AB 1496: Cannabis task force.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

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Prior existing law, which was repealed on January 1, 2025, established a task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity to promote communication between state and local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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. June 9, 2025In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2. May 14, 2025Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and JUD.
3. May 1, 2025In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
4. May 1, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 1388.)
5. April 24, 2025Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
6. April 23, 2025From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 23).
7. April 8, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
8. March 13, 2025Referred to Com. on B. & P.
9. February 24, 2025Read first time.
10. February 22, 2025From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
11. February 21, 2025Introduced. To print.