AB-742 • 2026

Department of Consumer Affairs: licensing: applicants who are descendants of slaves.

Labor

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor: Elhawary
Last action: 2026-01-22
Official status: Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status is 'Vetoed' and there are no further actions mentioned to override this veto.

Department of Consumer Affairs: Licensing for Descendants of Slaves

This law would require the Department of Consumer Affairs to expedite license applications for descendants of American slaves if a certification process is set up by another bill, SB 518.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Consumer Affairs and its boards to expedite license applications for applicants who are certified as descendants of American slaves once a certification process is implemented.

Who It Names or Affects

People seeking professional licenses in California who can be certified as descendants of American slaves.
The Department of Consumer Affairs and its licensing boards.

Terms To Know

Descendants of American Slaves: People whose ancestors were enslaved in the United States.
Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery: A new office that would be created to certify people as descendants of slaves if another bill passes.

Limits and Unknowns

The law will only work if SB 518 is also passed and creates a certification process.
This rule will end after four years or by January 1, 2032, whichever comes first.

Bill History

2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
Vetoed by Governor.
2025-09-22 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-10 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 16. Page 3200.).
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 9. Page 2734.).
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
2025-08-18 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-07 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (July 7). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and JUD.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 14. Page 2031.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (May 23).
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-04-08 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2025-03-17 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
2025-03-13 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on B. & P. and JUD.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
2025-02-18 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 742, Elhawary.
Department of Consumer Affairs: licensing: applicants who are descendants of slaves.
Existing law establishes the Department of Consumer Affairs, which is composed of specified boards that license and regulate various professions. Existing law requires those boards to expedite the licensure process for an applicant who holds a current license in another jurisdiction in the same profession or vocation and supplies evidence that they are married to or in a domestic partnership or other legal union with an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is assigned to a duty station in this state under official active duty military orders.
This bill would require those boards to
expedite applications for applicants seeking licensure who are descendants of American slaves once a process to certify descendants of American slaves is implemented, as specified.
This bill would make these provisions operative only if SB 518 of the 2025–26 Regular Session is enacted establishing the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery, and would make these provisions operative when the certification process
is implemented pursuant to that measure. The bill would repeal these provisions 4 years from the date on which they become operative or on January 1, 2032, whichever is earlier.

Current Bill Text

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