WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SCR 176

Relative to National Small Business Month.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Angelique Ashby

California would officially recognize May 2026 as National Small Business Month, highlighting small businesses’ role in mental health awareness and culturally responsive care.

Referred to Com. on RLS.
#nationalsmallbusinessmonth
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SCR 176

Bill at a Glance

  • Jurisdiction: California
  • Session: 2025–2026
  • Bill Type: Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR)
  • Number: SCR 176
  • Introduced: May 5, 2026
  • Sponsor: Senator Angelique Ashby (co-sponsor)
  • Status: As introduced; action history shows passage through committees and consent in late May 2026

1) Purpose and Intent

SCR 176 expresses official recognition by the California Legislature of National Small Business Month in May 2026. The measure emphasizes the important role of small businesses and workplaces in addressing the mental health crisis, reducing stigma, promoting early intervention, and expanding culturally responsive care. It also acknowledges the CalAsian Foundation and its members for their work in advancing mental health awareness and care within small business communities statewide. The resolution encourages Californians to support small businesses during May 2026.

Key framing points:
- Framing small businesses as vital partners in mental health awareness, prevention, and care.
- Emphasizing culturally responsive approaches and outreach to immigrant and multilingual communities.
- Linking small business health and well-being to broader economic outcomes (productivity, absenteeism, workforce stability).

2) Key Provisions and Changes

As a concurrent resolution, SCR 176 would not change statutes or create new programs by itself but would:

  • Proclaim May 2026 as National Small Business Month in California.
  • Affirm the role of small businesses and workplaces as pathways to improved mental health outcomes and culturally responsive care.
  • Recognize the CalAsian Foundation and its members for their efforts to advance mental health awareness, prevention, healing, and care across small business communities statewide.
  • Encourage California residents to support small businesses during the designated month.
  • Direct (via the resolution) transmission of copies of the measure to the author for distribution.

3) Who or What Would Be Affected

  • Primary effect: Official recognition by the California Legislature of National Small Business Month in May 2026.
  • Stakeholders highlighted:
    • Small businesses in California (99.8% of California businesses; about half of private-sector jobs), especially those serving immigrant, multilingual, and culturally diverse communities.
    • Workers and workplaces, insofar as the resolution frames mental health awareness and early intervention as benefits to workforce well-being and productivity.
    • The CalAsian Foundation and its network, acknowledged for leadership in mental health outreach within small business settings.
  • The measure does not mandate new programs, funding, or regulatory changes; instead, it serves a symbolic and policy-affirmation function that could inform future initiatives or collaborations.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: May 5, 2026.
  • Action history (highlights):
    • May 5, 2026: Introduced and referred to a policy committee (RLS – Rules of the Legislature).
    • May 13, 2026: From committee; ordered to third reading (typical step for concurrent resolutions).
    • May 18, 2026: Read and adopted; ordered to the Assembly.
    • May 19, 2026: In Assembly; held at desk.
    • May 26, 2026: Referred to the Committee on Rules, Leadership, and Session (RLS) for final consideration in the Senate/Assembly process as applicable.
  • As a concurrent resolution, passage typically requires approval by both the Senate and the Assembly and does not require the Governor’s signature. It would become part of the official record recognizing National Small Business Month if adopted by both houses.

5) Notable Details

  • Fiscal impact: The digest does not indicate any new funding or fiscal obligations; as a concurrent resolution, it is generally nonbinding and symbolic.
  • Emphasis on cultural and linguistic inclusivity: Highlights the role of small businesses in serving diverse communities and the importance of culturally responsive mental health outreach.
  • Recognizes the month of May 2026 specifically, aligning with National Small Business Week timing.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language brief for the general public or compare SCR 176 to similar recognitions in other states.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.