AB 2623: Public utilities: rate changes: notifications.

California · Assembly · 2025–2026 Regular Session · last verified March 18, 2026

What AB 2623 does, verified March 18, 2026

This bill would amend the Public Utilities Code to extend the notice requirement for public utilities to 60 days. The current law requires 30 days' notice before making a change in a rate or classification. A violation of this requirement is a crime, and this bill would expand the scope of this crime. The bill would impose a state-mandated local program. No reimbursement is required by this act for certain costs.

Bill journey

1IntroducedCurrent

2In CommitteePending

3First Chamber FloorPending

4Second ChamberPending

5GovernorPending

6ChapteredPending

Last action: Re-referred to Com. on U. & E. (2026-03-17)Alert me

Author and sponsors

Asm. Cottie Petrie-NorrisAuthor · California State Assembly

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Recent actions5 total · showing 5

Mar. 17, 2026	Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
Mar. 16, 2026	From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. Read second time and amended.
Mar. 16, 2026	Referred to Com. on U. & E.
Feb. 21, 2026	From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
Feb. 20, 2026	Read first time. To print.

Latest bill textAmended version, March 16, 2026 · 683 words

Amended IN Assembly March 16, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2623

Introduced by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris

February 20, 2026

~~An act to amend Section 39600 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to air pollution.~~ An act to amend Section 491 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to public utilities.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2623, as amended, Petrie-Norris. ~~State Air Resources Board.~~ Public utilities: rate changes: notifications.

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities. Existing law, except as provided, prohibits a public utility from making a change in a rate or classification, or in a rule or contract relating to, or affecting, a rate, classification, or service, or in a privilege or facility, unless the public utility provides 30 days’ notice, as specified, to the commission and the public. Under existing law, a violation of this requirement is a crime.
This bill would extend the notice requirement to 60 days’ notice. By expanding the scope of 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.
Existing law creates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency with the primary responsibility for the regulation of air pollution. Existing law authorizes the state board to do those acts as may be necessary for the proper execution of the powers and duties granted to, and imposed upon, the state board.
~~This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that authorization.~~

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NOYES Local Program: NOYES

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 491 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

491.

Unless the commission otherwise orders, no a change shall not be made by ~~any~~ a public utility in ~~any~~ a rate or classification, or in ~~any~~ a rule or contract relating to to, or ~~affecting any~~ affecting, a rate, classification, or service, or in ~~any~~ a privilege or facility, except after 30 60 days’ notice to the commission and to the public. Notice shall be given by filing with the commission and keeping open for public inspection new schedules stating plainly the changes to be made in the schedule or schedules then in force, and the time when the changes will go into effect. The commission, for good cause shown, may allow changes without requiring the 30 60 days’ notice, by an order specifying the changes that may be made on less than 30 60 days’ notice, the time when ~~they~~ the changes shall take effect, and the manner in which ~~they~~ the changes shall be filed and published. ~~When any~~ If a change is proposed in ~~any~~ a rate or classification, or in ~~any~~ a form of contract or agreement or in ~~any~~ a rule or contract relating to or affecting ~~any~~ a rate, classification, or service, or in ~~any~~ a privilege or facility, attention shall be directed to ~~such~~ the change on the schedule filed with the commission, by some character to be designated by the commission, immediately preceding or following the item.

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.

SECTION 1.Section 39600 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
39600.
~~The state board shall do those acts as may be necessary for the proper execution of the powers and duties granted to, and imposed upon, the state board by this division and by any other law.~~

Text of AB 2623 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions