AB 2776: Hazardous materials.
The bill aims to regulate hazardous materials, including storage tanks and underground storage tanks. It would exclude compaction of hazardous waste under certain conditions, clarify exemptions for oil-filled electrical equipment and tanks in underground areas, and require notification of spills or releases of petroleum into waters of the state. The bill would also revise the regulation of underground storage tanks, requiring the interstitial space to be maintained under constant vacuum or pressure. It would eliminate the option for a local agency to file a plan to implement recommendations and instead require the permitholder to return to compliance within 30 days. Additionally, the bill would provide an exemption for businesses handling certain gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, or nitrous oxide. The bill does not require reimbursement for certain costs mandated by the state.
- What is the current status of AB 2776?
- As of September 21, 2026, AB 2776 is recorded as "Chaptered/Signed": it has been signed by the Governor and chaptered into law. The last recorded action, on September 20, 2026, was "Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 408, Statutes of 2026".
- Did AB 2776 pass?
- Yes. AB 2776 passed both houses and was signed into law (last action September 20, 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 2776, and where is it now?
- AB 2776 was authored by Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee. It is filed under Health and Safety, alongside 516 other California Health and Safety bills this session.
| Sep. 20, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 408, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 20, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 10, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 75. Noes 0.). |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
| Enrolled September 03, 2026 |
| Passed IN Senate August 30, 2026 |
| Passed IN Assembly August 30, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate August 18, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate July 02, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate June 17, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly March 26, 2026 |
| Introduced by Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials (Assembly Members Connolly (Chair), Ellis (Vice Chair), Lee, and McKinnor) |
February 24, 2026 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 25117.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25117.5.
Waste that is hazardous only because it is medical waste, as defined in the Medical Waste Management Act (Part 14 (commencing with Section 117600) of Division 104) shall not be governed by, subject to fees assessed by, or otherwise subject to, the requirements of this chapter or regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.SEC. 2.
Section 25123.3 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25123.3.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall apply:SEC. 3.
Section 25123.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25123.5.
(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), “treatment” means any method, technique, or process that is not otherwise excluded from the definition of treatment by this chapter and that is designed to change the physical, chemical, or biological character or composition of any hazardous waste or any material contained in the hazardous waste, or that removes or reduces its harmful properties or characteristics for any purpose.SEC. 4.
Section 25125.7 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25125.7.
(a) The board shall annually prepare, post on its internet website, and transmit to the Secretary for Environmental Protection an annual review of the department’s performance as compared to its objectives, including, but not limited to, the performance of the director.SEC. 5.
Section 25160 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25160.
(a) For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:SEC. 6.
Section 25201.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25201.5.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a hazardous waste facilities permit is not required for a generator who treats hazardous waste of a total weight of not more than 500 pounds, or a total volume of not more than 55 gallons, in any calendar month, if both of the following conditions are met:SEC. 7.
Section 25218.1 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25218.1.
For purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:SEC. 8.
Section 25270.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25270.2.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:SEC. 9.
Section 25270.4.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25270.4.5.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the owner or operator of a storage tank at a tank facility subject to this chapter shall prepare a spill prevention control and countermeasure plan applying good engineering practices to prevent petroleum releases using the same format required by Part 112 (commencing with Section 112.1) of Subchapter D of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, including owners and operators of tank facilities not subject to the general provisions in Section 112.1 of those regulations. An owner or operator specified in this subdivision shall conduct periodic inspections of the storage tank to ensure compliance with Part 112 (commencing with Section 112.1) of Subchapter D of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations. In implementing the spill prevention control and countermeasure plan, an owner or operator specified in this subdivision shall fully comply with the latest version of the regulations contained in Part 112 (commencing with Section 112.1) of Subchapter D of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.SEC. 10.
Section 25270.6 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25270.6.
(a) (1) On or before January 1, annually, each owner or operator of a tank facility subject to this chapter shall file with the statewide information management system, a tank facility statement that shall identify the name and address of the tank facility, a contact person for the tank facility, the total petroleum storage capacity of the tank facility, and the location and contents of each petroleum storage tank that exceeds 10,000 gallons in storage capacity. A copy of a statement submitted previously pursuant to this section may be submitted in lieu of a new tank facility statement if no new or used storage tanks have been added to the tank facility or if no significant modifications have been made. For purposes of this section, a significant modification includes, but is not limited to, altering existing storage tanks or changing spill prevention or containment methods.SEC. 11.
Section 25270.8 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25270.8.
Except as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 13272 of the Water Code, each owner or operator of a tank facility shall immediately, upon discovery, notify the Office of Emergency Services and the UPA using the appropriate 24-hour emergency number or the 911 number, as established by the UPA, or by the governing body of the UPA, of the occurrence of a discharge of any petroleum into or upon any waters of the state pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13272 of the Water Code.SEC. 12.
Section 25288 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25288.
(a) The local agency shall inspect every underground tank system within its jurisdiction at least once every year. The purpose of the inspection is to determine whether the tank system complies with the applicable requirements of this chapter and the regulations adopted by the board pursuant to Section 25299.3, including the design and construction standards of Section 25290.1, 25290.2, 25291, or 25292, whichever is applicable, whether the owner or operator has monitored and tested the tank system as required by the permit, and whether the tank system is in a safe operating condition.SEC. 13.
Section 25290.1 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25290.1.
(a) Notwithstanding subdivision (o) of Section 25281, for purposes of this section, “product tight” means impervious to the liquid and vapor of the substance that is contained, or is to be contained, so as to prevent the seepage of the substance from the containment.SEC. 14.
Section 25507 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:25507.
(a) Except as provided in this article, a business shall establish and implement a business plan for emergency response to a release or threatened release of a hazardous material in accordance with the standards prescribed in the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 25503 if the business meets any of the following conditions at any unified program facility:SEC. 15.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act or because 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.