AB-1838 • 2026

Public contracts: local agencies: responsive bidders.

Education Labor

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Berman
Last action: 2026-06-11
Official status: Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Public contracts: local agencies: responsive bidders.

AB 1838, as amended, Berman.

What This Bill Does

AB 1838, as amended, Berman.
Public contracts: local agencies: responsive bidders.
Existing law governs the procurement process for contracts of specified public entities.
Existing law requires a local agency that requires that contracts be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder meeting, or making a good faith effort to meet, participation goals for minority, women, or disabled veteran business enterprises to provide in the general conditions under which bids will be received that any person making a bid or offer to perform a contract shall include specified information in that bid or offer.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-06-11 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
2026-06-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on L., P.E. & R. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 10).
2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and L., P.E. & R.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 62. Noes 7. Page 4722.)
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 4490.)
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 18).
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on L. & E.
2026-02-12 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1838, as amended, Berman.
Public contracts: local agencies: responsive bidders.
Existing law governs the procurement process for contracts of specified public entities. Existing law requires a local agency that requires that contracts be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder meeting, or making a good faith effort to meet, participation goals for minority, women, or disabled veteran business enterprises to provide in the general conditions under which bids will be received that any person making a bid or offer to perform a contract shall include specified information in that bid or offer.
This bill would require a contractor, as a condition of submitting a bid to a local agency for a public works contract, to fully disclose any history of wage and hour violations, as specified, and provide supporting documentation, as described. The bill would authorize a contractor that fails to provide the required disclosures and
supporting materials to be disqualified from the bid. The bill would require a local agency to establish a process for a contractor to appeal their bid disqualification, as specified. By requiring local agencies to establish a bid disqualification appeal process, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would exempt public works contracts covered by a project labor agreement, and projects where local agencies require contractors to prequalify as a condition of bidding.
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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