Assembly BillIntroducedHealth and Safety
AB 2738: Construction guidelines for straw-bale structures.
What AB 2738 does, verified February 24, 2026
This bill aims to update the California building standards code to allow the use of baled straw as a construction material. The existing law requires interim provisions to become inoperative when building standards permit the use of baled straw. The bill makes a nonsubstantive change to these provisions, allowing for the continued use of baled straw in construction projects. This change will enable builders to use baled straw as a load-bearing or non-load bearing material, subject to the new building standards.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: From printer. May be heard in committee March 23. (2026-02-21)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| Feb. 21, 2026 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 23. |
| Feb. 20, 2026 | Read first time. To print. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 20, 2026 · 228 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2738
| Introduced by Assembly Member Gabriel |
February 20, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 18944.41 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to building standards.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2738, as introduced, Gabriel. Construction guidelines for straw-bale structures.
Existing law establishes that certain interim provisions, pending the evaluation of straw bales as a construction material through the normal processes used for the testing and listing of building materials, the determination of construction standards, and the adoption of those materials and construction standards into the California Building Standards Code, shall become inoperative when building standards take effect that permit construction using baled straw as a loadbearing or nonloadbearing material.
This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to the provisions described above relating to the operation of laws regulating construction using baled straw.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 18944.41 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:18944.41.
Sections 18944.30, 18944.31, 18944.33, 18944.35, and 18944.40 shall become inoperative when building standards become effective after approval by the California Building Standards Commission pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) that permitText of AB 2738 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions