California 20252026 Regular Session Status: To Executive 1 D cosponsors

AB 2222 — Personal Income Tax Law and Corporation Tax Law: credits: local news outlets: business expense deduction: excessive employee remuneration.

Last action — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 849, Statutes of 2026.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 19, 2026. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 7 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill addresses tax credits and deductions related to local news outlets and employee remuneration.

This bill modifies personal and corporation tax laws to create credits for local news outlets and affect business expense deductions related to excessive employee pay. It aims to support local journalism while regulating tax implications for high employee remuneration.

What this means for you
  • Workers: This bill may regulate the tax treatment of high salaries, impacting how businesses approach employee remuneration.
  • Consumers: Consumers might see improved local news services supported by the financial measures for news outlets.
  • Small Business: Local news outlets may benefit from new tax credits, potentially helping them stay operational.

Summary

Personal Income Tax Law and Corporation Tax Law: credits: local news outlets: business expense deduction: excessive employee remuneration.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 3 section(s) of the California codes: Section 17039 of the Revenue and Taxation Code; Section 23036 of the Revenue and Taxation Code; Section 24343 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

  • Section 17039 of the Revenue and Taxation Code

    paragraph (9). credit described in paragraph (7) and the credit described in paragraph (9). (9) provisions. (10) (11) (12) → SEC. 1.5. Section 17039 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended to read: paragraphs (9) and (11). credits described in paragraphs (7), (8), (9), (11), (12), and (13). (9) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, the credit allowed by Section 17053.98.5. (10) provisions, except the credit described in paragraphs (12) and (13). (11) (12) (13) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, the credit allowed by Section 17053.76. (14) (AJ) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, the credit allowed by Section 17053.98.5 (relating to California Post-production Tax Credit). (AK) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, the credit allowed by Section 17053.76 (relating to local news outlets).

    amended

  • Section 23036 of the Revenue and Taxation Code

    credit described in paragraph (5). 2025, 23698.1. (6) (7) credit). → SEC. 4.5. Section 23036 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended to read: credits described in paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (8). 2027, and before January 1, 2032, 23698.5. (6) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, the credit allowed by Section 23698.1. (7) (8) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, the credit allowed by Section 23633. (9) former credit, repealed on December 1, 2015). (AB) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, the credit allowed by Section 23698.5 (relating to California Post-production Tax Credit). (AC) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2032, the credit allowed by Section 23633 (relating to local news outlets).

    amended

  • Section 24343 of the Revenue and Taxation Code

    SEC. 7.

    amended

Action History

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 849, Statutes of 2026.

  2. Approved by the Governor.

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

  4. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 15. Page 6983.).

  5. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 10.).

  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  8. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  9. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  10. Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  11. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  12. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  13. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).

  14. In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  15. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  16. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (June 24).

  17. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.

  18. Referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.

  19. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  20. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 63. Noes 10.)

  21. Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 5273.)

  22. Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 5242.)

  23. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  24. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (May 14).

  25. Coauthors revised.

  26. Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.)

  27. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  28. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  29. Read second time and amended.

  30. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (April 20).

  31. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to REV. & TAX. suspense file.

  32. Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.

  33. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on REV. & TAX. Read second time and amended.

  34. Referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.

  35. From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

  36. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

  • Wicks · Cosponsor
  • Lowenthal · Cosponsor
  • McKinnor · Cosponsor
  • Quirk-Silva · Cosponsor
  • McNerney · Cosponsor
  • Christopher M. Ward · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 116 not signed on · 21 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

  • Wicks
  • Lowenthal
  • McKinnor
  • Quirk-Silva
  • McNerney

Not signed on (116)

116 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 116 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

3rd Reading AB2222 Ward et al. By McNerney

Passed 30 Yea · 10 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 30000
Republican 01000
Total 301000
% of votes cast 75%25%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Cabaldon, Christopher Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
McNerney, Jerry Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Pérez, Sasha Renée Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Richardson, Laura Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Nay
Choi, Steven S. Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Niello, Roger W. Republican Nay
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Nay
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Nay
Strickland, Tony Republican Nay
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Nay

Official roll call →

AB 2222 Ward Assembly Third Reading

Passed 63 Yea · 10 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 58001
Republican 41006
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 631007
% of votes cast 79%13%0%9%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Ávila Farías — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Ahrens, Patrick Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Garcia, Robert Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Ortega, Liz Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Patel, Darshana R. Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Ransom, Rhodesia Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Celeste Democratic Not Voting
Rodriguez, Michelle Democratic Yea
Rogers, Chris Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Schultz, Nick Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Yea
Castillo, Leticia Republican Not Voting
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
DeMaio, Carl Republican Nay
Dixon, Diane Republican Nay
Ellis, Stan Republican Nay
Flora, Heath Republican Nay
Gallagher, James Republican Yea
Gonzalez, Jeff Republican Nay
Hadwick, Heather Republican Not Voting
Hoover, Josh Republican Nay
Johnson, Natasha Republican Nay
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Nay
Patterson, Joe Republican Nay
Sanchez, Kate Republican Nay
Ta, Tri Republican Not Voting
Tangipa, David J. Republican Not Voting
Wallis, Greg Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass.

Passed 12 Yea · 2 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 1201
Democratic 11000
Total 12201
% of votes cast 80%13%0%7%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Hoover, Josh Republican Nay
Ta, Tri Republican Not Voting
Tangipa, David J. Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

taxation labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does AB 2222 do?
Personal Income Tax Law and Corporation Tax Law: credits: local news outlets: business expense deduction: excessive employee remuneration.
Who sponsors AB 2222?
AB 2222 is sponsored by Wicks, Lowenthal, McKinnor, Quirk-Silva, McNerney, and Ward, Christopher M. (Democratic).
What is the current status of AB 2222?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 19, 2026. It awaits signature.
Where can I track AB 2222?
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