Bill Text: CA AB655 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Bill 655

Bill Title: California-Mexico Border Relations Council.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2025-07-14 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 41, Statutes of 2025. [AB655 Detail]

Download: California-2025-AB655-Chaptered.html

Assembly Bill No. 655

CHAPTER 41

An act to amend Section 99522 of the Government Code, relating to state government.

[ Approved by Governor July 14, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State July 14, 2025. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 655, Alvarez. California-Mexico Border Relations Council.

Existing law establishes the California-Mexico Border Relations Council in state government, and prescribes the membership and functions and duties of the council with respect to coordinating the activities of state agencies that are related to cross-border programs, initiatives, projects, and partnerships that exist within state agencies, to improve the effectiveness of state and local efforts that are of concern between California and Mexico.

This bill would authorize the Speaker of the Assembly to appoint a Member of the Assembly and the President pro Tempore to appoint a Member of the Senate who each represent a district that shares a border with Mexico to the council to serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member, as specified.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 99522 of the Government Code is amended to read:

99522.

(a) The California-Mexico Border Relations Council is hereby established in state government.

(b) The council shall consist of eight voting members as follows:

(1) The Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

(2) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.

(3) The Secretary for Environmental Protection.

(4) The Secretary of California Health and Human Services.

(5) The Secretary of Transportation.

(6) The Secretary of Food and Agriculture.

(7) The Secretary of Business, Consumer Services, and Housing.

(8) The Director of Emergency Services.

(c) The Regional Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, may appoint a representative from their staff to serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the council.

(d) The Speaker of the Assembly may appoint a Member of the Assembly and the President pro Tempore may appoint a Member of the Senate who each represent a district that shares a border with Mexico to serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the council. The members shall serve at the pleasure of the Speaker of the Assembly or the President pro Tempore, as applicable, and participate in the activities of the council to the extent that their participation is not incompatible with their respective position as a Member of the Legislature.

(e) The Secretary for Environmental Protection shall chair the council.