Assembly BillPassed first houseFood and Agriculture
AB 644: Exposition Park: Holocaust memorial.
What AB 644 does, verified December 7, 2025
The bill proposes to establish a Holocaust memorial at exposition park, a state-owned facility managed by the Natural Resources Agency. The memorial will be designed and maintained by a nonprofit organization in collaboration with the agency, the legislature, and the Department of General Services. The agency will review preliminary design plans to identify potential maintenance concerns and ensure that the memorial's operating policies align with exposition park's procedures. The nonprofit organization will prepare an agreement for the long-term maintenance and security of the memorial, which must be approved by the agency and the Department of General Services. The provisions of the bill will only be implemented upon appropriation by the legislature. The bill aims to honor the victims and survivors of the Holocaust by creating a lasting memorial at exposition park.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
4Second ChamberCurrent
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Grayson. (2025-06-02)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions27 total · showing 5
| Sep. 13, 2025 | Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Grayson. |
| Sep. 04, 2025 | Ordered to third reading. |
| Sep. 04, 2025 | From special consent calendar. |
| Sep. 02, 2025 | Ordered to special consent calendar. |
| Aug. 29, 2025 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
Latest bill textAmended version, July 1, 2025 · 939 words
| Amended IN Senate July 01, 2025 |
| Amended IN Assembly May 23, 2025 |
| Amended IN Assembly March 28, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 644
| Introduced by Assembly Members Gabriel and Bauer-Kahan (Principal coauthors: Senators Stern and Wiener) (Coauthor: Assembly Member Boerner) |
February 13, 2025 |
An act to add Section 4108.5 to the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to memorials.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 644, as amended, Gabriel. Exposition Park: Holocaust memorial.
Existing law establishes the Natural Resources Agency, composed of departments, boards, conservancies, and commissions responsible for the restoration, protection, and management of the state’s natural and cultural resources. Existing law establishes within the Natural Resources Agency the Sixth District Agricultural Association, known as Exposition Park.
Existing law establishes the Department of General Services in the Government Operations Agency for purposes of providing centralized services of state government, including, among other things, planning, acquiring, constructing, and maintaining state buildings and property.
This bill would authorize the agency to enter into a noncompetitive grant with a nonprofit organization, as defined, specified. The bill would authorize the nonprofit organization, in consultation with the agency, the Legislature, and the department, to plan, construct, and maintain a memorial to the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, Holocaust at Exposition Park, as specified. The bill would require Exposition Park to consult with the Legislature for any issues that may arise between the planning and design of the memorial and the operating policies and procedures at Exposition Park. The bill would require the agency, department, in consultation with the nonprofit organization, organization and the agency, to, among other things, review final construction documents to ensure that the documents comply with all applicable laws and to inspect all construction performed by the contractor selected by the nonprofit organization. the preliminary design plans to identify potential maintenance concerns. The bill would require the nonprofit organization, in consultation with Exposition Park and the Legislature, and with the approval of the agency, and the department, to prepare certain items, including an agreement for the long-term maintenance and security of the memorial. The bill would require its provisions to be implemented only upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would make findings related to the above provisions.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 4108.5 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:4108.5.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) “Agency” means the Natural Resources Agency.
(2) “Department” means the Department of General Services.
(3) “Exposition Park” means the Sixth District Agricultural Association, and shall also be known as the Office of Exposition Park Management.
(2)
(4)
“Nonprofit organization” means a recognized nonprofit organization that is tax exempt pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that represents victims and survivors of the Holocaust.(b) Consistent with funding and authority provided in the annual Budget Act, the agency may enter into a noncompetitive grant with a nonprofit organization, subject to the requirements of this section.
(b)A
(c) The nonprofit organization, in consultation with the agency, the Legislature, and the department, may plan, construct, and maintain a memorial to the victims and survivors of the Holocaust at Exposition Park in accordance with this section. The memorial shall be consistent with the operating policies and procedures of the Office of Exposition Park Management, including the location of the memorial. The Office of Exposition Park Management shall consult with the Legislature for any issues that may arise between the planning and design of the memorial and the operating policies and procedures at Exposition Park.
(d) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that the location of the memorial at Exposition Park be conspicuously placed and provide adequate space for visitors to engage the structure.
(2) It is the further intent of the Legislature that the following shall be taken into consideration in the design of the memorial: how the memorial can promote further learning and education about the Holocaust and contemporary antisemitism.
(c)
(e) The agency, department, in consultation with the nonprofit organization, organization and the agency, shall do all of the following:
(1) Review the preliminary design plans to identify potential maintenance concerns.
(2)Ensure compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.) and other safety concerns.
(3)
(2)
Review and approve any documents prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).(4)
(3)
Review final construction documents to ensure that the documents comply with all applicable laws.(5)Prepare the right-of-entry permit outlining the final area of work, final construction documents, construction plans, the contractor hired to perform the work, insurance, bonding, provisions for damage to state property, and inspection requirements.
(6)
(4)
Inspect all construction performed by the contractor selected by the nonprofit organization pursuant to this section.(7)Regularly maintain the memorial in accordance with the agency’s general maintenance responsibilities.
(f) The nonprofit organization, in consultation with the Office of Exposition Park Management and Legislature, and with the approval of the agency and department, shall do both of the following:
(1) Prepare the right-of-entry permit outlining the final area of work, final construction documents, construction plans, the contractor hired to perform the work, insurance, bonding, provisions for damage to state property, and inspection requirements.
(2) Prepare an agreement for the long-term maintenance and security of the memorial.
(d)
(g) This section shall be implemented only upon appropriation by the Legislature for its purposes in the Budget Act or other statute.
Text of AB 644 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions