AB-1496
Agriculture & Food

Cannabis task force.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a state cannabis task force to coordinate enforcement between state, local, and tribal authorities.
  • Requires biannual meetings led by the Department of Cannabis Control to address illegal markets and regulations.
  • Includes representatives from seven state agencies and participating local jurisdictions.
  • Exempts task force meetings from public access laws to protect sensitive law enforcement information.

Summary

Assembly Member Blanca Rubio's cannabis regulation legislation reestablishes a state-local coordination task force that expired in January 2025, while expanding its scope to include tribal governmental entities that regulate commercial cannabis activities.

The task force brings together representatives from seven state agencies - including the Department of Cannabis Control, California Highway Patrol, and Department of Justice - along with participating local jurisdictions and tribal governments. Local and tribal participants may send representatives from designated cannabis regulators, law enforcement agencies, or legal offices. Meeting twice per fiscal year via teleconference, the group addresses enforcement against unlicensed operations, social equity programs, licensing requirements, and labor compliance under the Department of Cannabis Control's leadership.

The legislation maintains the previous task force's exemption from California's open meeting laws, with authors citing the need to protect sensitive investigation details and allow candid information sharing among enforcement agencies. The bill's findings state these limitations aim to prevent premature disclosure that could compromise administrative, civil, or criminal cases while enabling fuller coordination between jurisdictions.

This task force operates within the existing regulatory framework established by the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act and the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, which consolidated cannabis oversight under the Department of Cannabis Control while preserving local authority over cannabis businesses. The legislation requires no new appropriations, utilizing current departmental resources for implementation.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Introduced. To print.
Assembly Floor
Introduced. To print.
Introduced. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Blanca RubioD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 6 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca RubioD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-993
Cannabis Task Force.
February 2023
Passed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Blanca Rubio
Blanca RubioD
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/1/2025)

Latest Voting History

May 1, 2025
PASS
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
760379PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a state cannabis task force to coordinate enforcement between state, local, and tribal authorities.
  • Requires biannual meetings led by the Department of Cannabis Control to address illegal markets and regulations.
  • Includes representatives from seven state agencies and participating local jurisdictions.
  • Exempts task force meetings from public access laws to protect sensitive law enforcement information.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Blanca Rubio
Blanca RubioD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Blanca Rubio's cannabis regulation legislation reestablishes a state-local coordination task force that expired in January 2025, while expanding its scope to include tribal governmental entities that regulate commercial cannabis activities.

The task force brings together representatives from seven state agencies - including the Department of Cannabis Control, California Highway Patrol, and Department of Justice - along with participating local jurisdictions and tribal governments. Local and tribal participants may send representatives from designated cannabis regulators, law enforcement agencies, or legal offices. Meeting twice per fiscal year via teleconference, the group addresses enforcement against unlicensed operations, social equity programs, licensing requirements, and labor compliance under the Department of Cannabis Control's leadership.

The legislation maintains the previous task force's exemption from California's open meeting laws, with authors citing the need to protect sensitive investigation details and allow candid information sharing among enforcement agencies. The bill's findings state these limitations aim to prevent premature disclosure that could compromise administrative, civil, or criminal cases while enabling fuller coordination between jurisdictions.

This task force operates within the existing regulatory framework established by the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act and the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, which consolidated cannabis oversight under the Department of Cannabis Control while preserving local authority over cannabis businesses. The legislation requires no new appropriations, utilizing current departmental resources for implementation.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/1/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Introduced. To print.
Assembly Floor
Introduced. To print.
Introduced. To print.

Latest Voting History

May 1, 2025
PASS
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
760379PASS

Contacts

Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Blanca RubioD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 6 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca RubioD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-993
Cannabis Task Force.
February 2023
Passed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1