Fairs: funding.

Agriculture Budget

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Connolly
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify which fairs will receive funding, leaving this detail uncertain.

Funding for California Fairs

This law changes how money in the Fair and Exposition Fund can be used to support various projects at fairs, including health, fire safety, emergency services, compliance with state regulations, and maintenance.

What This Bill Does

Changes how money from the Fair and Exposition Fund can be spent on California fairs.
Allows money to be used for public health, fire and life safety, and emergency service improvements at fairs.
Requires money to cover compliance with state regulations and maintenance projects at fairgrounds.
Limits up to 5% of fund money each year to help the Department of Food and Agriculture manage the network of California fairs.

Who It Names or Affects

California fairs
The Secretary of Food and Agriculture

Terms To Know

Fair and Exposition Fund: A special fund that holds money for projects at California fairs.
Capital outlay: Money spent on big purchases like buildings or equipment.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will be in the Fair and Exposition Fund each year.
It is unclear exactly which fairs will receive funding from this law.

Bill History

2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on AGRI.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on AGRI. Read second time and amended.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on AGRI.
2026-02-05 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 7.
2026-02-04 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1711, as amended, Connolly.
Fairs: funding.
Existing law appropriates certain unallocated moneys and other specified moneys deposited into the Fair and Exposition Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture for capital outlay to California fairs for, among other things, fair projects involving public health and safety, fair projects involving major and deferred maintenance, and fair projects necessary due to any emergency, as specified.
This bill would instead appropriate those moneys described above to the secretary for capital outlay to California fairs for fair projects involving public health, fire and life safety, and emergency services improvement projects at fairs, California Code of Regulations compliance projects, and maintenance projects at fairgrounds, as specified. By expanding the purposes for which those moneys may be used, the bill would
make an appropriation. The bill would provide that not more than 5% of the moneys in the fund may be
used during any fiscal year to augment the budget of the Department of Food and Agriculture to develop and administer an operational and policy framework for the network of California fairs.
retained in the fund from year to year as a prudent reserve for contingencies.
The bill would require all available
funds
moneys
in the fund to be allocated to the network of California fairs pursuant to an approved expenditure plan no later than December 31 of each calendar year.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF