20250SCR_017697CHP INTRODUCED 2026-05-05 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2026-06-04 PASSED_SENATE 2026-05-18 ENROLLED 2026-06-05 CHAPTERED 2026-06-09 FILED 2026-06-09 2025 SCR CHP CHR 0 Introduced by Senator Ashby LEAD_AUTHOR SENATE Ashby Relative to National Small Business Month. National Small Business Month National Small Business Month. This measure would affirm the important role of small businesses and workplaces as vital pathways for addressing the mental health crisis, reducing stigma, promoting early intervention, and expanding culturally responsive care.

The measure would recognize May as National Small Business Month in California and encourage the people of the State of California to support small businesses. The measure would also recognize the CalAsian Foundation and its members for their courage, innovation, and commitment to advancing mental health awareness, prevention, healing, and care across small business communities statewide. NO

WHEREAS, California faces a growing mental health crisis that impacts communities, workers, employers, and the state economy through reduced productivity, absenteeism, workforce instability, and long-term public costs; and

WHEREAS, Small businesses make up 99.8 percent of all California businesses and employ nearly half the private sector workforce, making them essential partners in improving mental health outcomes and strengthening overall workforce well-being; and

WHEREAS, Small businesses, especially those in immigrant, multilingual, and culturally diverse neighborhoods, serve local residents as more than employers or providers of needed goods and services. Small businesses also act as important community centers where people who suffer from behavioral health challenges can work, connect, and find support among their colleagues and customers; and

WHEREAS, Workplace-based mental health awareness, prevention, and early intervention are proven to improve health and well-being, reduce downstream costs, strengthen retention, and promote safer and more resilient communities; and

WHEREAS, The CalAsian Foundation has built deep trust with underserved small business communities and has served as a vital bridge between public health systems and diverse workers and families who are often bypassed by traditional mental health structures; and

WHEREAS, Small businesses are among California’s most powerful, yet commonly overlooked, community-based pathways to behavioral health awareness, connection, and support, especially for populations facing stigma, cost, and cultural barriers to care; and

WHEREAS, The month of May has historically been the time of year when small businesses are officially recognized and celebrated, such as during National Small Business Week, which is occurring during the first week of May 2026;

now, therefore,

be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature affirms the important role of small businesses and workplaces as vital pathways for addressing the mental health crisis, reducing stigma, promoting early intervention, and expanding culturally responsive care; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby recognizes the month of May as National Small Business Month in California and encourages the people of the State of California to support small businesses throughout the state; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby recognizes the CalAsian Foundation and its members for their courage, innovation, and commitment to advancing mental health awareness, prevention, healing, and care across small business communities statewide; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.