California 2025-2026 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB1496 Compare Versions

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11 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1496Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca RubioFebruary 21, 2025 An act to add Section 26203 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to cannabis. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1496, as introduced, Blanca Rubio. Cannabis task force.The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act of 2016 (AUMA), an initiative measure, authorizes a person who obtains a state license under AUMA to engage in commercial adult-use cannabis activity pursuant to that license and applicable local ordinances. 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 under the jurisdiction of the Department of Cannabis Control. Existing law authorizes local jurisdictions to enforce the provisions of MAUCRSA and to regulate cannabis businesses, as specified.Prior existing law, which was repealed on January 1, 2025, established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity to promote communication between state and local entities engaged in the regulation of commercial cannabis activity and facilitate cooperation to enforce applicable state and local laws, consisting of specified members from state agencies and all local jurisdictions regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate. That prior law exempted the meetings of the task force from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.This bill would reinstate the task force and expand the task force to include representatives from tribal governmental entities regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate in the task force. The bill would exempt the meetings of the task force from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.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.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 26203 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:26203. (a) There is hereby established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity. The purpose of the task force is to promote communication between state and local entities engaged in the regulation of commercial cannabis activity and facilitate cooperation to enforce applicable state and local laws.(b) The task force shall be composed of representatives from all of the following:(1) The Department of Cannabis Control. (2) The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.(3) The Department of Fish and Wildlife.(4) The State Water Resources Control Board.(5) The Department of the California Highway Patrol.(6) The Labor and Workforce Development Agency.(7) The Department of Justice.(8) All local jurisdictions and tribal governmental entities regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate in the task force, which may send representatives from one or more of the following:(A) The contact person designated pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 26055. (B) A county sheriffs office or municipal police department. (C) A district attorneys office or city attorneys office. (c) The task force shall meet twice each fiscal year, through teleconference or similar means to facilitate remote participation, for discussions to be convened and led by the Department of Cannabis Control. Discussion topics may include, but need not be limited to, enforcement against the illicit market, social equity programs, state licensing requirements, and labor and workforce compliance. (d) The task force shall not be subject to the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) or the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code). SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 1 of this act, which adds Section 26203 to the Business and Professions Code, imposes a limitation on the publics right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:In order to protect the integrity of active and prospective administrative, civil, and criminal investigations conducted for law enforcement and licensing purposes; to prevent premature or overbroad disclosure of potentially sensitive information regarding those investigations to suspected violators of applicable state and local laws, as well as potential witnesses and others, in ways that might compromise those investigations; to allow members of the task force created by Section 26203 of the Business and Professions Code to more freely share information, and otherwise coordinate, regarding those investigations; and to otherwise promote fuller cooperation among members of the task force to enforce applicable state and local laws, it is necessary to exempt the task force from the provisions of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.
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33 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1496Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca RubioFebruary 21, 2025 An act to add Section 26203 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to cannabis. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1496, as introduced, Blanca Rubio. Cannabis task force.The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act of 2016 (AUMA), an initiative measure, authorizes a person who obtains a state license under AUMA to engage in commercial adult-use cannabis activity pursuant to that license and applicable local ordinances. 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 under the jurisdiction of the Department of Cannabis Control. Existing law authorizes local jurisdictions to enforce the provisions of MAUCRSA and to regulate cannabis businesses, as specified.Prior existing law, which was repealed on January 1, 2025, established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity to promote communication between state and local entities engaged in the regulation of commercial cannabis activity and facilitate cooperation to enforce applicable state and local laws, consisting of specified members from state agencies and all local jurisdictions regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate. That prior law exempted the meetings of the task force from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.This bill would reinstate the task force and expand the task force to include representatives from tribal governmental entities regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate in the task force. The bill would exempt the meetings of the task force from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.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.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
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99 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
1010
1111 Assembly Bill
1212
1313 No. 1496
1414
1515 Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca RubioFebruary 21, 2025
1616
1717 Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio
1818 February 21, 2025
1919
2020 An act to add Section 26203 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to cannabis.
2121
2222 LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
2323
2424 ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
2525
2626 AB 1496, as introduced, Blanca Rubio. Cannabis task force.
2727
2828 The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act of 2016 (AUMA), an initiative measure, authorizes a person who obtains a state license under AUMA to engage in commercial adult-use cannabis activity pursuant to that license and applicable local ordinances. 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 under the jurisdiction of the Department of Cannabis Control. Existing law authorizes local jurisdictions to enforce the provisions of MAUCRSA and to regulate cannabis businesses, as specified.Prior existing law, which was repealed on January 1, 2025, established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity to promote communication between state and local entities engaged in the regulation of commercial cannabis activity and facilitate cooperation to enforce applicable state and local laws, consisting of specified members from state agencies and all local jurisdictions regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate. That prior law exempted the meetings of the task force from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.This bill would reinstate the task force and expand the task force to include representatives from tribal governmental entities regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate in the task force. The bill would exempt the meetings of the task force from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.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.
2929
3030 The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act of 2016 (AUMA), an initiative measure, authorizes a person who obtains a state license under AUMA to engage in commercial adult-use cannabis activity pursuant to that license and applicable local ordinances. 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 under the jurisdiction of the Department of Cannabis Control. Existing law authorizes local jurisdictions to enforce the provisions of MAUCRSA and to regulate cannabis businesses, as specified.
3131
3232 Prior existing law, which was repealed on January 1, 2025, established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity to promote communication between state and local entities engaged in the regulation of commercial cannabis activity and facilitate cooperation to enforce applicable state and local laws, consisting of specified members from state agencies and all local jurisdictions regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate. That prior law exempted the meetings of the task force from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.
3333
3434 This bill would reinstate the task force and expand the task force to include representatives from tribal governmental entities regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate in the task force. The bill would exempt the meetings of the task force from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.
3535
3636 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.
3737
3838 This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
3939
4040 ## Digest Key
4141
4242 ## Bill Text
4343
4444 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 26203 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:26203. (a) There is hereby established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity. The purpose of the task force is to promote communication between state and local entities engaged in the regulation of commercial cannabis activity and facilitate cooperation to enforce applicable state and local laws.(b) The task force shall be composed of representatives from all of the following:(1) The Department of Cannabis Control. (2) The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.(3) The Department of Fish and Wildlife.(4) The State Water Resources Control Board.(5) The Department of the California Highway Patrol.(6) The Labor and Workforce Development Agency.(7) The Department of Justice.(8) All local jurisdictions and tribal governmental entities regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate in the task force, which may send representatives from one or more of the following:(A) The contact person designated pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 26055. (B) A county sheriffs office or municipal police department. (C) A district attorneys office or city attorneys office. (c) The task force shall meet twice each fiscal year, through teleconference or similar means to facilitate remote participation, for discussions to be convened and led by the Department of Cannabis Control. Discussion topics may include, but need not be limited to, enforcement against the illicit market, social equity programs, state licensing requirements, and labor and workforce compliance. (d) The task force shall not be subject to the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) or the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code). SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 1 of this act, which adds Section 26203 to the Business and Professions Code, imposes a limitation on the publics right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:In order to protect the integrity of active and prospective administrative, civil, and criminal investigations conducted for law enforcement and licensing purposes; to prevent premature or overbroad disclosure of potentially sensitive information regarding those investigations to suspected violators of applicable state and local laws, as well as potential witnesses and others, in ways that might compromise those investigations; to allow members of the task force created by Section 26203 of the Business and Professions Code to more freely share information, and otherwise coordinate, regarding those investigations; and to otherwise promote fuller cooperation among members of the task force to enforce applicable state and local laws, it is necessary to exempt the task force from the provisions of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.
4545
4646 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
4747
4848 ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
4949
5050 SECTION 1. Section 26203 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:26203. (a) There is hereby established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity. The purpose of the task force is to promote communication between state and local entities engaged in the regulation of commercial cannabis activity and facilitate cooperation to enforce applicable state and local laws.(b) The task force shall be composed of representatives from all of the following:(1) The Department of Cannabis Control. (2) The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.(3) The Department of Fish and Wildlife.(4) The State Water Resources Control Board.(5) The Department of the California Highway Patrol.(6) The Labor and Workforce Development Agency.(7) The Department of Justice.(8) All local jurisdictions and tribal governmental entities regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate in the task force, which may send representatives from one or more of the following:(A) The contact person designated pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 26055. (B) A county sheriffs office or municipal police department. (C) A district attorneys office or city attorneys office. (c) The task force shall meet twice each fiscal year, through teleconference or similar means to facilitate remote participation, for discussions to be convened and led by the Department of Cannabis Control. Discussion topics may include, but need not be limited to, enforcement against the illicit market, social equity programs, state licensing requirements, and labor and workforce compliance. (d) The task force shall not be subject to the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) or the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code).
5151
5252 SECTION 1. Section 26203 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
5353
5454 ### SECTION 1.
5555
5656 26203. (a) There is hereby established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity. The purpose of the task force is to promote communication between state and local entities engaged in the regulation of commercial cannabis activity and facilitate cooperation to enforce applicable state and local laws.(b) The task force shall be composed of representatives from all of the following:(1) The Department of Cannabis Control. (2) The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.(3) The Department of Fish and Wildlife.(4) The State Water Resources Control Board.(5) The Department of the California Highway Patrol.(6) The Labor and Workforce Development Agency.(7) The Department of Justice.(8) All local jurisdictions and tribal governmental entities regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate in the task force, which may send representatives from one or more of the following:(A) The contact person designated pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 26055. (B) A county sheriffs office or municipal police department. (C) A district attorneys office or city attorneys office. (c) The task force shall meet twice each fiscal year, through teleconference or similar means to facilitate remote participation, for discussions to be convened and led by the Department of Cannabis Control. Discussion topics may include, but need not be limited to, enforcement against the illicit market, social equity programs, state licensing requirements, and labor and workforce compliance. (d) The task force shall not be subject to the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) or the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code).
5757
5858 26203. (a) There is hereby established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity. The purpose of the task force is to promote communication between state and local entities engaged in the regulation of commercial cannabis activity and facilitate cooperation to enforce applicable state and local laws.(b) The task force shall be composed of representatives from all of the following:(1) The Department of Cannabis Control. (2) The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.(3) The Department of Fish and Wildlife.(4) The State Water Resources Control Board.(5) The Department of the California Highway Patrol.(6) The Labor and Workforce Development Agency.(7) The Department of Justice.(8) All local jurisdictions and tribal governmental entities regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate in the task force, which may send representatives from one or more of the following:(A) The contact person designated pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 26055. (B) A county sheriffs office or municipal police department. (C) A district attorneys office or city attorneys office. (c) The task force shall meet twice each fiscal year, through teleconference or similar means to facilitate remote participation, for discussions to be convened and led by the Department of Cannabis Control. Discussion topics may include, but need not be limited to, enforcement against the illicit market, social equity programs, state licensing requirements, and labor and workforce compliance. (d) The task force shall not be subject to the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) or the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code).
5959
6060 26203. (a) There is hereby established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity. The purpose of the task force is to promote communication between state and local entities engaged in the regulation of commercial cannabis activity and facilitate cooperation to enforce applicable state and local laws.(b) The task force shall be composed of representatives from all of the following:(1) The Department of Cannabis Control. (2) The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.(3) The Department of Fish and Wildlife.(4) The State Water Resources Control Board.(5) The Department of the California Highway Patrol.(6) The Labor and Workforce Development Agency.(7) The Department of Justice.(8) All local jurisdictions and tribal governmental entities regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate in the task force, which may send representatives from one or more of the following:(A) The contact person designated pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 26055. (B) A county sheriffs office or municipal police department. (C) A district attorneys office or city attorneys office. (c) The task force shall meet twice each fiscal year, through teleconference or similar means to facilitate remote participation, for discussions to be convened and led by the Department of Cannabis Control. Discussion topics may include, but need not be limited to, enforcement against the illicit market, social equity programs, state licensing requirements, and labor and workforce compliance. (d) The task force shall not be subject to the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) or the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code).
6161
6262
6363
6464 26203. (a) There is hereby established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity. The purpose of the task force is to promote communication between state and local entities engaged in the regulation of commercial cannabis activity and facilitate cooperation to enforce applicable state and local laws.
6565
6666 (b) The task force shall be composed of representatives from all of the following:
6767
6868 (1) The Department of Cannabis Control.
6969
7070 (2) The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
7171
7272 (3) The Department of Fish and Wildlife.
7373
7474 (4) The State Water Resources Control Board.
7575
7676 (5) The Department of the California Highway Patrol.
7777
7878 (6) The Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
7979
8080 (7) The Department of Justice.
8181
8282 (8) All local jurisdictions and tribal governmental entities regulating commercial cannabis activity that opt to participate in the task force, which may send representatives from one or more of the following:
8383
8484 (A) The contact person designated pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 26055.
8585
8686 (B) A county sheriffs office or municipal police department.
8787
8888 (C) A district attorneys office or city attorneys office.
8989
9090 (c) The task force shall meet twice each fiscal year, through teleconference or similar means to facilitate remote participation, for discussions to be convened and led by the Department of Cannabis Control. Discussion topics may include, but need not be limited to, enforcement against the illicit market, social equity programs, state licensing requirements, and labor and workforce compliance.
9191
9292 (d) The task force shall not be subject to the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) or the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code).
9393
9494 SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 1 of this act, which adds Section 26203 to the Business and Professions Code, imposes a limitation on the publics right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:In order to protect the integrity of active and prospective administrative, civil, and criminal investigations conducted for law enforcement and licensing purposes; to prevent premature or overbroad disclosure of potentially sensitive information regarding those investigations to suspected violators of applicable state and local laws, as well as potential witnesses and others, in ways that might compromise those investigations; to allow members of the task force created by Section 26203 of the Business and Professions Code to more freely share information, and otherwise coordinate, regarding those investigations; and to otherwise promote fuller cooperation among members of the task force to enforce applicable state and local laws, it is necessary to exempt the task force from the provisions of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.
9595
9696 SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 1 of this act, which adds Section 26203 to the Business and Professions Code, imposes a limitation on the publics right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:In order to protect the integrity of active and prospective administrative, civil, and criminal investigations conducted for law enforcement and licensing purposes; to prevent premature or overbroad disclosure of potentially sensitive information regarding those investigations to suspected violators of applicable state and local laws, as well as potential witnesses and others, in ways that might compromise those investigations; to allow members of the task force created by Section 26203 of the Business and Professions Code to more freely share information, and otherwise coordinate, regarding those investigations; and to otherwise promote fuller cooperation among members of the task force to enforce applicable state and local laws, it is necessary to exempt the task force from the provisions of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.
9797
9898 SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 1 of this act, which adds Section 26203 to the Business and Professions Code, imposes a limitation on the publics right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:
9999
100100 ### SEC. 2.
101101
102102 In order to protect the integrity of active and prospective administrative, civil, and criminal investigations conducted for law enforcement and licensing purposes; to prevent premature or overbroad disclosure of potentially sensitive information regarding those investigations to suspected violators of applicable state and local laws, as well as potential witnesses and others, in ways that might compromise those investigations; to allow members of the task force created by Section 26203 of the Business and Professions Code to more freely share information, and otherwise coordinate, regarding those investigations; and to otherwise promote fuller cooperation among members of the task force to enforce applicable state and local laws, it is necessary to exempt the task force from the provisions of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.