Bill > AB449

This bill requires the California Civil Rights Department to create and implement statewide and regional anti-discrimination advertising campaigns across radio, social media, and television platforms, focusing on combating discrimination based on characteristics like disability, gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. The department will convene a working group of 11 members, including nine experts in marketing and messaging appointed by the department's director (who will reflect California's geographic and demographic diversity), one Assembly member, and one Senate member. The percentage of advertisements targeting specific communities will be proportional to hate crime rates documented in the most recent California Hate Crime report. The bill allows an exemption from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act for this working group to ensure candid discussions, and the campaigns will only commence after the Legislature appropriates specific funding, no later than July 1, 2026. The legislation aims to proactively address discrimination by creating targeted public awareness campaigns that educate Californians about different forms of bias and promote understanding and respect across diverse communities.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB449