AB 2544: Education for Filmmakers Pilot Program.

Current Status:

In Progress

(2026-03-23: Re-referred to Com. on E.D., G., & H.I.)

Introduced

In Committee

Awaiting First Chamber Vote

Passed First Chamber

In Committee

Awaiting Second Chamber Vote

Passed Second Chamber

Enacted

What does this bill do?

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development would run a pilot program to create workforce-focused artificial intelligence literacy training for people working in or preparing for careers in the entertainment industry. The program must develop industry‑aligned curriculum with unions, employers, film schools and tech partners, emphasize upskilling and linking training to jobs, and promote equitable access for underrepresented students and workers.

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Existing law establishes the Governors 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.

Existing law establishes the Instructional Quality Commission and requires the commission to, among other things, recommend curriculum frameworks to the State Board of Education and develop criteria for evaluating instructional materials, as specified. Existing law requires the commission to consider incorporating media literacy content, as defined, into the mathematics, science, and history-social science curriculum frameworks when those frameworks are next revised after January 1, 2024, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy content, as defined, when they are next revised after January 1, 2025. When mathematics, science, and history-social science instructional materials are next adopted by the state board after January 1, 2025, existing law requires the commission to consider including media literacy content and AI literacy content in its criteria for evaluating instructional materials.This bill would makes nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.

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The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1.Article 9.1 (commencing with Section 12100.95) is added to Chapter 1.6 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:9.1.Education for Filmmakers Pilot Program12100.95.

(a)The Governors Office of Business and Economic Development shall 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.

(b)The pilot program shall pursue all of the following objectives:

(1)Provide workers and students with a clear understanding of the current capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence tools and the role artificial intelligence tools play in real production workflows.

(2)Collaborate with industry partners, labor unions, and guilds to identify priority topics and map instructional content to current and evolving artificial intelligence capabilities in the entertainment industry.

(3)Develop curriculum that is ready for integration into workforce training programs, public education partnerships, and continuing education channels.

(4)Enhance, rather than replace, professional craft by providing upskilling and reskilling opportunities.

(5)Create a connected training pipeline that links learning directly to employment opportunities.

(6)Train students to use tools responsibly, to expand opportunities, and to help shape the future of creative work.

(c)Curriculum developed pursuant to this article shall be designed in coordination with labor unions, guilds, and industry partners to support access for professionals, educators, and students, and shall be suitable for integration into workforce training programs, continuing education channels, and public education partnerships.

(d)The office shall seek to enter into partnerships with entertainment industry unions and guilds, entertainment industry employers, film schools, postsecondary institutions, and technology companies to support the development and delivery of the pilot program.

(e)The office shall ensure the pilot program promotes equitable access to instruction for students and workers from underrepresented communities.

12100.96.

(a)The office shall conduct, or contract for the completion of, a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot program. The evaluation shall assess, at minimum, all of the following:

(1)Effectiveness of the pilot program in improving artificial intelligence literacy and employment outcomes for participating students and workers.

(2)Potential applicability of the pilot program as a model to other industries and sectors of the states economy.

(3)Models of public-private partnership that bring together labor, business, and technology companies to serve the best interests of workers, businesses, and the states economic competitiveness.

(4)Recommendations for scaling successful approaches to additional schools, institutions, and industry sectors statewide to ensure that the states workforce remains competitive in the global economy.

(b)On or before January 1, 2029, the office shall submit a report to the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795, summarizing the results of the evaluation conducted pursuant to this section and any recommendations for continuation, modification, or expansion of the pilot program.

12100.97.

This article shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2034, and as of that date is repealed.

SECTION 1.Section 33548 of the Education Code is amended to read:33548.(a)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1)Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy means the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with how artificial intelligence works, including its principles, concepts, and applications, and how to use artificial intelligence, including its limitations, implications, and ethical considerations.(2)Digital citizenship means a diverse set of skills related to current technology and social media, including the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior.(3)Media literacy means the ability to access, evaluate, analyze, and use media and information, and encompasses the foundational skills that lead to digital citizenship.(b)When the English language arts/English language development (ELA/ELD) curriculum framework is next revised after January 1, 2024, the commission shall consider incorporating the Model Library Standards developed pursuant to Section 18101. The commission shall also consider incorporating media literacy content at each grade level.(c)(1)The commission shall consider incorporating media literacy content into the mathematics, science, and history-social science curriculum frameworks when those frameworks are next revised after January 1, 2024.(2)When ELA/ELD instructional materials are next adopted by the state board after January 1, 2025, the commission shall consider including the Model Library Standards developed pursuant to Section 18101, including media literacy content, in its criteria for evaluating instructional materials.(3)When mathematics, science, and history-social science instructional materials are next adopted by the state board after January 1, 2025, the commission shall consider including media literacy content in its criteria for evaluating instructional materials.(d)(1)The commission shall consider incorporating AI literacy content into the mathematics, science, and history-social science curriculum frameworks when those frameworks are next revised after January 1, 2025.(2)When mathematics, science, and history-social science instructional materials are next adopted by the state board after January 1, 2025, the commission shall consider including AI literacy content in its criteria for evaluating instructional materials.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1.Section 33548 of the Education Code is amended to read:33548.

(a)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1)Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy means the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with how artificial intelligence works, including its principles, concepts, and applications, as well as and how to use artificial intelligence, including its limitations, implications, and ethical considerations.

(2)Digital citizenship means a diverse set of skills related to current technology and social media, including the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior.

(3)Media literacy means the ability to access, evaluate, analyze, and use media and information information, and encompasses the foundational skills that lead to digital citizenship.

(b)When the English language arts/English language development (ELA/ELD) curriculum framework is next revised after January 1, 2024, the commission shall consider incorporating the Model Library Standards developed pursuant to Section 18101. The commission shall also consider incorporating media literacy content at each grade level.

(c)(1)The commission shall consider incorporating media literacy content into the mathematics, science, and history-social science curriculum frameworks when those frameworks are next revised after January 1, 2024.

(2)When ELA/ELD instructional materials are next adopted by the state board after January 1, 2025, the commission shall consider including the Model Library Standards, Standards developed pursuant to Section 18101, including media literacy content, in its criteria for evaluating instructional materials.

(3)When mathematics, science, and history-social science instructional materials are next adopted by the state board after January 1, 2025, the commission shall consider including media literacy content in its criteria for evaluating instructional materials.

(d)(1)The commission shall consider incorporating AI literacy content into the mathematics, science, and history-social science curriculum frameworks when those frameworks are next revised after January 1, 2025.

(2)When mathematics, science, and history-social science instructional materials are next adopted by the state board after January 1, 2025, the commission shall consider including AI literacy content in its criteria for evaluating instructional materials.

Date	Status
Mar 23, 2026	Re-referred to Com. on E.D., G., & H.I.
Mar 19, 2026	From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.D., G., & H.I. Read second time and amended.
Mar 19, 2026	Referred to Coms. on E.D., G., & H.I. and A.,E.,S., & T.
Feb 21, 2026	From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
Feb 20, 2026	Read first time. To print.

Authors shown for version:
Amended Assembly (3/19/2026)