California AB 254: California-Ireland Trade Commission.

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 |Add To My Favorites |Track Bill | Version: 05/23/25 - Amended Assembly
 01/15/25 - Introduced

 AB-254 California-Ireland Trade Commission.(2025-2026)

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 Date Published: 05/24/2025 04:00 AM

AB254:v98#DOCUMENTBill Start

 Amended
 IN 
 Assembly
 May 23, 2025

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

 Assembly Bill

No. 254

Introduced by Assembly Member Gallagher
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Calderon and Flora)

January 15, 2025

An act to add Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99530) to Title 20 of the Government Code, relating to international relations. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 254, as amended, Gallagher.
 California-Ireland Trade Commission.

 Existing law establishes the Governor as the primary state officer representing California’s interest in international affairs, to the extent that representation is not in conflict with federal law or the California Constitution. Existing law establishes the Lieutenant Governor as the Chair of the Commission for Economic Development to improve trade opportunities for California, and develop international partnerships for foreign companies to do business in the state and for California.

Existing law requires the Office of Planning and Research to maintain and update a list of all state agreements made with foreign governments. Existing law additionally requires the Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to provide the Legislature with an updated strategy for international trade and investment, that includes, at
 a minimum, specified components, once every 5 years.

This bill would require the Governor to establish the California-Ireland Trade Commission within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development as an advisory body to the Governor and the Legislature, consisting of specified appointed members, upon availability of sufficient funding resources for this purpose, as provided. The bill would establish the various purposes of the commission, which would include advancing bilateral trade and investment between California and Ireland.

This bill would require the commission to report its findings, results, and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within one year of its initial organizational meeting and by February 1 of each succeeding year, as specified. The bill would require the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to consider the commission’s recommendations when updating its
 strategy for international trade and investment. The bill would include related legislative findings.

Digest Key

 Vote:
 MAJORITY 
 Appropriation:
 NO 
 Fiscal Committee:
 YES 
 Local Program:
 NO 

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99530) is added to Title 20 of the Government Code, to read:

 CHAPTER
 3. California-Ireland Trade Commission

99530.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) California is home to a vibrant and diverse population, including a substantial number of Irish Americans.

(b) With over 2,000,000 Irish Americans, California is home to the largest Irish American population in the United States.

(c) Many Irish immigrants came to California during the Gold Rush. By 1880, one-third of San Francisco’s population was of Irish decent.

(d) The substantial number of individuals with Irish ancestry enriches the state’s
 cultural diversity and has helped shape the identity of various regions across the state, such as Dublin, California, named in acknowledgment of the large Irish community that settled there. This connection is also highlighted by notable figures like former California Governor and President Ronald Reagan, and other Californians of Irish heritage who have made significant contributions to the state’s development and prosperity.

(e) There are significant and enduring connections between California and Ireland, and California has historic, economic, and strategic interest in strengthening its ties with Ireland. 

(f) Recognizing the mutual economic interests of both California and Ireland, and understanding the need to adapt to the evolving global economy, there is a shared commitment
 to fostering stronger commercial ties between California and Ireland, and establishing a Trade Commission is an important step to encoura