Bill
AB 2745
Creates a Global Partnership Advisory Body and five-year strategy to expand GO-Biz international trade activities, including regional hubs and foreign offices.
Jurisdiction: California
Bill Number: AB 2745
Author/Coauthors: Assembly Member Fong (coauthor: Harabedian); sponsors: John Harabedian, Mike Fong
Status: Amended and referred through the Assembly in 2026; awaiting approval processes (as of the provided text). Key provisions expand GO-Biz authorities and create a new advisory body to guide international trade and investment strategy.
Purpose and Intent
- Recast and expand California’s existing International Trade and Investment Program overseen by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
- Establish the Global Partnership Advisory Body to advise the GO-Biz Director on international trade and investment needs, priorities, and implementation.
- Require a five-year, publicly reviewed strategic plan for the program, developed in consultation with the advisory body, and subject to public hearings.
- Authorize the creation of regional trade assistance hubs and international trade offices (including outside the United States) to promote foreign direct investment, exports, and related activities.
- Increase the allowable use of funds from GO-Biz for international trade and investment activities and set reporting requirements for private donations.
Key Provisions and Changes
1) Global Partnership Advisory Body
- GO-Biz Director must convene the Global Partnership Advisory Body by March 1, 2027.
- Composition: representatives from small, medium, and large businesses; NGOs (including chambers of commerce); government representatives; workforce training; banking/finance; transportation/logistics.
- Purpose: provide advice on business needs and priorities related to international trade and investment (serve as a statewide business partnership for international trade).
2) Five-Year Strategy for International Trade and Investment Program
- GO-Biz must develop and present a five-year strategy for implementing the international trade and investment program.
- The strategy must be developed in consultation with the Global Partnership Advisory Body.
- The strategy must include goals, performance metrics, implementation tactics, impediments, stakeholder partnerships, funding options, and an organizational structure.
- The strategy must be submitted to legislative leadership and reviewed in at least one public hearing in each house within 60 business days of submission.
- The strategy must be updated at least every five years.
3) Regional Trade Assistance Hubs and International Offices
- GO-Biz may establish regional trade assistance hubs within California through a competitive designation process.
- Hubs must support international trade and investment services across California regions, with preference given to applicants that can secure nonstate funding or in-kind support.
- GO-Biz may establish international trade offices outside the United States, in countries with high potential for California investment/export growth, subject to budgetary incorporation and program strategy requirements.
4) Budget, Spending, and Funding Arrangements
- Economic Development and Trade Promotion Account: GO-Biz can expend up to $500,000 for international market development activities, trade shows, missions, promotional events, and staffing (increased from $200,000 previously).
- Private donations and nonstate funds: Donations must be reported publicly within 30 days of receipt, including donor information, dates, and designated purposes.
- Nonstate funds may be deposited into the Economic Development and Trade Promotion Account and used under specified provisions, with reporting and potential representational expenditures (e.g., meals/gifts) capped as described.
5) Administrative and Oversight Improvements
- GO-Biz may contract with a nonprofit to operate an international trade office and must ensure reporting requirements are met for donations used to fund such offices.
- Conflict-of-interest and gift policies must be developed for GO-Biz and its international offices.
- Provisions emphasize coordination with existing state, federal, and private sector trade programs and ensure alignment with California’s broader infrastructure, workforce, and economic development strategies.
Who is Affected
- GO-Biz and the Governor’s Office staff who manage international trade and investment programs.
- California-based businesses of all sizes seeking export opportunities, foreign investment, or partnerships.
- Private donors and nonstate funders supporting international offices or activities.
- Regions within California that may host regional trade hubs.
- Stakeholders in chambers of commerce, workforce training organizations, banks/financiers, and transportation/logistics sectors.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Mandatory convening of the Global Partnership Advisory Body by March 1, 2027.
- Submission of the five-year strategy to the Legislature with at least one public hearing requirement.
- Biennial or periodic designations and reviews of regional hubs (biennial review of hub designations).
- Five-year strategy updates required; budget and program plans must be prepared and transmitted to legislative leadership.
- Annual reporting on donations within 30 days of receipt.
Overall Impact
AB 2745 aims to modernize California’s international trade promotion framework by broadening GO-Biz activities, formalizing stakeholder partnership and public input, expanding funding and geographic reach (including foreign offices and regional hubs), and improving transparency around nonstate funding. The bill seeks to position California to attract foreign direct investment, increase exports, and strengthen the state’s capacity to coordinate across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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