Office of Data and Innovation: Engaged California Program

The law creates a formal channel for Californians to develop recommendations that can inform state services, programs, and policies. It also sets participation, privacy, funding, and transparency rules for the program.

What the law does ​

• Establishes the Engaged California Program within the Office of Data and Innovation effective January 1, 2027.
• Requires the office to design, operate, maintain, and update a platform for deliberations and set standards and best practices for its use.
• Allows the Speaker of the Assembly, the Senate President pro Tempore, or the Secretary of Government Operations to select qualifying topics for deliberation.
• Requires selected topics to address a clear, actionable problem relevant to Californians and likely to improve services or outcomes.
• Requires the office to seek diverse participants across economic groups, protected classes, and relevant geographic communities.
• Requires identified state agencies to assist with outreach, community engagement, communications expertise, and nonpersonal data or information.
• Limits program operations to cases with a selected topic and legislative funding, a partnership with a state entity using discretionary funds, or a proclaimed state emergency.
• Allows partner organizations to provide supplemental program funding but bars external funders from choosing topics or participating in deliberations.
• Requires annual reporting on program topics, participants, data, recommendations, affected agencies, and implementation results.
• Extends availability of unspent 2026–27 program appropriations through the 2027–28 fiscal year.

Who it affects ​

• Californians invited to participate in structured deliberations.
• State agencies identified to support deliberations.
• Legislative and executive officials authorized to select deliberation topics.
• Philanthropic, civic, and other partner organizations that fund the program.