AB 1823: State government: State Government Strategic Planning and Performance and Review Act: strategic plans: equity.

California · Assembly · 2025–2026 Regular Session · last verified May 16, 2026

What AB 1823 does, verified May 16, 2026

The bill requires each state agency or department to develop a strategic plan to advance racial equity. The plan must include a description of elements to be included and a process for developing and adopting the plan. Agencies must report to the governor and the joint legislative budget committee by April 1 each year on the steps taken to develop and adopt a strategic plan. Before implementing any budget or regulation, agencies must undertake a racial equity analysis. If an agency does not have a diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, the analysis must be performed by an individual with expertise in specified areas, including analyzing public policies that impact racial equity. This ensures that state government operations are more inclusive and equitable.

Bill journey

1IntroducedCurrent

2In CommitteePending

3First Chamber FloorPending

4Second ChamberPending

5GovernorPending

6ChapteredPending

Last action: In committee: Held under submission. (2026-05-14)Alert me

Author and sponsors

Asm. Corey JacksonAuthor · California State Assembly

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Coauthors

Esmeralda Soria

Recent actions9 total · showing 5

May. 14, 2026	In committee: Held under submission.
Apr. 22, 2026	In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
Apr. 09, 2026	From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 5.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Apr. 09, 2026	Coauthors revised.
Mar. 23, 2026	Re-referred to Com. on G.O.

Full action history, 4 earlier actionsConnect Plus

Latest bill textAmended version, March 19, 2026 · 752 words

Amended IN Assembly March 19, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1823

Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson

February 11, 2026

An act to add Section 11818 to the Government Code, relating to state government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1823, as amended, Jackson. State government: ~~California Equity Act.~~ State Government Strategic Planning and Performance and Review Act: strategic plans: equity.

Existing law creates, within the Government Operations Agency, a Chief Equity Officer, who is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Governor. Existing law requires the Chief Equity Officer to improve equity and inclusion throughout state government operations and authorizes the Chief Equity Officer to engage with state entities for these purposes.

The State Government Strategic Planning and Performance and Review Act requires each agency, department, office, or commission for which strategic planning efforts are recommended, as specified, to develop a strategic plan and to report to the Governor and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by April 1 each year on the steps being taken to develop and adopt a strategic plan. The act requires the report to include a description of the elements to be included in the strategic plan, the process for developing and adopting the strategic plan, and the timetable for the plan’s completion.
This bill would additionally require every state agency or department subject to the Governor’s authority to take specified actions in regard to any strategic plan to more effectively advance racial equity, as specified, and to undertake a racial equity analysis before implementing any budget or before any regulation takes effect, by the agency’s or department’s diversity, equity, and inclusion officer or comparable position. If that position does not exist within the agency or department, the bill would require the analysis to be performed by an individual who has demonstrated expertise, and demonstrated satisfaction of appropriate criteria, in specified areas including analyzing, implementing, or developing public policies that impact racial equity.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish a statewide definition of equity so that legislation, policies, resource allocations, and systemic practices empower and meet the unique needs of diverse and underserved populations, and so that communities facing the greatest inequities are not negatively affected or left behind in the allocation of resources in a fair and just way.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NOYES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 11818 is added to the Government Code, immediately following Section 11817, to read:

11818.
(a) Every agency or department subject to the Governor’s authority shall, for any strategic plan, do both of the following:
(1) Develop or update the strategic plan to reflect the use of data analysis and inclusive practices to more effectively advance racial equity and to respond to identified disparities with changes to the organization’s mission, vision, goals, data tools, policies, programs, operations, community engagement, tribal consultation policies and practices, and any other actions as necessary to serve all Californians.
(2) As part of the development or updating of strategic plans, engage and gather input from California communities that have been historically disadvantaged and underserved within the scope of policies or programs administered or implemented by the agency or department and make the plans publicly available.
(b) Every agency or department subject to the Governor’s authority shall undertake a racial equity analysis before implementing any budget or before any regulation takes effect, by the agency’s or department’s diversity, equity, and inclusion officer or comparable position. If that position does not exist, the racial equity analysis shall be performed by an individual who has demonstrated expertise, and has demonstrated satisfaction of appropriate criteria, in at least one of the following areas:
(1) Analyzing, implementing, or developing public policies that impact racial equity.
(2) Providing technical assistance in developing and implementing strategies for racial equity, including, but not limited to, guidance on employee training and support, developing racial equity programming, and assisting organizations and departments on changing policies and practices to improve racial equity outcomes.
(3) Being a member of or representing a racial equity-focused organization that works with an impacted community.

SECTION 1.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish a statewide definition of equity to ensure that legislation, policies, resource allocations, and systemic practices empower and meet the unique needs of diverse and underserved populations, and to ensure that communities facing the greatest inequities are not negatively affected or left behind in the allocation of resources in a fair and just way.

Text of AB 1823 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions