AB2623 - Public utilities: rate changes: notifications.

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. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO YES Local Program: NO YES Bill Text 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.