AB 2544 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Education for Filmmakers Pilot Program.

Summary

Existing law establishes the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. Existing law authorizes the office, among other things, to recommend to the Governor and the Legislature new state policies, programs, and actions to advance statewide economic goals and ensure that all state policies and programs conform to the adopted state economic and business development goals. This bill would require GO-Biz to establish and administer a pilot program to develop a model for delivering high-quality, workforce-centered artificial intelligence literacy instruction focused on careers in the entertainment industry. The bill would require the pilot program, among other things, to create a connected training pipeline that links learning directly to employment opportunities. The bill would require GO-Biz, among other things, to enter into partnerships with entertainment industry unions and guilds, entertainment industry employers, and film schools, among others, to support the pilot program, as specified. The bill would require the office, on or before January 1, 2029, to submit a report to the Legislature summarizing the results of the pilot program and providing recommendations for continuation, modification, or expansion of the pilot program, as specified. This bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2034.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Last action Mar 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

02/20/26 - Introduced → 03/19/26 - Amended Assembly · 9 edits · Mar 19, 2026

MAJOR

AB 2544 was substantially expanded in the Assembly to add an entirely new 'Education for Filmmakers Pilot Program' under GO-Biz, which would develop workforce-centered AI literacy training focused on entertainment industry careers. The original bill only made minor nonsubstantive edits to existing media literacy and AI literacy curriculum provisions in the Education Code. The amendment also changes the fiscal committee determination, indicating the new pilot program likely constitutes a state-mandated local program.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded dramatically from minor nonsubstantive edits to existing K-12 media literacy and AI literacy curriculum provisions to a major new workforce development pilot program targeting the entertainment industry, administered by GO-Biz with sunset in 2034.

SCOPE

A new Article 9.1 (Sections 12100.95-12100.97) is added to the Government Code creating an 'Education for Filmmakers Pilot Program' administered by GO-Biz to develop a model for delivering AI literacy instruction focused on entertainment industry careers.

REQUIREMENT

The pilot program must pursue six specific objectives: provide understanding of AI capabilities and limitations in production workflows, collaborate with unions and guilds on priority topics, develop curriculum suitable for workforce training and public education partnerships, enhance rather than replace professional craft through upskilling and reskilling, create a connected training pipeline linking learning to employment, and train students to use AI tools responsibly.

GO-Biz must seek partnerships with entertainment industry unions and guilds, employers, film schools, postsecondary institutions, and technology companies to support the pilot program.

ELIGIBILITY

The pilot program must promote equitable access to instruction for students and workers from underrepresented communities.

TIMELINE

GO-Biz must submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2029 summarizing evaluation results and providing recommendations for continuation, modification, or expansion of the pilot program.

The new Article 9.1 sunsets and is repealed on January 1, 2034.

ENFORCEMENT

GO-Biz must conduct or contract for a comprehensive evaluation assessing effectiveness in improving AI literacy and employment outcomes, potential applicability to other industries, public-private partnership models, and recommendations for scaling successful approaches statewide.

TECHNICAL

Minor nonsubstantive edits to Section 33548 of the Education Code: removed redundant words ('as well as' and duplicate 'information') in definitions, and added 'the Model Library' before 'Standards developed pursuant to Section 18101' for clarity.

FISCAL

The fiscal committee determination changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the new pilot program likely constitutes a state-mandated local program with associated fiscal implications.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on E.D., G., & H.I.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.D., G., & H.I. Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to Coms. on E.D., G., & H.I. and A.,E.,S., & T.

lower

Feb 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors