Budget & Economy Bills

Authorizes all California school districts to use best value procurement for construction projects over $1 million. Requires districts to evaluate contractors based on both price and qualifications rather than lowest bid alone. Limits retention proceeds withheld from contractors to 5% when performance and payment bonds are required.

Extends the state's authority to collect local taxes on prepaid mobile phone services until January 1, 2031. Maintains centralized collection of local mobile phone taxes through the state tax department. Preserves consumers' right to dispute charges by filing claims under penalty of perjury.

Makes technical changes to personal income tax definitions without substantive impact.

Allocates $25 million to expand legal services for vulnerable Californians facing deportation, eviction, or violence. Provides $10 million specifically for immigration defense and related services through qualified organizations. Requires detailed reporting to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee on all grant distributions and uses. Sets a June 2026 deadline for fund commitments with final spending allowed through June 2028.

Authorizes $25 million for California to defend against or challenge federal government actions through 2028. Requires the Department of Justice to maintain a public website tracking federal litigation expenses. Mandates annual reports to the Legislature on federal litigation costs and outside counsel contracts. Establishes procedures for paying attorney fees in state court actions against California agencies.

Exempts wildfire prevention projects from environmental review requirements to accelerate implementation. Defines wildfire projects to include fuel breaks, forest thinning, prescribed burns, and vegetation management. Allows local agencies to levy fees instead of receiving state reimbursement for mandated programs.

Exempts electrical infrastructure undergrounding plans from CEQA review requirements. Requires environmental impact reviews before any physical changes can be approved. Takes effect immediately as part of the 2024 Budget Act.

Authorizes fire protection agencies to oversee controlled burning activities in California. Exempts supervised wildland vegetation management burns from permit requirements. Requires the Air Resources Board to develop safety guidelines for controlled burns.

Makes permanent the sales tax exemption for all-volunteer fire departments' fundraising activities. Applies only to departments with annual sales under $100,000 in the previous two years. Requires annual reporting of revenue impacts to the Legislature starting in 2026. Eliminates state reimbursement to local agencies for lost tax revenue.

Authorizes $1.5 billion in emergency funding for wildfire response and recovery efforts declared in January 2025. Enables immediate release of first $1 billion for emergency protective measures and disaster response. Allows the Director of Finance to augment agency budgets from any available funding source including General Fund. Maintains funding availability until wildfire emergency declarations are terminated.

Authorizes $1 billion in emergency funding for California's January 2025 wildfire response and recovery efforts. Provides $4 million to expedite building permits and inspections in Los Angeles area wildfire zones through 2028. Allocates $1 million to help rebuild damaged schools in Los Angeles and Pasadena school districts. Requires detailed public reporting of wildfire recovery spending through April 2025.

Establishes a $100 million Small Business Recovery Fund to provide competitive grants ranging from $2,500 to $100,000 for businesses and nonprofits impacted by state-declared emergencies. Requires grant recipients to match funds dollar-for-dollar using insurance claims, recovery loans, or in-kind contributions. Allocates 10% of funds to technical assistance programs with priority given to businesses owned by ethnic minorities, women, and other disadvantaged groups. Sunsets the program on January 1, 2032 with mandatory reporting to the Legislature within 180 days of each declared emergency.

Establishes a tax credit for California homeowners who make fire-resistant improvements to homes in high-risk fire zones. Provides up to $400 annually in tax credits covering 40% of fire safety upgrades like fire-rated roofs and vents. Limits eligibility to households earning under $250,000 for joint filers or $125,000 for individuals. Expires December 1, 2030 with a lifetime maximum credit of $2,000 per taxpayer.

Establishes the California-Ireland Trade Commission within the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relationships. Creates a seven-member commission with representatives from the Legislature, higher education, trade organizations, and Irish-American communities. Requires annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on trade initiatives and recommendations through February 2030. Mandates the commission's recommendations be considered in the state's international trade strategy updates.

Increases the maximum contract value from $250,000 to $350,000 that state agencies can award to certified small businesses and disabled veteran enterprises without competitive bidding. Requires state agencies to obtain price quotes from at least two certified small businesses or disabled veteran enterprises for contracts between $5,000 and $350,000. Authorizes the Director of General Services to adjust the maximum contract value every two years starting January 2026 based on changes in the California Consumer Price Index.

Intent bill that proposes automatic property tax relief for property owners in areas declared as state emergencies by the Governor. Focuses specifically on providing relief to victims of fire disasters and other emergencies without requiring individual applications. Aims to modify existing property tax regulations to create exceptions for disaster-impacted properties.

Establishes a new tax credit program offering small businesses up to $5,000 for hiring individuals within one year of their felony conviction or prison release. Requires eligible businesses to have fewer than 5 employees and retain qualified workers for at least 6 months to claim the 40% wage credit. Program runs from January 2026 through December 2031, with annual reporting requirements starting December 2028. Mandates the Franchise Tax Board to monitor compliance and submit yearly reports on credit usage and effectiveness in reducing recidivism.

Authorizes the California FAIR Plan Association to issue bonds through the state infrastructure bank to increase its ability to pay insurance claims during the current property insurance crisis. Enables the FAIR Plan to enter into loan agreements and credit lines with financial institutions to ensure adequate funding for catastrophic events. Requires FAIR Plan member insurance companies to pay assessments that cover all bond and loan payment obligations. Takes effect immediately as an urgency measure to address the severe shortage of property insurance coverage in California.

Creates a partial sales tax exemption for certified data centers that invest $200 million and create 20 qualifying jobs within five years starting January 2025. Requires certified data centers to use at least 70% carbon-free energy, employ recycled water cooling systems, and prohibits diesel backup generators. Mandates use of skilled and trained workforce during construction and requires at least 50% of energy from behind-the-meter sources. Authorizes state agencies to revoke certification and collect back taxes with penalties if facilities fail to maintain compliance requirements.

Excludes settlement payments received from Southern California Edison for the 2020 Bobcat Fire from state taxable income for Los Angeles County residents, property owners, and businesses. Applies to tax years 2024 through 2028, with provisions automatically expiring on December 1, 2029. Requires Southern California Edison to provide settlement payment documentation to the Franchise Tax Board upon request. Takes effect immediately as an urgency measure to provide rapid financial relief to fire victims.

Expands property tax exemptions for disabled veterans by excluding disability payments from household income calculations for eligibility purposes. Maintains existing exemption amounts of up to $150,000 of home value for eligible veterans and surviving spouses with qualifying household incomes. Requires county assessors to accept electronically generated disability verification letters from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Takes effect immediately as a tax levy with no state reimbursement to local agencies for lost property tax revenue.

Expands the Gaming Policy Advisory Committee from 10 to 12 members by adding representatives from academia and the Bureau of Gambling Control to provide expert guidance on gambling policies. Requires the committee to meet at least twice per calendar year instead of on an as-needed basis. Maintains equal representation between gambling licensees and public members while clarifying that all committee recommendations remain advisory and non-binding. Explicitly prohibits the committee from providing advice on Indian gaming matters.

Allocates $25 million for legal aid and immigration services through the California state budget. Provides $10 million in grants for civil legal services to help vulnerable people facing deportation and eviction. Requires funds to be committed by June 2026 and spent by June 2028. Mandates detailed reporting to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee on all grant distributions.

Undeveloped "intent bill" that aims to restrict state and local governments' ability to raise taxes. Proposes constitutional changes to require higher voter thresholds for tax increases.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to balance the state budget through labor cost caps and competitive contracting. Requires a two-thirds legislative vote to approve the state budget and any new program fees. Mandates state agencies to competitively bid out services to private contractors.