AB-1712 • 2026

City of Santa Fe Springs: sale of water utility property.

Elections Energy

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Pacheco
Last action: 2026-05-27
Official status: Referred to Com. on L. GOV.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify that another entity must provide equal or better service after the sale, only that it needs to be determined if the acquiring entity can provide such services.

City of Santa Fe Springs: Selling Water Utility Property

This law allows the city of Santa Fe Springs to sell its water utility until January 1, 2032, if certain conditions are met.

What This Bill Does

Allows the City of Santa Fe Springs to sell its water utility by a specific date.
Requires the city to follow certain steps before selling the water utility.
Needs voters' approval for the sale to happen.
Prevents the city from selling if more than half of interested people protest.

Who It Names or Affects

The City of Santa Fe Springs
Voters in the City of Santa Fe Springs
People who use water services from the city

Terms To Know

public utility: A company or service that provides essential services like electricity, gas, and water to the public.
municipal corporation: A city or town with its own government that can make local laws and manage public services.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only applies until January 1, 2032.
It does not say what will happen after the sale is complete.

Bill History

2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.)
2026-05-07 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.
2026-03-17 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-10 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and W., P., & W.
2026-02-05 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 7.
2026-02-04 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1712, as amended, Pacheco.
City of Santa Fe Springs: sale of water utility property.
Existing law authorizes the furnishing of utility services by publicly owned public utilities, including municipal corporations, that are subject to control by their governing bodies. Existing law authorizes any municipal corporation to acquire, construct, own, operate, or lease any public utility, as defined, and authorizes a municipal corporation to sell or dispose of any public utility it owns. Existing law establishes procedures whereby a municipal corporation may lease, sell, or transfer that portion of a water utility used for furnishing water service outside or inside the boundaries of the municipal corporation, including, in the case of sale or transfer of the public utility located inside the municipal boundaries, the determination that the public utility is not necessary for supplying water to its own inhabitants or that its inhabitants will be provided with equal or better
service by the acquiring entity, if the sale or transfer is approved by a majority of all voters voting on the issue in an election, and the acquiring entity discloses specified information before the election.
This bill would authorize the City of Santa Fe Springs, until January 1, 2032, to sell its public utility for furnishing water service for the purpose of consolidating its public water system with another public water system pursuant to specified procedures if certain requirements are met. The bill would require the city to consider oral and written protests, as provided, and would prohibit the city from selling the public utility for one year if 50% of interested persons, as defined, protest the sale.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Santa Fe Springs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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