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Committee approves SB 702 to expand transparency on statewide boards; sends bill to Judiciary
Summary
The Assembly Governmental Organizations Committee voted to pass SB 702 (Limon), a bill requiring greater public reporting on the composition and appointment of statewide boards and commissions. The measure passed on a 20-vote roll call and was referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
The Assembly Governmental Organizations Committee on June 25, 2025, voted to pass SB 702, a bill by Sen. Limon that would expand reporting requirements about the makeup of statewide boards and commissions, and referred the measure to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
Supporters told the committee the measure is intended to increase transparency about who is appointed to more than 580 state boards and commissions and to help ensure those bodies reflect the communities they serve. "The reporting required in SB 702 is not only about ensuring outreach to communities or regions that might not be represented in these bodies, it's also critical to instill faith in our communities that California's government is accountable to the people that it serves," said Carol Gonzales, speaking on behalf of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE).
Witnesses and organizational supporters who spoke in favor included Valerie Johnson of the Campaign for College Opportunity, Craig Polser of Equality California, Orquidea DeBroy Reyes representing several Latino and AAPI organizations, Monica Madrid of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Lang Le of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Adar Menta of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, Catherine Squire of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and Marco Nisarga of La Cooperativa Campesina (all listed at the hearing as supporters).
Multiple Assembly members voiced support on the floor and asked to be added as coauthors. "We need to make sure that it keeps coming out," said Assemblymember Davies during floor remarks; several other members, including Assemblymembers Soria, Pacheco, Alvarez, Berman, Gibson, Fong, Solace and Carrillo, expressed support and asked to be listed as coauthors during the hearing.
The committee clerk called the roll on the motion to pass the bill to the Judiciary Committee. The clerk recorded 20 affirmative votes; two members were absent. The committee record shows the motion carried and SB 702 was referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
The bill sponsor framed SB 702 as a continuation of previous efforts to track appointments and expand data about representation on state boards and commissions. Supporters said the measure would provide public visibility into appointment patterns and encourage outreach to communities that have been underrepresented. No witnesses registered opposition during the hearing.
The measure will next be considered by the Assembly Judiciary Committee, where it will receive further committee consideration and potential amendments.
