evacuation services to individuals with access and functional needs during a state of emergency to be prioritized for the state assistance described above.Existing law establishes an Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) program, administered by the California Department of Aging, to provide information to consumers and their families on available long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs and to assist older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in accessing LTSS programs at the local level. Existing law requires ADRC programs to provide specified services, including, among other things, enhanced information and referral services and other assistance at hours that are convenient for the public.This bill would further require ADRC programs to provide disaster and emergency preparedness training specifically designed to help older adults and people with disabilities prepare for emergencies and ensure their safety before, during, and after natural disasters and other emergency events, as specified.Existing law requires a county, including a city and county to, upon the next update to its emergency plan, integrate access and functional needs into its emergency plan by addressing, at a minimum, how the access and functional needs population is being served by emergency communications, evacuations, and sheltering, as specified.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to evacuation plans for individuals that have access and functional needs.

CA SB 389 - Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Pupil health: individuals with exceptional needs: respiratory services: licensed vocational nurses.
05/29/2025 - Referred to Coms. on ED. and B. & P.
SB 389, as amended, Ochoa Bogh. Pupil health: individuals with exceptional needs: respiratory services: licensed vocational nurses. (1) Existing law, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, establishes the Respiratory Care Board of California to license and regulate the practice of respiratory care. The act authorizes, among other things, a licensed vocational nurse who is employed by a home health agency to perform respiratory tasks and services identified by the board, as specified.This bill would also authorize the performance of suctioning and other basic respiratory tasks and services by a licensed vocational nurse under the supervision of a credentialed school nurse.Existing(2) Existing law authorizes an individual with exceptional needs who requires specialized physical health care services, as defined, during the regular schoolday, to be assisted by individuals meeting specified requirements.This bill would authorize, notwithstanding any other law, a licensed vocational nurse under the supervision of a credentialed school nurse who meets the above-described requirements to perform specialized physical health care services.This bill would also authorize an individual with exceptional needs who requires specialized physical health care services to be assisted by a licensed vocational nurse under the supervision of a credentialed school nurse for the above-described basic respiratory services.

CA SB 414 - Angelique V. Ashby
School accountability: school financial and performance audits: chartering authorities: tort liability: educational enrichment activities: flex-based instruction.
05/23/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 414, as amended, Ashby. School accountability: school financial and performance audits: chartering authorities: tort liability: educational enrichment activities: flex-based instruction. (1) Existing law requires county superintendents of schools to provide for an audit of all funds under their jurisdiction and control, and requires the governing board of each local educational agency to either provide for an audit of the books and accounts of the local educational agency or make arrangements with county superintendents of schools to provide for that auditing. Existing law requires those audits to be made by a certified public accountant or a public accountant, licensed by the California Board of Accountancy, and selected by the local educational agency, as applicable, from a directory of certified public accountants and public accountants deemed by the Controller as qualified to conduct audits of local educational agencies.Under existing law, once the Controller or county superintendent of schools makes a final determination that specified audits performed by a certified public accountant or public accountant were not performed in substantial conformity with provisions of an audit guide, or that the audit reports do not conform to the provisions of an audit guide, the certified public accountant or public accountant is ineligible to conduct specified audits for 3 years. Existing law requires the Controller to notify each school district and county office of education of those certified public accountants or public accountants determined to be ineligible pursuant to these provisions.This bill would impose additional requirements on certified public accountants and public accountants relating to training specific to local educational agencies in order to, after the 2026–27 fiscal year, be added to or remain on the Controller’s directory of certified public accountants and public accountants deemed qualified to conduct audits of local educational agencies, as provided.The bill would require an auditor of a local educational agency to, among other things, ensure that all sampling of documents or records necessary for the audit are independently selected by the auditor and would require an auditor of a local educational agency that offers independent study to verify the pupil-to-teacher ratio of the school or program and include that information in the audit, as provided. The bill would extend the above-described rules related to the ineligibility of the certified public accountant or public accountant to audits of charter schools, as provided, and would additionally require the Controller to notify charter schools of those certified public accountants or public accountants determined to be ineligible to conduct audits, as provided.(2) Existing law requires the Controller, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the State Department of Education, to develop a plan to review and report on financial and compliance audits, and with representatives of other entities, to recommend the statements and other information to be included in the audit reports filed with the state by local educational agencies, and to propose the content of an audit guide. Existing law requires the audit guide to include specified content, as provided.This bill would require the Controller to consult with representatives of 2 additional specified entities and would require the audit guide to include a variety of additional content relating to audits of a local educational agency, as provided.(3) The Charter Schools Act of 1992 requires each charter school to transmit a copy of its annual, independent financial audit report for the preceding fiscal year to the county office of education, the Controller, and the State Department of Education by December 15 of each year.The act authorizes the establishment, operation, and governance of charter schools. Existing law authorizes a charter school that has an approved charter to receive funding for noncl

CA SB 433 - Aisha Wahab
Residential care facilities for the elderly: assisted living waiver rental rate protection.
05/23/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 433, as amended, Wahab. Residential care facilities for the elderly: assisted living waiver rental rate protection. Existing law, the California Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act, regulates residential care facilities for the elderly. A violation of the act is a crime.Existing law provides for the Medi–Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income persons are provided with health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law requires the department to develop a program that requires a waiver of federal law to test the efficacy of providing an assisted living benefit to beneficiaries under the Medi-Cal program. The waiver requires that eligible participants are those who require a nursing facility level of care and wish to live in a residential care setting, such as a residential care facility for the elderly. Under existing law, the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services may waive provisions of the California Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act applicable to residential care facilities participating in the program, as necessary and appropriate, including provisions that state that residential care facilities for the elderly are not subject to controls on rent. Existing law authorizes a Medi-Cal managed care plan to cover those community supports, as defined, approved by the department as cost effective and medically appropriate in a comprehensive risk contract that are in lieu of applicable Medi-Cal state plan services, including, among others, nursing facility transition or diversion to assisted living facilities, such as residential care facilities for the elderly.This bill would authorize the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services to waive compliance with the prohibition on rent controls when determined necessary and appropriate in the context of the above-described program to test the efficacy of providing an assisted living benefit.Existing law provides for the State Supplementary Program for the Aged, Blind and Disabled (SSP), which requires the State Department of Social Services to contract with the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services to make payments to SSP recipients to supplement Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments made available pursuant to the federal Social Security Act. Under existing regulation, residential facilities for the elderly are prohibited from charging recipients of SSI payments more than a specific set rate for basic services.This bill would prohibit residential care facilities for the elderly from charging a resident who receives Medi-Cal reimbursed services through the above-described assisted living waiver or nursing facility transition or diversion to assisted living facilities through community supports covered by their Medi-Cal managed care plan a rate exceeding that charged to a resident who is a recipient of SSP.This bill would prohibit a residential care facility for the elderly that is contracted to receive Medi-Cal reimbursement for services provided to a resident enrolled in Medi-Cal from charging that resident a rate exceeding the difference between their income, as defined, and the personal and incidental needs amount set by the department for recipients of SSI/SSP in nonmedical out-of-home care.By creating a new crime, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

CA SB 471 - Caroline Menjivar
Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 471, as amended, Menjivar. Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson. Existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, requires the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Existing law requires the department to establish an Office of the Self-Determination Program Ombudsperson to be headed by an individual to be known as the Self-Determination Program Ombudsperson, who is appointed by the Director of Developmental Services. Existing law requires the office to be an independent and autonomous entity within the department and prescribes specified duties and rights of the office, including recommending to the department strategies for change and improvement of the program.This bill would establish the Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson as an independent and autonomous entity within the department for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of specified services for individuals served by a regional center, as defined. The bill would set forth the duties of the Office of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson, including, among other things, disseminating information and providing training and technical assistance, and receiving and possibly investigating complaints made by or on behalf of individuals served by a regional center. The bill would establish the position of the Developmental Services Ombudsperson to head the office and specify appointment procedures and the duties of that position.Existing law provides that, except as otherwise provided by statute, all relevant evidence is admissible. The California Constitution provides for the Right to Truth-In-Evidence, which requires a2/3 vote of the Legislature to exclude any relevant evidence from any criminal proceeding, as specified.This bill would prohibit the ombudsperson or their staff from being compelled to testify or be deposed, or to disclose specified records, in a judicial or administrative proceeding. Because this prohibition would affect the admissibility of relevant evidence in criminal proceedings, the bill would require a ? vote of the Legislature.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.

CA SB 481 - Marie Alvarado-Gil
In-home supportive services.
02/26/2025 - Referred to Com. on RLS.
SB 481, as introduced, Alvarado-Gil. In-home supportive services. Existing law provides for the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, administered by the State Department of Social Services and counties, under which qualified aged, blind, and disabled persons are provided with supportive services in order to permit them to remain in their own homes.This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.

CA SB 530 -
Medi-Cal: time and distance standards.
05/29/2025 - In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
SB 530, as amended, Richardson. Medi-Cal: time and distance standards. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, under fee-for-service or managed care delivery systems. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.Existing law establishes, until January 1, 2026, certain time and distance and appointment time standards for specified Medi-Cal managed care covered services, consistent with federal regulations relating to network adequacy standards, to ensure that those services are available and accessible to enrollees of Medi-Cal managed care plans in a timely manner, as specified.This bill would extend the operation of those standards indefinitely. The bill would also require a managed care plan to ensure that each subcontractor network complies with certain appointment time standards unless already required to do so. The bill would set forth related reporting requirements with regard to subcontractor networks.Existing law permits the department to authorize a managed care plan to use clinically appropriate video synchronous interaction, as defined, as a means of demonstrating compliance with the time or distance standards.Under this bill, the use of telehealth providers to meet time or distance standards would not absolve the managed care plan of responsibility to provide a beneficiary with access, including transportation, to in-person services if the beneficiary prefers. The bill would set forth other related provisions with regard to the use of telehealth.Existing law permits the department, upon request of a managed care plan, to authorize alternative access standards for the time or distance standards if either of the following occur: (1) the requesting plan has exhausted all other reasonable options to obtain providers to meet the applicable standard; or (2) the department determines that the requesting plan has demonstrated that its delivery structure is capable of delivering the appropriate level of care and access.This bill would recast those provisions and would specify, under both circumstances, that there be an appropriate level of care and access that is consistent with professionally recognized standards of practice, with a departmental determination that the alternative access standards will not have a detrimental impact on the health of enrollees. The bill would require the department to consider the sufficiency of payment rates offered by the Medi-Cal managed care plan to the provider type or for the service type when evaluating requests for the utilization of alternative access standards. The bill would also require the department to publish, and periodically update as necessary, the criteria for evaluation and authorizing alternative access standards under the above-described provisions, as specified. The bill would make other changes to the procedure for a managed care plan to submit a previously approved alternative access standard request.Existing law requires the department to annually evaluate a managed care plan’s compliance with the time or distance and appointment time standards and to annually publish a report of its findings, as specified.This bill would require that the evaluation be performed using a direct testing method and an examination of complaints data, as specified. The bill would, effective for contract periods commencing on or after January 1, 2026, additionally require the report to include, for each of the preceding 3 years, the number and percentage of enrollees that are subject to an approved alternative access standard, and the number and percentage of alternative access standards requested, approved, and denied, as specified.The bill would authorize the department to require enhanced time or distance standards that are more stringent than the time or distance standards described abo

CA SB 548 - Eloise Gomez Reyes
California Overdose Death and Addiction Reduction Act of 2025.
05/23/2025 - May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 548, as amended, Reyes. California Overdose Death and Addiction Reduction Act of 2025. Existing law establishes the California Health and Human Services Agency, which includes departments charged with the administration of health, social, and other human services. Under existing law, the Legislature finds that state government has an affirmative role in alleviating problems related to the inappropriate use of alcoholic beverages and other drug use and that its major objective is protection of the public health and safety, particularly where problems related to inappropriate alcohol use and other drug use are likely to cause harm to individuals, families, and the community. The agency convened the Behavioral Health Task Force to inform its work on behavioral health issues across the state.This bill, the California Overdose Death and Addiction Reduction Act of 2025, would require the California Health and Human Services Agency, on or before January 1, 2028, to direct the task force, or a successor group, to create a set of recommendations to support an implementation plan for reducing alcohol- and drug-related addiction deaths by 50% on or before 5 years from the date the task force provides the recommendations to the agency, but no later than January 1, 2033. The bill would authorize the task force to include additional members as deemed appropriate by the agency, including representatives from specified entities, experts, and providers, among others. The bill would require the agency to adopt the recommendations provided by the task force and require the agency to consider specified information, including quality and performance measures to establish minimum standards for effective delivery of services.The bill would require the agency, on or before July 1, 2033, to provide the Governor and the Legislature a report of the findings and recommendations related to the extent that the 2033 goal was met and how effective the recommendations of the task force were, and recommendations for beyond 2033 that will continue to reduce overdose deaths and addiction.The bill would also make related findings and declarations.

CA SB 552 - Dave Cortese
Juveniles: wards: case plans.
05/23/2025 - May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 552, as introduced, Cortese. Juveniles: wards: case plans. Under existing law, a minor who is 12 to 17 years of age when they violate any criminal law in this state, except an ordinance establishing a curfew based solely on age, or a minor under 12 years of age if they commit certain serious offenses, is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge the person a ward of the court. Existing law requires, after finding that the minor is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the court to hear evidence on the question of the proper disposition to be made of the minor and requires the court to receive in evidence a social study of the minor made by the probation officer. Existing law requires, when the probation officer recommends the minor to be placed in foster care, or if the minor is already in foster care placement or pending placement pursuant to an earlier order, the social study to include a case plan with specified components.This bill would also require a case plan, with specified components, to be developed and included in the social study in cases in which the probation officer recommends wardship and either does not recommend removal of the minor from their parent or guardian, or recommends commitment of the minor to a juvenile home, ranch, camp, forestry camp, or juvenile hall. The bill would also require the court to order a minor to comply with any case plan that is developed and to review the ward’s progress toward meeting the goals in a case plan at a hearing no less than once every 6 months. By increasing the duties of county probation officers, 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.

CA SB 59 - Scott D. Wiener
Change of gender and sex identifier.
05/27/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
SB 59, as amended, Wiener. Change of gender and sex identifier. Existing law authorizes a person to file a petition with the superior court seeking a judgment recognizing their change of gender to female, male, or nonbinary, including a person who is under 18 years of age. Existing law authorizes a person to file a single petition to simultaneously change the petitioner’s name and recognize the change to the petitioner’s gender and sex identifier, as specified. Existing law requires a petition for a change of gender and sex identifier or a single petition for change to the petitioner’s name and to recognize the change of the petitioner’s gender and sex identifier filed by a person under 18 years of age, and any papers associated with the proceeding, to be kept confidential by the court. Existing law requires the court to limit access to these records to specified individuals, including, among others, the minor, the minor’s parents, and their attorneys.This bill would expand that confidentiality to apply to all filed petitions, regardless of the age of the petitioner, and any papers associated with a proceeding for a change of gender and sex identifier, for a single petition for change to the petitioner’s name and to recognize the change to the petitioner’s gender and sex identifier, or for a change of name to conform the petitioner’s name to the petitioner’s gender identity, as specified. This bill would make these confidentiality requirements retroactive, as specified, and require the Judicial Council to ensure that all courts have implemented a method to ensure the court maintains the confidentiality of these petitions and associated papers that were filed prior to the effective date of this act. The bill would authorize, if a person or entity discovers that a court record is not being kept confidential by the court, a person or entity to apply ex parte and without a fee to the court for an order to make those records confidential. The bill would require the court to make the application and all associated records confidential. The bill would prohibit those records from being posted publicly, on the internet or otherwise, by anyone other than the petitioner.This bill would make a violation of these confidentiality requirements an injury and, commencing 6 months after the effective date of this act, would authorize a person or entity to institute proceedings for injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or a writ of mandate to enforce them. The bill would require a court to award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to a plaintiff who prevails on a cause of action against a private party pursuant to this authority.This bill would also authorize a petitioner who has been harmed by a disclosure or continuing disclosure of records, as specified, to, commencing 6 months after the effective date of this act, bring a civil action against the private person or entity that caused the harm. The bill would require a private person or entity found liable to pay actual damages or statutory damages, punitive damages, and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, as specified.This bill would require the court, without a public hearing, to seal these types of petitions, as specified, and all court records and papers associated with that proceeding, upon the request of the petitioner and a finding that a petitioner has met the criteria set forth in a specific California Rule of Court.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations in support of its provisions.This bill would declare that its provisions are severable.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.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency st

CA SB 608 - Caroline Menjivar
Sexual health.
05/23/2025 - May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 608, as amended, Menjivar. Sexual health. (1) Existing law, the California Healthy Youth Act, requires school districts, defined to include county boards of education, county superintendents of schools, the California School for the Deaf, the California School for the Blind, and charter schools, to ensure that all pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, receive comprehensive sexual health education and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention education, as specified. This bill would require the State Department of Education to monitor compliance with the requirements of the California Healthy Youth Act as part of its annual compliance monitoring of state and federal programs.(2) Existing law establishes the Office of School-Based Health Programs for the purpose of assisting local educational agencies regarding the current health-related programs under the purview of the State Department of Education including, among other duties, coordinating school health program activities with public health, social services, environmental, and local educational agencies, and other public and private entities. This bill would prohibit a public school, as defined, that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, from prohibiting certain school-based health centers, as defined, from making internal and external condoms available and easily accessible to pupils at the school-based health center site and would require those public schools to allow condoms to be made available during the course of, or in connection with, educational or public health programs and initiatives, as provided. To the extent the bill imposes additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(3) Under existing law, the Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law, the State Department of Public Health generally regulates the packaging, labeling, advertising, and sale of food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics, in accordance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A violation of those provisions is generally a crime. Existing law sets forth various other provisions relating to the furnishing and health care coverage of certain types of contraception.This bill would, with certain exceptions, prohibit a retail establishment, as defined, from refusing to furnish nonprescription contraception to a person solely on the basis of age by means of any conduct, including, but not limited to, requiring the customer to present identification for purposes of demonstrating their age. Under the bill, a violation of that prohibition would be exempt from the above-described criminal penalty.(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.

CA SB 624 - Anna Marie Caballero
Nonminor dependents: tax guidance.
05/28/2025 - In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
SB 624, as amended, Caballero. Nonminor dependents: tax guidance. Existing law establishes the Independent Living Program (ILP), that, among its purposes, provides training in daily living skills, budgeting, locating and maintaining housing, and career planning for foster youth up to 21 years of age. Existing federal law authorizes a state, under certain circumstances, to expand eligibility for the ILP to former foster youth who have not attained 23 years of age. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, with the approval of the federal government, to amend the foster care state plan to permit all eligible children to be served by the ILP up to 21 years of age.The Personal Income Tax Law allows a refundable foster youth tax credit for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, to a qualified taxpayer in a specified amount multiplied by the earned income tax credit adjustment factor, as provided.This bill would require, by no later than July 1, 2026, the department to issue guidance to county welfare departments and juvenile probation departments with information about practices for supporting nonminor dependents in filing state and federal income tax returns and accessing the foster youth tax credit. The bill would require the guidance to be updated as needed and reissued no less than every 2 years. The bill would specify the information to be included in the guidance issued, including, but not limited to, a description of the foster youth tax credit, outreach strategies to increase awareness among nonminor dependents and former foster youth about the foster youth tax credit, and opportunities to partner with local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites. The bill would require county welfare departments and juvenile probation departments to annually send by mail to every nonminor dependent information about filing state and federal income tax returns and, among other things, the foster youth tax credit and information about local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites, as specified. By increasing the duties of county welfare departments and juvenile probation departments, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

CA SB 781 - Eloise Gomez Reyes
Small business.
05/29/2025 - In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
SB 781, as amended, Reyes. Small business. Existing law establishes the Office of Small Business Advocate within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, led by the Small Business Advocate, and sets forth its powers and duties relating to advocacy on behalf of small business and providing small businesses with the information they need to survive in the marketplace. Existing law requires the advocate to, among other duties, collaborate with the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services in their activities under the Small Business Procurement and Contract Act, including promoting small business certification.This bill would require the advocate to also collaborate with local agencies on the development and implementation of local strategies to increase small business participation in local procurement opportunities, as specified. In this connection, the bill would authorize a local agency, as defined, to establish a Small Business Utilization Program (SBUP) to increase small businesses’ participation in local agency procurement opportunities.This bill would require an SBUP, to facilitate the participation of small businesses in the provision of goods, information technology, and services to the local agency, to establish a small business certification process. As part of this process, the bill would require the SBUP, to the extent feasible, to include all of specified criteria, including, among other things, a minimum goal of 25% procurement participation for small businesses certification. The bill would authorize a local agency that establishes an SBUP to engage in specified activities to facilitate contract awards to small businesses.This bill would authorize a local agency to submit information on its small business procurement participation to the Office of Small Business Advocate, including progress toward meeting utilization goals. The bill would require the Office of Small Business Advocate, subject to funding being available, and upon appropriation by the Legislature for these purposes, to issue its first data call to local agencies by November 15, 2027, and every year thereafter, as specified. The bill would require the Office of Small Business Advocate to prepare an annual report that may contain, among other things, information received from the data call and to post the report on its internet website within 6 months after each data call. The bill would include related legislative findings.Existing law creates the California Small Business Technical Assistance Program within the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, under the direct authority of the Small Business Advocate. Existing law requires the office to administer the program to provide grants to expand the capacity of small business development technical assistance centers in California, as specified. Existing law sets forth the criteria that an applicant must meet to be eligible to participate in the program.This bill would, for grants made in fiscal years 2025–26 through 2027–28, inclusive, establish specified exceptions and modifications to the eligibility criteria.

CA SB 802 - Angelique V. Ashby
Multifamily Housing Program: Homekey: Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program.
05/29/2025 - Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and HUM. S.
SB 802, as amended, Ashby. Multifamily Housing Program: Homekey: Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program. Existing law establishes various housing programs administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, including the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program (HHAP) and the Multifamily Housing Program. Existing law establishes the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program for the purpose of providing jurisdictions with grant funds to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address their immediate homelessness challenges, as specified. Existing law establishes the Multifamily Housing Program to provide financial assistance in the form of deferred payment loans to pay for the eligible costs of development of specified types of housing projects. Existing law requires that specified funds appropriated to provide housing for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness and who are inherently impacted by or at increased risk for medical diseases or conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other communicable diseases be disbursed in accordance with the Multifamily Housing Program for specified uses. This disbursement program is referred to as Homekey.This bill would require the department, upon appropriation for the above-specified programs, to ensure that former foster youth and extremely low income, very low income, and lower income households, as specified, are given consideration.

CA SB 857 - Senate Public Safety Committee
Public safety omnibus.
05/29/2025 - Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
SB 857, as amended, Committee on Public Safety. Public safety omnibus. Existing(1) Existing law establishes the Board of State and Community Corrections to provide statewide leadership, coordination, and technical assistance to promote effective state and local efforts and partnerships in California’s adult and juvenile criminal justice system. The duties of the board, among others, include establishing standards for local correctional facilities and correctional officers. Under existing law, the board is composed of 15 members, as specified, and 7 members constitutes a quorum.This bill would instead require 8 members to constitute a quorum.(2) Existing law creates within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation the Prison Industry Authority.This bill would rename the Prison Industry Authority as the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority, would rename the Prison Industry Board as the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Board, would rename the Prison Industries Revolving Fund as the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Revolving Fund, and would require that any reference to the Prison Industry Authority be deemed a reference to the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority. (3) Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court over minors who are between 12 and 17 years of age, who have violated a federal, state, or local law or ordinance, as specified, and over minors under 12 years of age who have been alleged to have committed specified crimes. Existing law authorizes a juvenile court to adjudge a person under these circumstances to be a ward of the court. Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to permit a person adjudged a ward of the juvenile court, or placed on probation by the juvenile court, to reside in a county other than their county of legal residence. Existing law authorizes a ward who is permitted to reside in a county other than their county of legal residence to be supervised by the probation officer of the county of actual residence, with the consent of that probation officer.This bill would clarify that these provisions apply to wards discharged to probation supervision after having been confined in a secure youth treatment facility, or after having been transferred to a less restrictive program from a secure youth treatment facility.(4) Existing law authorizes any county or court to implement a “comprehensive collection program” as a separate revenue collection activity, and requires the program to meet certain criteria, one of which is that the program engages in specified activities in collecting fines or penalties, including, among other things, initiating a driver’s license suspension or hold, as specified.This bill would delete initiating suspensions or holds for driver’s licenses from the list of activities in which the program may engage. (5) Various provisions of the Health and Safety Code, Penal Code, and Welfare and Institutions Code, among others, refer to training and other requirements related to “deescalation techniques.” This bill would revise all references to “deescalation” to “de-escalation.”(6) The bill would also make other technical changes, both conforming and nonsubstantive.

CA SB 862 - Senate Health Committee
Health.
05/29/2025 - In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
SB 862, as amended, Committee on Health. Health. (1) Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, established the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to oversee the implementation of the MHSA. Existing law specifies the composition of the 16-member commission, including the Attorney General or their designee, the Superintendent of Public Instruction or their designee, specified members of the Legislature, and 12 members appointed by the Governor, as prescribed.Existing law, the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 1 at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, recast the MHSA by, among other things, renaming the commission to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and changing its composition and duties.This bill would make technical changes to reflect the correct name of the commission.(2) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law requires a health facility to develop, implement, and comply with a patient safety plan to improve the health and safety of patients and to reduce preventable patient safety events. Existing law requires a patient safety plan to contain specified elements, including, but not limited to, a reporting system for patient safety events that allows anyone involved to make a report of a patient safety event to the health facility and a process for a team of facility staff to conduct analyses related to root causes of patient safety events. Existing law, commencing January 1, 2026, and biannually thereafter, requires a health facility to submit a patient safety plan to the department. A violation of these provisions is a crime.This bill would instead require a health facility to submit a patient safety plan to the department biennially. The bill would also make technical corrections to those provisions. By changing the frequency that a health facility is required to submit a patient safety plan, the violation of which is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(3) Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health and sets forth its powers and duties to license and administer health facilities, as defined, including skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities. Existing law requires the department to prepare and maintain a list of approved training programs for nurse assistant certification, which are required to include a precertification training program consisting of at least 60 classroom hours of training on basic nursing skills, patient safety and rights, the social and psychological problems of patients, and elder abuse recognition and reporting and at least 100 hours of supervised and on-the-job training clinical practice. Existing law requires at least 2 hours of the 60 hours of classroom training and at least 4 hours of the 100 hours of the supervised clinical training to address the special needs of persons with developmental and mental disorders, including intellectual disability, Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and mental illness. A violation of these provisions is a crime.This bill would require that at least 2 of the 60 hours of classroom training address the special needs of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. By changing the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(4) Existing law authorizes the State Public Health Officer, to the extent allowable under federal law, and upon the availability of funds, to expend moneys from the continuously appropriated AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Rebate Fund for a program to cover the costs of prescribed ADAP formulary medications for the prevention of HIV infection and

CA SB 99 - Sharon Quirk-Silva
Family childcare homes: United States Armed Forces.
05/23/2025 - May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 99, as amended, Blakespear. Family childcare homes: United States Armed Forces. Existing law, the California Child Day Care Facilities Act, generally requires the State Department of Social Services to license and regulate various types of child daycare facilities, including, among others, daycare centers and family daycare homes. Under existing law, a willful or repeated violation of those provisions is a crime. Existing law exempts from those provisions various entities, including, among others, community care facilities, certain program facilities administered by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and extended daycare programs operated by public or private schools.This bill would also exempt, from the above-described licensing provisions, a family childcare home administered by a person certified as a family childcare provider by a branch of the United States Armed Forces and that exclusively provides care for children of eligible federal personnel, as defined, and surviving spouses.The bill would impose certain requirements on a military installation certifying a family childcare home in order for the home to qualify for an exemption. The bill would require the military installation to annually file with the department a list of exempt but certified facilities; report to the department all incidents involving physical injury to, or death of, children attending the program; require providers to post a certain notice about the status of the facility; and certify that the facility meets the health and safety requirements set forth in related state regulations, except for obtaining or maintaining a license. The bill would also require each provider to meet certain criteria relating to, among other things, an emergency preparedness plan, inspections, and attendance records.The bill would authorize the department to inspect those exempt family childcare homes to determine compliance with these provisions, and would require the department to develop and establish, by July 1, 2026, a policy for those family childcare homes. The bill would require that the policy address the above-described health and safety requirements and provider criteria, in addition to any procedures or requirements relating to enforcement, reporting, or corrective action, as specified. The bill would require the department to publish the policy on its internet website and to update the policy as necessary.The bill would require prioritization for annual inspections in the case of a facility that is subject to the requirements of the California Child Day Care Facilities Act, whether licensed or exempt from licensure, including, but not limited to, a family childcare home, if the facility is participating in a county quality improvement program through a certain quality rating improvement system, as part of participating in a fee assistance program administered by the United States Department of Defense.