Public contracts: best value construction contracting for counties, cities, and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments.

Budget Crime Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Harabedian
Last action: 2026-05-20
Official status: Referred to Com. on L. GOV.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on criteria used to determine 'best value'.

Construction Contracts: Best Value Method

AB-1786 allows counties, general law cities, eligible joint powers authorities, and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to use a 'best value' method for construction projects over $500,000 and requires them to report this information.

What This Bill Does

Allows counties, general law cities, eligible joint powers authorities, and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to choose construction contractors based on the best value for projects costing more than $500,000.
Requires these entities to submit reports about their best value contracting decisions to state committees before March 1, 2031.
Expands the crime of perjury related to false information given during this process.

Who It Names or Affects

Counties
General law cities
Eligible joint powers authorities
The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments

Terms To Know

Best value method: A way to choose a contractor based on the overall quality and cost, not just the lowest price.
Joint powers authority: An organization made up of different government agencies that work together for common goals.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how much money will be saved or spent by this change.
The bill does not provide details on the exact criteria used to determine 'best value'.
It is unclear what specific changes will occur in the reporting process for these entities.

Bill History

2026-05-20 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-05-12 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-11 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. 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).
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-03-12 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.
2026-02-10 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1786, as amended, Harabedian.
Public contracts: best value construction contracting for counties, cities, and
joint powers authorities.
the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments.
Existing law establishes a program to allow counties to select a bidder on the basis of best value, as defined, for construction projects in excess of $1,000,000. Existing law also authorizes counties to use a best value construction contracting method to award individual annual contracts, not to exceed $3,000,000, for repair, remodeling, or other repetitive work to be done according to unit prices, as specified. Existing law establishes procedures and criteria for the selection of a best value contractor and requires that bidders verify specified information under oath. Existing law requires the board of supervisors of a participating county to submit a report that contains specified information about the projects awarded using the best value procedures described above to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee before March 1,
2029. Existing law repeals the program provisions on January 1, 2030.
This bill would, instead, authorize a county,
general law city, and eligible joint powers authority, as defined, to utilize this program,
city, or the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to select a bidder on the basis of best value, as described above, for construction projects in excess of $500,000,
would make various conforming changes to the above-described provisions, and would extend the operation of those provisions until January 1, 2040.
The bill would delete the provisions authorizing counties to use a best value construction contracting method to award individual annual contracts, not to exceed $3,000,000, for repair, remodeling, or other repetitive work to be done according to unit prices, as specified.
With regard to the above-specified reporting requirement, the bill would, instead, require the governing body of a participating county, city, or
eligible joint powers authority
the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
to submit the report, as specified, to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee before March 1, 2031. The bill would expand the crime of perjury by extending the operation of the program and expanding the program to
general law
cities and
eligible joint powers authorities,
the San Gabriel
Valley Council of Governments,
thereby imposing 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.

Current Bill Text

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