California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Assembly Bill
AB 2537: Cannabis Enforcement Accountability and Public Health Prioritization Act of 2026.
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
AB 2537 is a assembly bill introduced in the California Assembly on February 20, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Cannabis Enforcement Accountability and Public Health Prioritization Act of 2026. Primary sponsor: Phillip Chen (R). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (August 13, 2026): In committee: Held under submission.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.
Existing law, 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. Existing law gives the Department of Cannabis Control the power, duty, purpose, responsibility, and jurisdiction to regulate commercial cannabis activity in the state. Existing law authorizes the department to take disciplinary actions against a licensee, as provided. Existing law requires the department to prepare and disseminate, as specified, an annual report relating to the department’s activities, including, among other things, the amount of funds allocated and spent by the department for cannabis licensing, enforcement, and administration, and the number of state licenses issued, renewed, denied, suspended, and revoked.
This bill, the Cannabis Enforcement Accountability and Public Health Prioritization Act of 2026, would require the department, beginning January 1, 2028, to prioritize its enforcement of MAUCRSA in a manner consistent with an enforcement prioritization policy, as defined, based on specified categories, that are listed from highest to lowest priority, based on conduct or conditions, as specified, that create a risk of harm, as described. The bill would define “risk of harm” as the likelihood of, among other things, interference with enforcement of state law. Beginning January 1, 2028, the bill would require the department to adopt and publish an enforcement prioritization policy, as specified, and would require the department to include in the above-described annual report the number, geographic distribution, and, as applicable, dollar amount of specified enforcement activities in relation to the risk-based enforcement framework, as provided.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 2
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phillip Chen | Primary sponsor | Republican | Assembly | 59 |
| Tom Lackey | Co-sponsor | Republican | Assembly | 34 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- In committee: Held under submission.
- In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
- Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
- From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 22).
- Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
- In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
- Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 5529.)
- Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
- From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
- In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
- Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
- Read second time and amended.