WHERE THINGS STAND IN CALIFORNIA
As of July 2026
In 2026, two things have been happening in the California state legislature with respect to the Corporate Power Reset strategy.
- A bill intended to enact the Coporate Power Reset strategy was introduced.
- A joint resolution was passed. However, unlike a bill, a joint resolution does not have force of law.
To follow what is happening, you first need to know what it takes to pass a law in California.
Two Ways to Pass a Law
California has two ways to pass policies, i.e. to make them into laws:
- bills, which get passed by the state legislature, i.e. the elected state representatives.
- ballot initiatives, which ordinary citizens can vote on directly during elections.
To find out what the process is for each option, see our How to Pass State Laws page.
It is expected that a bill for the Croporate Power Reset will be introduced during the next legislative cycle, probably in January 2027.
Our goal is to get such a bill to pass. Indeed, unlike the Joint Resoltuion being curently considered, it would have force of law.
What It Takes to Pass a Law
Getting an important policy like the Corporate Power Reset to become law typically requires several attempts, that is several bills introduced in successive legislative cycles.
A first bill is introduced in one of the two state chambers, either the Assembly or the Senate, and starts following the process necessary to pass (for more detail see To Pass a Bill). To be successful, it needs to complete the entire process before the end of the legislative cycle during which it was introduced (cycle which lasts 2 years in California).
Generally, it first fails along the way: the bill “dies”. However, the policy this bill incarnates only dies in the same sense as character does in a video game character: it can be resurrected, only it goes back to square one. During a following legislative session, a new bill (with a new name) can be introduced to again attempt to pass the policy, starting its journey back at square one.
Like a respawned game character, the policy typically gets further the next time around. That is because the process gives it the opportunity to gain support: more and more legislators get to debate it and often amend how the bill is written, making it less objectionable in the process.
![Animated pixel-art diagram of a bill's legislative journey as an arcade game.
A character labeled Bill climbs 3 levels of stacked platforms representing steps required to pass the bill.
The 3 levels are Chamber 1, Chamber 2, and Governor. The level Chamber 1 has steps labelled Introduced, Taken up by committee(s),
Sent on by committee(s), Passed on the floor, the level Chamber 2 has steps labelled Taken up by committee(s),
Sent on by committee(s), Passed on the floor, and the level Governor has one step labelled Avoid Governor's veto.
As Bill climbs, it accumulates support (shown as hearts, like extra lives). On some platforms Bill dies,
and it then respawns on the bottom step, illustrating how a bill that fails can be reintroduced in a next legislative cycle,
but starts the process all over again. Bottom text reads [Insert Support to Continue Legislating],
echoing an arcade Insert Coin to Continue prompt.](/assets/img/legislative_arcade_respawn.webp)
The aim of the game is for the policy to gather enough support for it to cross the finish line and become law.
Ordinary citizens like us can have a huge impact here, by urging our representatives to support it.
Where We Stand With the Bill
And this game has already begun: a first bill incarnating the Corporate Power Reset was introduced in the California State Assembly earlier this year, in February 2026. It is called AB 1984, and it has now “died”. In this first round:
- its text was amended, which should help its successor bill gain support more easily next time.
- it gained support among representatives. The simplest way to measure support among legislators is to look at the number of co-authors a bill has: a co-author is a representative who formally backs a bill. AB 1984 went from 1 to 12 co-authors.
The Joint Resolution SJR 18 was introduced notably so that the process of gathering support for the policy can continue and gain momentum, to help pass its next bill incarnation.
To find out how to help with this process, see page:
Dive Deeper
Bill AB 1984: Key Dates
AB-1984 – Key Dates
- Feb 13 – Introduced in the CA Assembly by Assemblymember Chris Rogers (District 2).
- Mar 2 – Referred to Banking & Finance and Judiciary Committees.
- Apr 6 – Heard by Banking & Finance for testimony only (no vote taken).
- Apr 16 – Bill amended to address 501(c)(4) nonprofit concerns.
- Apr 20 – Re-referred to Banking & Finance; no hearing scheduled.
- May 15 – Deadline to reach the Assembly floor: not met.
Bill killed – session ends before the bill passes.
Bill AB 1984: Links to Official Documents
Bill History (CA Legislative Information): view here
The chronological record of every action taken on AB 1984 — introduction, committee referrals and votes, amendments, and floor deadlines — since it was introduced in the Assembly.
Bill Text (CA Legislative Information): view here
The full text of the bill, including all prior versions (as introduced, and as amended April 16 to address 501(c)(4) nonprofit concerns).
Bill Status (CA Legislative Information): view here
A snapshot summary page showing the bill's author, coauthors, current location, and latest action, without the full action-by-action history.
Bill Analysis (CA Legislative Information): view here
Staff analyses prepared for the Banking & Finance and Judiciary Committee hearings on AB 1984, explaining the bill's background, arguments for and against, and any vote counts.
The Joint Resolution
In august 2026, a Joint Resolution called SJR 18 (“Senate Joint Resolution 18”) was passed by the California legislature, i.e. by our elected state representatives.
SJR 18 expresses '' the Legislature's strong disagreement with the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and encourage states to adopt policies to limit the powers of corporations to contribute to political campaigns, consistent with the United States Constitution. ''
A Joint Resolution does not have force of law. However, resolutions can help pass the corresponding laws, as we saw above.
In order to pass, a Joint Resolution, like a bill, goes through committees before reaching the floor of a chamber, and it needs to pass both chambers. Unlike a bill however, it does not require the Governor's attention.
SJR 18 has now succesfully completed this process. It has now been adopted by both chambers of the Legislature and recorded as official by the Secretary of State, the state's record keeper.
Dive Deeper
Resolution SJR 18: Key Dates
- May 14, 2026 – Introduced in the CA Senate by Senator Jerry McNerney; referred to Com. on Rules.
- May 27, 2026 – Re-referred to Senate Committees on Elections & Constitutional Amendments and Judiciary.
- June 2, 2026 – Amended by the author; read second time; re-referred to the Elections & Constitutional Amendments Committee.
- June 9, 2026 – Passed the Judiciary Committee (Ayes 4, Noes 0); passed the Elections Committee, ordered to third reading (Ayes 10, Noes 2).
- June 11, 2026 – Passed the Senate (Ayes 28, Noes 8). Transmitted to the Assembly.
- June 15, 2026 – Referred to the Assembly Committee on Elections.
- July 1, 2026 – Passed the Assembly Elections Committee (Ayes 6, Noes 2); ordered to third reading.
- August 17, 2026 – Passed on the Assembly Floor.. Was sent back to the Senate for preparation of the final official copy, because the chamber in which a joint resolution is introduced is responsible for preparing the final official copy.
- August 24, 2026 – Enrolled
and filed with the Secretary of State,
i.e. the final official copy was prepared by Senate staff,
certified by the Secretary of the Senate ("enrolled") and it was then delivered
to the
Secretary of State.
Chaptered by the Secretary of State, i.e. The Secretary of State recorded it officially and gave it a chapter number (its place in the official record of what the Legislature passed in 2026): Resolution Chapter 207, Statutes of 2026.
Resolution SJR 18: Links to Official Documents
Its Text (CA Legislative Information): view here
The full text of the resolution, including all prior versions (as introduced, and as amended). This is where you can read the actual whereas clauses and resolved clauses of SJR 18.
Its History (CA Legislative Information): view here
The chronological record of every action taken on SJR 18 — introduction, committee referrals and votes, amendments, and floor votes — in both the Senate and the Assembly.
Its Status (CA Legislative Information): view here
A snapshot summary page showing the resolution's author, coauthors, current location, and latest action, without the full action-by-action history.
Its Analysis (CA Legislative Information): view here
Staff analyses prepared for each committee hearing on SJR 18, explaining the resolution's background, arguments for and against, and vote counts at each committee stage.