AB 449: Civil Rights Department: antidiscrimination campaigns.

Official summary

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

Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, establishes the Civil Rights Department within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and sets forth its powers and duties relating to enforcement of civil rights laws and assistance to communities in resolving disputes, disagreements, or difficulties relating to discriminatory practices.

This bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature and commencing on or before the later of either July 1, 2026, or one year after the date of the appropriation, would require the department to create and implement statewide and regional radio, social media, and television campaigns for the purposes of discouraging discrimination. The bill would require the department to convene a working group to develop a plan to implement the campaigns above. The bill would exempt the working group from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting 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. January 22, 2026Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
2. October 13, 2025Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
3. October 13, 2025Vetoed by Governor.
4. September 16, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
5. September 9, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 64. Noes 5. Page 3106.).
6. September 8, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
7. September 8, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 2. Page 2603.).
8. August 29, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (August 29).
9. August 29, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. July 14, 2025In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
11. July 2, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. June 19, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.