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California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Senate Bill

SB 515: Local government: collection of demographic data.

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 515 is a senate bill introduced in the California Senate on February 19, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Local government: collection of demographic data. Primary sponsor: Laura Richardson (D). Most recent recorded action (October 13, 2025): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 768, Statutes of 2025.

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 requires the State Controller’s Office, to the extent the office has completed the functionality necessary, and the Department of Human Resources, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians hired into state employment, to use additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups.

This bill would, commencing January 1, 2027, require a city, county, or city and county, including a charter city, when collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of persons hired for employment by a city, county, or city and county, to include the additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups, as described above. The bill would make related findings and declarations. By imposing new duties on cities, counties, or a city and county, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Laura RichardsonPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate35

“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. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 768, Statutes of 2025.
  2. Approved by the Governor.
  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
  4. In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
  5. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 61. Noes 15. Page 3315.) Ordered to the Senate.
  6. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
  7. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (August 29).
  8. July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
  9. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
  10. Referred to Com. on L. GOV.
  11. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
  12. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 10. Page 1335.) Ordered to the Assembly.

Sources

  1. California Legislative Information — pubinfo database export
  2. Official bill page