20250ACR_021098ENR INTRODUCED 2026-05-21 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2026-06-11 PASSED_SENATE 2026-07-02 ENROLLED 2026-07-07 2025 ACR ENR Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson (Coauthors: Assembly Members Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Fong, Gabriel, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rivas, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, and Zbur) LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jackson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Addis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Aguiar-Curry COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ahrens COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alanis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alvarez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Arambula COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ávila Farías COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bauer-Kahan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bennett COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Berman COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Boerner COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bonta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bryan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Calderon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Caloza COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Carrillo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Castillo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Chen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Connolly COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Davies COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Dixon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Elhawary COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ellis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Fong COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gabriel COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Garcia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gipson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jeff Gonzalez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Mark González COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hadwick COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Haney COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Harabedian COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hart COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hoover COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Irwin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Kalra COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Krell COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lackey COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lee COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lowenthal COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY McKinnor COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Muratsuchi COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Nguyen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ortega COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pacheco COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Papan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Patel COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pellerin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Petrie-Norris COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Quirk-Silva COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ramos COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rivas COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Michelle Rodriguez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rogers COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Blanca Rubio COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Schultz COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Sharp-Collins COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Solache COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Soria COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Stefani COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Valencia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wallis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ward COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wicks COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wilson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Zbur Relative to a sister state relationship with the Province Gauteng in South Africa. a sister state relationship with the Province Gauteng in South Africa The Province of Gauteng in South Africa: sister state relationship.

This measure would extend an invitation to the people and government of the Province of Gauteng in South Africa to enter into a sister state relationship with California, would encourage the strengthening of existing partnerships, and would call upon California’s universities, research institutions, and public agencies to explore new memoranda of understanding with Gauteng-based counterparts in areas of mutual interest. NO

WHEREAS, The Province of Gauteng is South Africa’s economic engine, generating approximately one-third of the nation’s gross domestic product in 2025, and serving as a continental hub for finance, innovation, manufacturing, and trade; and

WHEREAS, Gauteng is home to around 15,000,000 residents, the highest income population in South Africa, and recorded more than 312.5 billion rand, or about $18.6 billion, in new investment commitments in across sectors including information and communication technology, manufacturing, logistics, green energy, and property development; and

WHEREAS, California and Gauteng share complementary strengths in technology, clean energy, research, advanced manufacturing, and creative entertainment industries, and both regions anchor major universities, innovation centers, and globally connected economies; and

WHEREAS, Gauteng’s Special Economic Zones, data center capacity, and leadership in the African Continental Free Trade Area create unique opportunities for California companies and institutions to expand economic, educational, and scientific engagement with Africa; and

WHEREAS, California State University, Sacramento has established a memorandum of understanding with the Province of Gauteng addressing shared social and academic priorities, demonstrating that the foundation for meaningful people-to-people and institution-to-institution collaboration between California and Gauteng is already underway; and

WHEREAS, Gauteng played a central role in South Africa’s transition from apartheid and continues to advance internationally recognized work in truth and reconciliation, restorative justice, and community healing, offering valuable insight for California’s pledge to equity and justice for all; and

WHEREAS, Both California and Gauteng are committed to sustainable development, climate resilience, workforce training, and building inclusive economies that reduce inequality and expand access to opportunity;

now, therefore,

be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby extends an invitation to the people and government of the Province of Gauteng in South Africa to enter into a sister state relationship with California focused on high-impact cooperation in economic development, innovation, education, sustainability, and cultural exchange; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the strengthening of existing partnerships, including the memorandum of understanding between California State University, Sacramento and its Gauteng counterpart, and calls upon California’s universities, research institutions, and public agencies to explore new memoranda of understanding with Gauteng-based counterparts in areas of mutual interest, including, but not limited to, workforce development, public health, climate resilience, technology transfer, and the advancement of equity and social justice; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Premier of Gauteng Province, the Consul-in-Charge of South Africa in the City of Los Angeles, the Governor of California, and each Member of Congress representing California.