SB 708: Public Utilities Commission: quorum for the transaction of business.

California · Senate · 2025–2026 Regular Session · last verified February 3, 2026

What SB 708 does, verified February 3, 2026

The bill aims to make nonsubstantive changes to the Public Utilities Commission. The commission consists of 5 appointed members. A majority of the commissioners is required to constitute a quorum for the commission to conduct business. The bill would make changes to this quorum requirement. The changes would not affect the underlying substance of the Public Utilities Act.

Bill journey

✓IntroducedComplete

2In CommitteeCurrent

3First Chamber FloorPending

4Second ChamberPending

5GovernorPending

6ChapteredPending

Last action: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me

Author and sponsors

Sen. Marie Alvarado-GilAuthor · California State Senate

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Recent actions5 total · showing 5

Feb. 02, 2026	Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Mar. 12, 2025	Referred to Com. on RLS.
Feb. 24, 2025	From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
Feb. 24, 2025	Read first time.
Feb. 21, 2025	Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 21, 2025 · 332 words

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 708

Introduced by Senator Alvarado-Gil

February 21, 2025

An act to amend Section 310 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to the Public Utilities Commission.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 708, as introduced, Alvarado-Gil. Public Utilities Commission: quorum for the transaction of business.

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities. The California Constitution provides that the commission consists of 5 members appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate. Existing law, the Public Utilities Act, provides that a majority of the commissioners constitutes a quorum for the transaction of any business, for the performance of any duty, or for the exercise of any power of the commission.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the latter provision.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 310 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

310.

No vacancy in the commission impairs the right of the remaining commissioners to exercise all of the powers of the commission. A majority of the commissioners constitutes a quorum for the transaction of any business, for the performance of any duty, or for the exercise of any power of the commission. Any investigation, inquiry, or hearing ~~which~~ that the commission may undertake or hold may be undertaken or held by or before any commissioner or commissioners designated for the purpose by the commission. The evidence in any investigation, inquiry, or hearing may be taken by the commissioner or commissioners ~~to whom~~ that the investigation, inquiry, or hearing has been assigned to or, ~~in his, her, or~~ on their behalf, by an administrative law judge designated for that purpose. Every finding, opinion, and order made by the commissioner or commissioners so designated, pursuant to the investigation, inquiry, or hearing, when approved or confirmed by the commission and ordered filed in its office, is the finding, opinion, and order of the commission.

Text of SB 708 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions