Assembly BillPassed both housesPublic Utilities
AB 2618: Public Utilities Commission: commissioners: employment.
What AB 2618 does, verified August 27, 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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6ChapteredPending
Last action: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. (2026-08-25)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $15/moUnlockRecent actions19 total · showing 5
| 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.). |
| Jun. 30, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Jun. 29, 2026 | From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8. |
Latest bill textEnrolled version, August 21, 2026 · 408 words
| Enrolled August 21, 2026 |
| Passed IN Senate August 19, 2026 |
| Passed IN Assembly May 21, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly April 13, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly March 16, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2618
| Introduced by Assembly Member Connolly |
February 20, 2026 |
An act to add Section 303.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy.
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 enrolled, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions