Assembly BillChaptered/SignedHealth and Safety
AB 1600: Disadvantaged communities: farmworker communities.
What AB 1600 does, verified September 29, 2026
<p>This bill aims to expand the definition of "disadvantaged communities" to include farmworker communities that meet certain requirements. The definition of "disadvantaged communities" is currently used to identify communities for investment opportunities from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The bill would require the California Environmental Protection Agency to revise screening tools and guidance documents to ensure farmworker communities are included as disadvantaged communities in relevant program eligibility determinations and benefit calculations.</p>
Bill journey
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6ChapteredCurrent
Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 529, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-27)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| Sep. 27, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 529, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 27, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 09, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1 p.m. |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 64. Noes 12. Page 6886.). |
| Aug. 28, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 27, 2026 · 637 words
Assembly Bill No. 1600
CHAPTER 529
An act to amend Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to disadvantaged communities.
[ Approved by Governor September 27, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1600, Arambula. Disadvantaged communities: farmworker communities.
Existing law defines “disadvantaged communities” and requires the California Environmental Protection Agency to identify disadvantaged communities for investment opportunities from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and for other purposes.
This bill would require the agency to do specified things regarding farmworker communities for purposes of identifying disadvantaged communities including, among other things, assessing whether designating farmworker communities as disadvantaged communities would increase those communities’ access to investment opportunities and identifying potential barriers faced by low-income farmworker communities in accessing investment opportunities, as specified. The bill would require the agency to make its findings publicly available on its internet website and consider those findings when identifying disadvantaged communities. The bill would require the agency and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to develop and implement a strategy for engaging with farmworker communities on environmental, health, and socioeconomic burdens, as provided.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:39711.
(a) (1) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall identify disadvantaged communities for investment opportunities related to this chapter. These communities shall be identified based on geographic, socioeconomic, public health, and environmental hazard criteria, and may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:(A) Areas disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative public health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation.
(B) Areas with concentrations of people that are of low income, high unemployment, low levels of home ownership, high rent burden, sensitive populations, or low levels of educational attainment.
(2) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall additionally consider the findings described in subdivision (c) for purposes of identifying disadvantaged communities.
(b) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall hold at least one public workshop before the identification of disadvantaged communities pursuant to this section.
(c) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall do all of the following, in accordance with subdivision (d):
(1) Assess whether designating farmworker communities as disadvantaged communities would increase those communities’ access to investment opportunities related to this chapter.
(2) Determine, in consultation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, whether there exists public statewide data of sufficient quality and spatial granularity to determine areas with a significant presence of farmworker communities, particularly those engaged in seasonal or migrant labor, for purposes of subdivision (a).
(3) Identify potential barriers faced by low-income farmworker communities in accessing investment opportunities related to this chapter, including, but not limited to, potential barriers based on eligibility criteria or lack of technical support in accessing funding for which those communities are eligible.
(4) Make its findings from paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of this subdivision publicly available on its internet website and consider those findings for purposes of implementing subdivision (a).
(d) (1) The California Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment shall develop and implement a strategy for engaging with farmworker communities on environmental, health, and socioeconomic burdens for purposes of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) and subdivision (c).
(2) The strategy developed and implemented pursuant to paragraph (1) may include conducting outreach and engagement with farmworker communities and with entities that serve or conduct research on farmworker communities, including, but not limited to, community-based organizations, academic or public research institutions, and governmental entities.
(e) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of the Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the identification of disadvantaged communities pursuant to this section.
Text of AB 1600 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions