Assembly Member Harabedian's demographic data collection measure would require California state and local agencies to separately track and report Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) populations across their programs and services, establishing specific categories for these previously aggregated communities.

The legislation creates three distinct classification groups: Middle Eastern populations (including Afghan, Iranian, and Lebanese communities), North African populations (such as Egyptian, Moroccan, and Tunisian communities), and transnational MENA groups (including Amazigh, Armenian, and Kurdish populations). Starting January 2026, agencies must incorporate these categories into demographic forms and surveys. By January 2027, all published demographic reports must include this detailed MENA data, with categories updated within 18 months following each decennial census.

The measure includes privacy safeguards while maintaining data accessibility. Agencies must publish the collected information on their websites but may aggregate data at geographic levels (state, county, city, census tract, or ZIP code) to prevent individual identification. The requirements apply to all California cities, including charter cities, and the Legislature requests the University of California system to implement these changes. If the Commission on State Mandates determines the measure creates new costs for local agencies, the state must provide reimbursement under existing statutory provisions.