Bill Text: CA SB729 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 729

Bill Title: State of emergency: nonprofit liaison.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Failed) 2026-02-02 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB729 Detail]

Download: California-2025-SB729-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate March 26, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 729

Introduced by Senator Limón

February 21, 2025

An act to ~~amend Section 51238.5 of~~ add Section 8586.4 to the Government Code, relating to ~~local~~ state government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 729, as amended, Limón. ~~Williamson Act: agricultural preserves.~~ State of emergency: nonprofit liaison.

Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, among other things, creates the Office of Emergency Services (OES), which is responsible for the state’s emergency and disaster response services, as specified. The OES is under the supervision of the Director of Emergency Services. During a state of war emergency, a state of emergency, or a local emergency, existing law requires the director to coordinate the emergency activities of all state agencies in connection with that emergency.
This bill would require certain state agencies to establish a nonprofit liaison for nonprofit organizations to contact during a state of emergency. The bill would require the nonprofit liaison to coordinate with state entities and local agencies to provide resources and information to nonprofit organizations during state of emergency relief efforts and support nonprofit organization efforts for increased access to available grants during state of emergency response periods. The bill would require the nonprofit liaison role to be combined with existing roles in the state agency.
Existing law, the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a county board of supervisors or a city council to agree to indemnify an owner of land who agrees to permit the use of their land for free public recreation against all claims arising from that public use. The act authorizes a city, county, housing authority, state agency, or nonprofit organization to indemnify an owner of land who agrees to permit the use of their land for agricultural laborer housing facilities, as specified, against all claims arising from that use.
~~This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.~~

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 8586.4 is added to the Government Code, to read:

8586.4.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Nonprofit organization” means a tax-exempt organization as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(2) “State agency” means any of the following:
(A) Office of Emergency Services.
(B) Department of General Services.
(C) Department of Housing and Community Development.
(D) Department of Insurance.
(E) Franchise Tax Board.
(b) A state agency shall establish a nonprofit liaison for nonprofit organizations to contact during a state of emergency.
(1) The nonprofit liaison shall do both of the following:
(A) Coordinate with state entities and local agencies to provide resources and information to nonprofit organizations during state of emergency relief efforts, including, but not limited to, providing information about access to grants and reducing barriers.
(B) Support nonprofit organization efforts for increased access to available grants during state of emergency response periods.
(2) The nonprofit liaison role shall be combined with existing roles in the state agency.

SECTION 1.Section 51238.5 of the Government Code is amended to read:
51238.5.
(a)If an owner of land agrees to permit the use of their land for free public recreation, the board or council may agree to indemnify the owner against all claims arising from that public use. The owner’s agreement that the land be used for free, public recreation shall not be construed as an implied dedication to that use.
(b)If an owner of land agrees to permit the use of their land for agricultural laborer housing facilities authorized pursuant to Section 51238, the city, county, housing authority, state agency, or nonprofit organization may indemnify the owner against all claims arising from that use.