SB-865 • 2026

California Music Festival Preservation 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: Ashby
Last action: 2026-06-04
Official status: Referred to Com. on A.,E.,S., & T.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact requirements for eligibility, leaving some uncertainty about what specific conditions promoters must meet.

California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program

This law establishes a grant program within the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to provide $20 million in grants for eligible independent live music event promoters to preserve large-scale music festivals.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program inside GO-Biz, under the direct authority of the director.
Provides grants to eligible independent live music events promoters who meet certain requirements.
Requires GO-Biz to allocate $20 million in grants if the state legislature decides to fund it.

Who It Names or Affects

Independent live music event promoters who want to preserve large-scale music festivals.
Californians who attend these music festivals and enjoy access to arts events.

Terms To Know

GO-Biz: The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, which helps small businesses in California.
Eligible independent live music events promoters: Companies or individuals who organize large-scale music festivals and meet the requirements set by GO-Biz to receive grants.

Limits and Unknowns

The program only works if the state legislature decides to fund it with $20 million.
It is not clear how many promoters will qualify for these grants or what specific conditions they must meet.

Bill History

2026-06-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on A.,E.,S., & T.
2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 1.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-05-08 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 14.
2026-05-04 California Legislative Information
May 4 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 1. Page 3954.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 20.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
2026-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-01-06 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 5.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 865, as amended, Ashby.
California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program.
Existing law establishes the Office of Small Business Advocate within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, also known as “GO-Biz,” and provides for the appointment by the Governor of the Small Business Advocate, also known as the Director of the Office of Small Business Advocate, to, among other things, serve as the principal advocate in the state on behalf of small businesses.
This bill would establish the California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program within the office, under the direct authority of the director, to provide grants to eligible independent live music events promoters
to preserve large-scale music festivals and
to support their continued ability to
provide equitable access to the arts for all Californians. The bill would specify requirements for eligibility and, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, would require the office to allocate the sum of $20,000,000 in grants to eligible independent live music events promoters that meet those requirements.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF