AB 2618: Public Utilities Commission: commissioners: employment.
What AB 2618 does, verified September 30, 2026
<p>The bill proposes adding section 303.5 to the Public Utilities Code, which would prohibit commissioners of the California Public Utilities Commission from being employed by entities regulated by the commission for two years after their term ends. Currently, there is a prohibition on executives of public utilities serving as commissioners within two years of leaving such employment.</p> <p>The bill also specifies that violating this new provision or any other requirement set forth by the commission would be considered a crime under existing law. Additionally, it clarifies that no state-mandated local program reimbursement is required for implementing these provisions.</p>
Bill journey
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6ChapteredCurrent
Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 630, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-27)Alert me
Quick answers about AB 2618
- What is the current status of AB 2618?
- As of September 30, 2026, AB 2618 is recorded as "Chaptered/Signed": it has been signed by the Governor and chaptered into law. The last recorded action, on September 27, 2026, was "Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 630, Statutes of 2026".
- Did AB 2618 pass?
- Yes. AB 2618 passed both houses and was signed into law (last action September 27, 2026). Most California bills signed in a given year take effect on January 1 of the following year, unless the bill carries an urgency clause or sets its own operative date.
- Who wrote AB 2618, and where is it now?
- AB 2618 was authored by Asm. Damon Connolly. It is filed under Public Utilities, alongside 149 other California Public Utilities bills this session.
Author and sponsors
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| Sep. 27, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 630, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 27, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug. 25, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 19, 2026 | In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. |
| Aug. 19, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.). |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 27, 2026 · 384 words
Assembly Bill No. 2618
CHAPTER 630
An act to add Section 303.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy.
[ Approved by Governor September 27, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2618, Connolly. Public Utilities Commission: commissioners: employment.
The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission, with jurisdiction over all public utilities, and provides for the composition and appointment of the commission. Existing law prohibits an executive of a public utility from serving as a commissioner within 2 years after leaving the employment of the public utility.
This bill would prohibit a commissioner of the commission from being employed by an entity subject to regulation by the commission for a period of 2 years after the end of the commissioner’s term of office.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the provisions of the bill would be part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing the bill’s requirements would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 303.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:303.5.
A commissioner, for a period of two years after the end of the commissioner’s term of office, shall not be employed by an entity subject to regulation by the commission.SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.Text of AB 2618 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions