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: 2026-04-24
Official status: Set for hearing May 4.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program

This law establishes a grant program within the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to provide up to $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 control of the Small Business Advocate (Director).
Provides grants up to $20 million to eligible independent live music events promoters.
Specifies requirements for eligibility and requires the office to allocate funds subject to appropriation by the Legislature.

Who It Names or Affects

Independent live music event promoters in California who qualify for the grant program.
The Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) which will manage the grants.

Terms To Know

GO-Biz: Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development
Small Business Advocate: Director of the Office of Small Business Advocate within GO-Biz

Limits and Unknowns

The program will only operate if the Legislature allocates $20 million for it.

Bill History

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.) (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