SB 716: Local government: ordinances: penalties for violation: nonresidential structures.
What SB 716 does, verified September 29, 2026
This bill establishes a mechanism to permit internet service providers to voluntarily include stand-alone broadband internet access service as a class of lifeline service. To be eligible, an internet service provider must offer at least one internet service plan that provides broadband internet access at a speed of at least 100 megabits per second downstream and 20 megabits per second upstream for $30 or less per month. The bill prohibits the commission from requiring a lifeline subscriber to bundle their voice and internet service plans and from providing more than one lifeline subsidy per household. The commission is also prohibited from requiring internet service providers to obtain an eligible telecommunications carrier designation to receive a lifeline subsidy. Additionally, the bill requires the commission to prohibit internet service providers from the inappropriate upselling of…
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 494, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-27)Alert me
Quick answers about SB 716
- What is the current status of SB 716?
- As of September 29, 2026, SB 716 is recorded as "Chaptered/Signed": it has been signed by the Governor and chaptered into law. The last recorded action, on September 27, 2026, was "Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 494, Statutes of 2026".
- Did SB 716 pass?
- Yes. SB 716 passed both houses and was signed into law (last action September 27, 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 SB 716, and where is it now?
- SB 716 was authored by Sen. Maria Elena Durazo with 3 coauthors. It is filed under Government, alongside 691 other California Government bills this session.
Author and sponsors
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| Sep. 27, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 494, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 27, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 09, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. |
| Aug. 31, 2026 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 10.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Aug. 31, 2026 | Unanimous consent granted to take up without reference to file. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 27, 2026 · 1,414 words
Senate Bill No. 716
CHAPTER 494
An act to add Sections 25132.5, 25133, and 36900.5 to the Government Code, relating to local government.
[ Approved by Governor September 27, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 716, Durazo. Local government: ordinances: penalties for violation: nonresidential structures.
Existing law makes the violation of a county ordinance or a city ordinance a misdemeanor unless by ordinance it is made an infraction. Existing law specifies monetary fines for any violation of local ordinances that is an infraction, not to exceed specified amounts that vary based on the circumstances of the violation, as prescribed.
This bill would authorize the county board of supervisors to impose fines, penalties, and forfeitures for violations of ordinances and to fix the penalty by a fine or imprisonment, or both. The bill, notwithstanding the above-described provisions, would also establish the amount of the fine that may be imposed for the violation of a city or county ordinance, where the violation pertains to a nonresidential structure with a floor area of 20,000 or more square feet and the violation poses a threat to health and safety, to not exceed $1,000 for the first violation, $2,000 for the 2nd violation within 5 years of the first violation, and $5,000 for subsequent violations within 5 years of the first violation, as specified.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Los Angeles.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 25132.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:25132.5.
(a) Notwithstanding the limits upon the amount of a fine set forth in subdivisions (b), (c), (d), and (e) of Section 25132 and Section 25133, the fine for a violation of an ordinance where the violation pertains to a nonresidential structure with a floor area of 20,000 or more square feet and the violation poses a threat to health and safety shall not exceed the following:(1) A fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for a first violation.
(2) A fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000) for a second violation of the same ordinance within five years of the first violation.
(3) A fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each additional violation of the same ordinance within five years of the first violation.
(b) (1) (A) The amounts in subdivision (a) may be increased by a factor of 10, up to a maximum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per violation, if the violation results in a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor or a federal disaster declaration.
(B) This paragraph shall not apply to any of the following:
(i) Before July 1, 2028, a structure that is located outside of the County of Los Angeles.
(ii) On and after July 1, 2028, a structure that meets both of the following conditions:
(I) Located outside of the County of Los Angeles.
(II) Located in a region identified on the 0 to 30th percentiles of the CalEnviroScreen 5.0. For the purposes of this subparagraph, “CalEnviroScreen” means the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool developed by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
(iii) Any of the following structures, as defined in Chapter 3 of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations):
(I) Group B (business).
(II) Group E (educational).
(III) Group I (institutional).
(IV) Group M (mercantile).
(2) (A) Where a nonresidential structure subject to this subdivision is leased, in whole or in part, to a tenant or other third party under a written lease or occupancy agreement and the violation arises from a condition, activity, equipment, or process that is within the possession, operation, or contractual control of that tenant or third party rather than the owner, the fine authorized by this subdivision shall be assessed against the tenant or other party in operational control of the violating condition, except as provided in subparagraph (B).
(B) This paragraph does not limit the liability of an owner for a violation arising from a condition within the owner’s own possession or control, including, but not limited to, the structural, core, shell, or common-area elements of the property, or from the owner’s own failure to maintain the property consistent with applicable ordinances.
(C) Nothing in this paragraph relieves a tenant or other party in operational control of a violating condition from liability for a fine assessed under this subdivision.
(c) Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of a county to establish fines or penalties under any other provision of law.
SEC. 2.
Section 25133 is added to the Government Code, to read:25133.
The county board of supervisors may impose fines, penalties, and forfeitures for violations of ordinances. It may fix the penalty by a fine or imprisonment, or both. A fine shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). Imprisonment shall not exceed six months.SEC. 3.
Section 36900.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:36900.5.
(a) Notwithstanding the limits upon the amount of a fine set forth in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) of Section 36900 and Section 36901, the fine for a violation of an ordinance where the violation pertains to a nonresidential structure with a floor area of 20,000 or more square feet and the violation poses a threat to health and safety shall not exceed the following:(1) A fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for a first violation.
(2) A fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000) for a second violation of the same ordinance within five years of the first violation.
(3) A fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each additional violation of the same ordinance within five years of the first violation.
(b) (1) (A) The amounts in subdivision (a) may be increased by a factor of 10, up to a maximum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per violation, if the violation results in a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor or a federal disaster declaration.
(B) This paragraph shall not apply to any of the following:
(i) Before July 1, 2028, a structure that is located outside of the County of Los Angeles.
(ii) On and after July 1, 2028, a structure that meets both of the following conditions:
(I) Located outside of the County of Los Angeles.
(II) Located in a region identified on the 0 to 30th percentiles of the CalEnviroScreen 5.0. For the purposes of this subparagraph, “CalEnviroScreen” means the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool developed by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
(iii) Any of the following structures, as defined in Chapter 3 of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations):
(I) Group B (business).
(II) Group E (educational).
(III) Group I (institutional).
(IV) Group M (mercantile).
(2) (A) Where a nonresidential structure subject to this subdivision is leased, in whole or in part, to a tenant or other third party under a written lease or occupancy agreement and the violation arises from a condition, activity, equipment, or process that is within the possession, operation, or contractual control of that tenant or third party rather than the owner, the fine authorized by this subdivision shall be assessed against the tenant or other party in operational control of the violating condition, except as provided in subparagraph (B).
(B) This paragraph does not limit the liability of an owner for a violation arising from a condition within the owner’s own possession or control, including, but not limited to, the structural, core, shell, or common-area elements of the property, or from the owner’s own failure to maintain the property consistent with applicable ordinances.
(C) Nothing in this paragraph relieves a tenant or other party in operational control of a violating condition from liability for a fine assessed under this subdivision.
(c) Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of a city to establish fines or penalties under any other provision of law.
SEC. 4.
The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances of the concentration of populations in the County of Los Angeles in proximity to various land uses.Text of SB 716 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions