AB 685: Small Business Development Technical Assistance.

Official summary

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

Existing law establishes the Office of Small Business Advocate (OSBA) within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, also known as GO-Biz, to advocate for causes of small business and to provide small businesses with the information they need to survive in the marketplace. Existing law also establishes the California Small Business Technical Assistance Program (SB-TAP) within OSBA, under the direct authority of the Small Business Advocate, for the purpose of assisting small businesses through free or low-cost one-on-one consulting and low-cost training by entering into grant agreements with one or more small business technical assistance centers. Under existing law, OSBA administers the Capital Infusion Program (CIP) pursuant to the SB-TAP, as specified.

Existing law sets forth the criteria that an applicant must meet to be eligible to participate in these programs, which can vary depending on whether the applicant is receiving funding from federal or private sources.

This bill would revise certain eligibility criteria for the small business technical assistance center grant programs, as specified. The bill would create uniform eligibility requirements for applicants with funding from a nonstate source. The bill would also authorize multiple small business technical assistance centers to apply as a network with a single fiscal agent if their active contracts are under the same funding authority. The bill would also require the OSBA to establish standardized performance metrics, reporting requirements, and outcome measures applicable to all grant recipients participating in the SB-TAP and would require the OSBA to monitor grant recipients during the grant performance period to ensure their compliance with SB-TAP requirements, as provided. The bill would include findings and declarations by the Legislature relating to the administration of the CIP and would require the OSBA to report its findings and actions and aggregate program outcomes to the Legislature.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3

“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. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 824, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 4, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 27, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6683.).
5. August 27, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 26, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
7. August 24, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 21, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 17, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 13, 2026Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
11. August 13, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
12. June 22, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.