Relative to California Craft Beer Week.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Ward

Designates July 17–26, 2026 as California Craft Beer Week to celebrate the state’s craft breweries, their economic impact, community contributions, and sustainability.

From committee: Be adopted. Ordered to Third Reading. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 15).

Summary of HR 116 (2025-2026) – Relative to California Craft Beer Week

Purpose and Intent

HR 116 is a California Assembly resolution introduced to proclaim a designated period as California Craft Beer Week. Specifically, it designates July 17, 2026, through July 26, 2026, as California Craft Beer Week.

The resolution highlights the historical development of California’s craft brewing industry and its economic, cultural, and environmental contributions.

Key Provisions

Proclamation: The Assembly officially proclaims July 17–26, 2026, as California Craft Beer Week.

Purpose of designation: To recognize and celebrate the state’s craft breweries, their economic impact, job creation, community contributions, and leadership in sustainability.

Communication: Requests the Chief Clerk of the Assembly to transmit copies of the resolution to the author for distribution.

Impacts and Beneficiaries

Industry: California craft breweries and associated businesses (suppliers, distributors, hospitality venues) receive formal recognition.

Economic and employment context: The bill references the broader industry’s role in California’s economy (e.g., size, employment, wages) to frame the celebration, though it does not create new regulatory or economic mandates.

Community and culture: Acknowledges craft breweries as community gathering points and contributors to charitable giving and environmental stewardship.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Sponsorship: Co-sponsored by Assembly Member Chris Ward.

Legislative action history:

Introduced: June 9, 2026.
Referred to Committee on Rules, Legislative, and Substantive oversight (RLS) on June 15, 2026.
Committee action: Adopted and ordered to Third Reading on June 15, 2026.

Next steps: If approved by the Assembly and any required Senate action (not shown in the provided text), the resolution would become an official designation recognizing California Craft Beer Week for the specified dates.

Contextual Backdrop (as described in the Digest)

The Digest provides a narrative on the origins and growth of California’s craft beer scene, noting:

Founding milestones of notable California craft breweries and legislative changes that supported the industry.
Economic and employment data associated with the craft brewing sector (e.g., billions in economic impact, tens of thousands of jobs, average wages, charitable giving, environmental sustainability).

While the bill itself is ceremonial, the digest frames the resolution within the broader history and significance of California craft beer.

Bottom Line

HR 116 serves to formally designate a one-week period in July 2026 as California Craft Beer Week to honor the state’s craft brewing industry, its economic impact, community contributions, and environmental stewardship. It is a commemorative measure with ceremonial significance, requiring standard legislative approvals to take effect.