California Bill Book

Businesses that hire full‑time workers in certain low‑income areas could claim a tax credit, which may lead to more local jobs but costs taxpayers.

The bill would let companies lower their state tax bill by up to 35% of qualifying wages, encouraging them to hire in poor neighborhoods. Taxpayers will fund the credit, so the state loses revenue that could be used for schools or services. Supporters say it will create jobs; opponents say it gives a handout to businesses.

Businesses

• Accountability (neutral) — No new oversight. Bill adds reporting requirements but does not create new enforcement.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No impact on personal rights. Tax credit does not affect individuals' ability to sue.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Tax credit reduces state revenue. Credit is funded by taxpayers, lowering funds for other services.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process. Bill is introduced and referred to committees, no special fast‑track.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — Favors businesses. Credit benefits employers more than the general public.

• Official text (CA AB2205)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2205
• LegiScan — AB2205https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB2205/2025

This bill would extend tax credits for businesses in California, which could help them hire more workers and invest more money.

If this bill passes, big businesses might get more help from tax credits. This could mean more jobs, but it is important to make sure everyday people benefit too. Now is the time to speak up about it.

Big Business

• Accountability (neutral) — Limited transparency in how credits are allocated. The process for allocating credits is not fully transparent.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct impact on individual rights. This bill does not directly affect individual rights.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Tax credits could shift costs to taxpayers. Tax credits may lead to higher taxes for everyday people.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Some details on credit allocation are unclear. Details on how credits are allocated and monitored are not fully clear.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Funding favors businesses over public services. This bill may prioritize funding for businesses over community needs.

Pushing for it: big businesses
Bearing the cost: everyday taxpayers

• Official text (CA SB1120)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1120
• LegiScan — SB1120https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/SB1120/2025

This bill would update many laws to keep them clear and useful for everyone.

Updating laws can help make sure they work better for people, but it is important to check if any changes hurt rights or protections.

• Accountability (neutral) — Updates laws for clarity. The bill makes nonsubstantive changes to improve legal clarity.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct impact on rights. The bill does not seem to take away or add rights.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No cost shifts identified. The bill does not shift costs onto consumers.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No changes to transparency. The bill does not change how laws are made or enforced.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding changes. The bill does not affect funding for programs.

• Official text (CA SB1433)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1433
• LegiScan — SB1433https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/SB1433/2025

This bill makes it easier for the state to seize illegal or fake weed products being sold by unlicensed stores like smoke shops and gas stations.

If you buy cannabis, you want to know it is safe and tested. Right now, some tobacco shops sell unregulated or synthetic weed products that bypass state rules. This bill gives inspectors more power to seize those illegal products and fine the shops selling them. It helps licensed dispensaries by shutting down illegal competitors, and it keeps untested products out of your neighborhood.

Licensed cannabis businesses

• Accountability (helps) — Holds rule-breakers accountable.. Fines unlicensed shops that sell illegal cannabis products.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — Neutral on everyday rights.. Focuses on business licenses rather than citizen rights.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Rule-breakers pay.. Fines are paid by businesses that break the law.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard state process.. Uses standard state tax and fee department rules for seizing items.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Uses existing funds.. Pays for enforcement using an existing tobacco compliance fund.

Pushing for it: State enforcement
Bearing the cost: Unlicensed shops ($1,000 to $2,000)

• Official text (CA AB2250)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2250
• LegiScan — AB2250https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB2250/2025

The bill would let qualifying small businesses claim a tax credit of up to $20,000 for costs cleaning illegal dumps and unauthorized camps on their property.

The credit could lower the tax bill for owners of commercial spaces, making it cheaper to keep their property clean and safe, but it adds paperwork and a perjury oath.

Commercial property owners

• Accountability (helps) — Adds certification and perjury penalty, increasing oversight.. Taxpayers must certify expenses under penalty of perjury and provide invoices.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — Does not remove any existing rights.. No change to individuals' ability to sue or other civil rights.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — State tax revenue is reduced, shifting cost to all taxpayers.. Credit reduces net tax owed, effectively subsidizing cleanup costs.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Requires documentation but also allows emergency regulations without review.. Regulations can be adopted as emergency rules without Office of Administrative Law oversight.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — No new funding; credit reduces state revenue.. Tax credit is a revenue loss rather than a funded program.

• Official text (CA AB1606)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1606
• LegiScan — AB1606https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1606/2025

The resolution would ask Congress to keep enhanced premium tax credits and boost health savings accounts for low‑income families.

If the resolution succeeds, Congress could keep the tax credits that lower insurance costs for low‑income households. Right now the bill only asks Congress, so it has no direct effect yet. People should push for it while it’s still being discussed.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — .
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — .
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — .
• Process Transparency (neutral) — .
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — .

• Official text (CA AJR24)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AJR24
• LegiScan — AJR24https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AJR24/2025

This bill would change health care rules for the 2028 Olympics, allowing out-of-state doctors to help without extra licenses.

If this bill passes, it could help people get medical care during the Olympics. But it also changes rules for health care in California, so we should pay attention.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (neutral) — Changes to licensure rules for out-of-state practitioners.. Allows out-of-state health care practitioners to work without full California licenses during the Olympics.
• Accountability (neutral) — Updates to health recommendations may improve care.. Requires updates to health recommendations based on federal guidelines.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Potential funding for health programs.. Creates a fund to help cover costs of gender-affirming care.

Pushing for it: Health care programs
Bearing the cost: Unknown

• Official text (CA SB144)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB144
• LegiScan — SB144https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/SB144/2025

This bill would let the Attorney General check if health care plans follow rules about arbitration, helping people know their rights.

If this bill passes, it could make sure health care plans treat people fairly when they have disputes. Now is the time to support it.

• Accountability (helps) — Increased oversight by the Attorney General.. The bill allows the Attorney General to require reports from health care plans.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — Clarifies arbitration rules.. The bill ensures compliance with existing arbitration regulations.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No direct cost shift indicated.. The bill does not shift costs to consumers.

• Official text (CA AB1770)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1770
• LegiScan — AB1770https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1770/2025

This bill would make a tiny wording change to an old California tax rule for businesses that hire people.

This bill would make a very small change to the words in an existing tax rule. It is called "nonsubstantive," which means it would not change how the rule actually works or how it affects people. The rule gives money back to businesses that hire full-time workers in certain areas, but this credit is already set to end soon. This bill would not make the credit last longer or change how much money businesses get. It is just a little update to the language in the law, so it would not affect your rights or your money.

Employers

• Accountability (neutral) — No change to accountability. The bill makes a nonsubstantive change, so it would not impact how businesses or the state are held accountable.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No impact on rights. A nonsubstantive change would not add or remove any rights or protections for ordinary people.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No change to costs. Since the change is nonsubstantive, it would not shift costs onto consumers or taxpayers, nor would it change the financial impact of the existing credit.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard process. The bill is introduced and moving through the regular legislative process.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No new funding or tilt. The bill only makes a nonsubstantive change to an existing tax credit and would not create new funding or change the tilt of existing funds.

Pushing for it: Businesses hiring in specific areas (via tax credit)
Bearing the cost: State tax revenue (via tax credit)

• Official text (CA AB2479)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2479
• LegiScan — AB2479https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB2479/2025

This bill would let tribal nonprofits skip paying property taxes on land they buy, as long as they keep it as open space for the public to enjoy.

This is a straightforward conservation bill. It expands an existing tax break so that tribal nonprofits, not just the tribes themselves, can reclaim ancestral lands without facing heavy tax bills. Because the land must remain open to the public and cannot be used for commercial development, it is a win for both the environment and everyday people who want more protected nature to explore. The only downside is a slight loss in local tax revenue for the cities and counties where the land is located.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral. The bill relies on standard tax exemption rules and requires a qualified conservation management plan.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects public access. The bill mandates that the exempted land remain open to the general public for recreation and scenic enjoyment.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Shifts tax burden. Local governments will lose property tax and transfer tax revenue, which slightly shifts the burden of funding local services to other taxpayers.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard process. The bill is moving through the normal legislative committee process.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Supports conservation. Directs financial relief to tribal nonprofits specifically to support the preservation of natural resources and open space.

Pushing for it: Tribal nonprofits
Bearing the cost: Local governments

• Official text (CA AB2167)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2167
• LegiScan — AB2167https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB2167/2025

This bill lets you sign up for or change your health insurance as soon as you get pregnant, instead of waiting for the yearly sign-up window.

Right now, if you get pregnant outside of the normal sign-up window, you might be stuck without coverage for doctor visits. This bill fixes that by making pregnancy a special event that unlocks your ability to get or change health insurance immediately. It ensures expecting parents can get the medical care they need right away.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Expands healthcare access. The bill gives pregnant people the right to enroll in or change health insurance plans immediately so they can get necessary medical care.

Pushing for it: Expecting parents
Bearing the cost: Health insurance companies

• Official text (CA AB2066)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2066
• LegiScan — AB2066https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB2066/2025

This bill would give small businesses money back on their taxes if they hire people who have been convicted of a felony, helping them find work.

This bill would help people who have been in trouble with the law find jobs, which can make it easier for them to get back on their feet. It would give a tax credit to small businesses that hire these individuals, which could encourage more companies to give them a chance. The goal is to help people avoid going back to prison by giving them a steady job. If you believe in second chances and helping people contribute to society, this bill is a step in that direction.

Small businesses

• Accountability (helps) — The bill requires reports on how many businesses use the credit and its average value.. The bill states that the Franchise Tax Board shall submit a report to the Legislature detailing the number of taxpayers that receive a credit and the average dollar value of credits allowed.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — It helps people with felony convictions gain employment opportunities.. The bill aims to reduce repeat offenses by reducing unemployment among recently released ex-felons, which supports their right to work and rebuild their lives.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — The state budget would bear the cost of the tax credits.. The tax credit would reduce state tax revenue, meaning the California state budget would fund this incentive.
• Process Transparency (helps) — The bill includes specific goals and reporting requirements for the credit.. The bill includes specific goals for the tax expenditure, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements, as required by existing law for new tax expenditures.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Funds are tilted towards small businesses and individuals with felony convictions.. The tax credit directly benefits qualified small businesses and indirectly benefits individuals with felony convictions by incentivizing their employment.

Pushing for it: Small businesses that hire people with felony convictions (Up to $5,000 per employee)
Bearing the cost: California state budget

• Official text (CA AB1565)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1565
• LegiScan — AB1565https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1565/2025

This bill would give a tax credit to people who sell homes, helping them pay for repairs needed by first-time buyers.

This bill would help sellers of older homes afford repairs needed for first-time buyers using state programs. It means more people could buy homes that need a little work, and sellers would not lose a sale because of repair costs. This could make it easier for regular families to buy their first home. Some might say this is a special tax break, but supporters argue it helps more people become homeowners and keeps older homes in good shape. It is still early in the process, so people can still tell their lawmakers what they think.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral impact. This bill is about a tax credit for home repairs, not directly about holding anyone accountable for harm.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Helps people. The bill would help first-time homebuyers by making it easier for sellers to pay for necessary repairs, which could expand access to homeownership.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Benefits ordinary people. The state would give a tax credit to sellers, helping them cover repair costs that might otherwise stop a sale to a first-time homebuyer.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Good reporting. The bill requires the state to track how many people use the credit and how much money is claimed, and then report to lawmakers.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Tilts towards individuals. The tax credit would put money back in the pockets of people selling homes to first-time buyers.

Pushing for it: Sellers of homes to first-time buyers (Up to $25,000)
Bearing the cost: California taxpayers

• Official text (CA AB1714)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1714
• LegiScan — AB1714https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1714/2025

This bill would make sure kids can get fluoride treatments without paying extra, helping prevent tooth decay.

If this bill passes, more kids will get fluoride treatments, which can stop tooth decay. This is important for their health and can save families money. Now is the time to support it.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Increases access to preventive care. Kids will have guaranteed access to fluoride treatments without extra costs.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Cost shifts to insurance. Insurance companies will cover these treatments, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for families.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Clear guidelines for coverage. The bill sets clear rules for how fluoride treatments will be billed and covered.

• Official text (CA AB350)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB350
• LegiScan — AB350https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB350/2025

This bill would stop health insurance companies from denying you coverage or care based on your race, age, disability, or gender identity.

Insurance companies sometimes try to find reasons to deny coverage so they can save money. This bill would make it illegal for them to refuse you care just because of who you are. It specifically protects transgender people, pregnant women, and people with disabilities from being unfairly dropped or charged more. If this passes, insurers will have to treat everyone equally and clearly tell you how to complain if they break the rules.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Expands patient rights. Explicitly protects patients from being denied medical care or insurance based on their race, gender identity, or disability.
• Accountability (helps) — Holds insurers accountable. Makes it a crime for health plans to violate these rules and requires a clear complaint process for patients.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Insurers pay for care. Stops insurance companies from saving money by denying covered treatments to specific groups of people.

Pushing for it: Patients
Bearing the cost: Health insurance companies

• Official text (CA AB1876)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1876
• LegiScan — AB1876https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1876/2025

This bill would stop fire departments from charging you a fee just for calling 911 or having responders show up to your house.

Nobody should have to worry about getting a bill just for calling for help. Right now, some fire districts can charge you a fee if they show up to a 911 call, even if you do not end up needing their services. This bill would protect your wallet during an emergency. It ensures you would only pay if the fire department actually does emergency work for you. If you make a prank call, they could still fine you. This is a great protection for regular people that needs your support while it moves through the legislature.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Limits fee abuse. Stops fire districts from abusing their fee powers to charge for mere responses.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects access to help. Protects your ability to call 911 without fear of getting a surprise bill.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Saves consumers money. Saves regular people from paying for false alarms or canceled emergency calls.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Neutral. Does not make major changes to how fees are reported to the public.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Neutral. Does not give special funding to any specific group or industry.

• Official text (CA AB1863)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1863
• LegiScan — AB1863https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1863/2025

This bill would automatically sign you up for health insurance when you apply for state help or lose your current coverage, keeping you from going uninsured.

Right now, people can easily lose their health insurance if they get confused by paperwork or miss a deadline. This bill would fix that by automatically matching you with the best plan for your family. It would even make sure you get a letter explaining how to start your coverage before it begins. It is a smart way to keep families insured and healthy while they wait for state help.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects consumers from coverage gaps. Automatically enrolls people in health plans to prevent them from losing coverage due to paperwork delays.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Clearer notices for consumers. Requires the state to send instructions on how to start coverage before the plan actually begins.

• Official text (CA AB1907)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1907
• LegiScan — AB1907https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1907/2025

This bill would let you buy one background check and use it for multiple apartment applications, saving you from paying a new fee every time.

Applying for apartments is expensive because every landlord charges a separate fee to check your background. This bill would let you buy one official report for $45 and use it everywhere for 45 days. Landlords would be banned from charging you extra application fees if you use this report. They would also have to tell you exactly why you were rejected in writing. It puts money back in renters' pockets and lets you take landlords to court if they refuse to play by the rules.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Lets renters and the state sue landlords who break the rules.. Authorizes a civil action by the prospective tenant or the Attorney General for violations, provided the landlord is given an opportunity to cure.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Gives renters the right to use a single background check and get rejection reasons in writing.. Requires landlords to accept portable screening reports and provide specific written reasons for rejection.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Saves renters money by stopping landlords from charging multiple application fees.. Prohibits landlords from charging application fees or requiring additional paid background checks if a portable report is provided.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Forces landlords to clearly list all application rules upfront.. Requires a complete and itemized disclosure of all application requirements in a clear, plain-language format before accepting materials.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Does not spend state money.. The bill does not include an appropriation.

Pushing for it: Prospective tenants
Bearing the cost: Landlords and screening companies

• Official text (CA AB1963)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1963
• LegiScan — AB1963https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1963/2025

This bill would force food companies to prove their ingredients are safe and stop them from hiding secret chemicals in your snacks.

Right now, food companies use a loophole to put new chemicals in our food without proving they are safe first. This bill would close that loophole in California. It would ban any food dye or additive that causes cancer. It would also force companies to tell the state exactly what is in their food if they leave things off the printed label. This gives everyday people more power to know what they are eating.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Forces food companies to prove their ingredients are safe instead of using a loophole.. Closes the 'generally recognized as safe' loophole by requiring premarket safety notices for food additives.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects people from eating cancer-causing chemicals.. Deems any color additive, food additive, or dietary ingredient unsafe if it is found to induce cancer.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Food companies will pay fees to cover the cost of the safety checks.. Authorizes the department to create and update user fees for notices, assessments, and reassessments.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Creates a public list of food chemicals and stops companies from hiding ingredients.. Requires the department to publish notices in a public database and forces manufacturers to disclose unlisted ingredients to the state.

Pushing for it: California Department of Public Health
Bearing the cost: Food manufacturers

• Official text (CA AB2034)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2034
• LegiScan — AB2034https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB2034/2025

This bill stops health insurance companies from quietly removing your prescription drugs from their covered list in the middle of the year.

When you pick a health plan, you check if it covers your medicine. But right now, insurers can change their list of covered drugs in the middle of the year. This bill forces them to keep their promises. If they drop a drug, you can keep getting your medicine until the year ends. It also forces them to approve emergency drug requests within 24 hours. This is a huge win for patients who rely on daily medications.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Strict penalties for insurers. Authorizes the state to investigate and fine health plans up to $5,000 per 1,000 members for breaking these rules.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Guarantees access to medicine. Gives patients the right to stay on a previously approved drug for the rest of the year and sets strict 24-hour to 72-hour deadlines for drug approvals.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Protects patients from surprise costs. Prevents insurers from shifting costs onto patients midyear by moving drugs to higher cost tiers.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Requires advance notice. Forces insurers to notify patients and doctors 90 days before any allowed changes take effect.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Neutral funding impact. The bill does not appropriate new taxpayer money, though it allows the state to collect fines.

Pushing for it: Patients (saved out-of-pocket costs)
Bearing the cost: Health insurers (fines for breaking rules) ($500 to $5,000 per 1,000 members)

• Official text (CA AB2000)https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2000
• LegiScan — AB2000https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB2000/2025