Governor Signs Irwin Bill to Make Groundbreaking Engaged California Program Permanent

SACRAMENTO, CA - Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2103, authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), to permanently establish the Engaged California Program within the Office of Data and Innovation (ODI).

Launched by the Newsom Administration, Engaged California is a first-in-the-nation initiative designed to bring diverse groups of Californians directly into discussions surrounding complex state policy issues. The program supplements traditional forms of public participation, such as hearings and written comment periods, by recruiting diverse participants, providing nonpartisan educational materials, and facilitating structured deliberations that can produce actionable recommendations for policymakers.

"At a time when trust in government to solve problems is low, especially at the federal level, we need to create more opportunities for the public to have a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect them. Engaged California has demonstrated the value of reaching beyond traditional avenues of public participation to bring more Californians directly into the policymaking process," said author Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. "I applaud Governor Newsom for signing AB 2103 and codifying a tool that helps policymakers hear from communities that may not otherwise have the opportunity or means to make their voices heard."

AB 2103 permanently establishes Engaged California within ODI and creates a statutory framework for administering the program. The measure establishes requirements governing who may select issues for public deliberation, criteria for eligible topics, coordination with relevant state agencies, participant recruitment, privacy protections, and the collection and use of information. At the same time, the bill preserves the flexibility that has allowed Engaged California to develop new approaches to public participation.

AB 2103 will take effect on January 1, 2027.