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AB-949 • 2026

Small Business Retail Theft Solutions Grant Program.

Small Business Retail Theft Solutions Grant Program.

Budget Small Business
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Schiavo
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the amount of funding or the exact improvements expected for small businesses.

Small Business Retail Theft Solutions Grant Program

This law establishes a grant program within the Office of the Small Business Advocate to assist small businesses in preventing and recovering from retail theft.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes the Small Business Retail Theft Solutions Grant Program inside the Office of the Small Business Advocate.
  • Requires consultation with various entities that support small businesses when setting up this program.
  • Enables grants to be given to small businesses if funds are appropriated by the Legislature.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Small business owners in California
  • The Office of the Small Business Advocate

Terms To Know

Office of the Small Business Advocate
A part of the Governor’s Office that helps small businesses by giving advice and support.
Grant Program
A program where money is given to help people or organizations do something important, like preventing retail theft.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill will only work if the Legislature provides funding.
  • It does not specify how much money small businesses can receive from these grants.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  4. 2025-05-14 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  5. 2025-04-22 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  6. 2025-03-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on E.D., G., & H.I.

  7. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  8. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 949, as introduced, Schiavo.
Small Business Retail Theft Solutions Grant Program.
Existing law establishes the Office of Small Business Advocate within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, and prescribes the duties and functions of the Small Business Advocate, who is also the Director of the Office of Small Business Advocate. Existing law requires the Small Business Advocate to, among other things, serve as the principal advocate on behalf of small businesses and to represent the views and interests of small businesses, among other duties. Existing law establishes the California Small Business Technical Assistance Program within the Office of the Small Business Advocate, under the direct authority of the Small Business Advocate, for the purpose of assisting small businesses through free or low-cost one-on-one consulting and low-cost training by entering into grant agreements with one or more small business technical assistance centers.
This bill would establish the Small Business Retail Theft Solutions Grant Program, within the Office of the Small Business Advocate, for the purpose of assisting small businesses prevent and recover from retail theft. The bill would require the office, in implementing the program, to consult with local, regional, federal, and other state public and private entities that share a mission to support the needs of small businesses in California. Upon appropriation of funds by the Legislature for implementing these provisions, the bill would require the office to make grants to small businesses to expand the capacity of small business to prevent and recover from retail theft.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF