AB-1954 • 2026

Municipal golf courses: reservations.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Ward
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

It is noted that while the bill text mentions statewide concern and application to all cities, including charter cities, this detail requires further verification.

Municipal Golf Courses: Reservations

This law stops third-party golf reservation services from listing or selling reservations for city-owned golf courses without permission from the course operator, but allows individuals to sell their own reservations at the original price if refunds are not offered.

What This Bill Does

It bans third-party platforms from listing, advertising, promoting, or selling reservations for municipal golf courses unless they get written approval from the golf course operators.
Individuals who purchased a reservation can sell it to others for no more than what was paid if refunds are not offered by the golf course operator.
Violations of this law will be considered unlawful business practices under the Unfair Competition Law (UCL).

Who It Names or Affects

Third-party golf reservation service platforms that list or sell reservations for city-owned golf courses without permission.
City-owned golf course operators who need to give written permission to third-party platforms.
Individuals who buy and sell their own golf reservations on these platforms.

Terms To Know

Unfair Competition Law (UCL): A law that stops unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent business practices.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a third-party platform violates the rules.
It is unclear how this will affect existing reservations made before the law takes effect.
The exact penalties for breaking this law are not detailed in the summary provided.

Bill History

2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 16).
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on A.,E.,S., & T.
2026-03-17 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on A.,E.,S., & T. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on A.,E.,S., & T. and P. & C.P.
2026-02-14 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
2026-02-13 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1954, as amended, Ward.
Municipal golf courses: reservations.
Existing law authorizes a city to purchase, lease, receive, hold, and enjoy real and personal property, and control and dispose of that property for the common benefit. Existing law authorizes the legislative body of a city to acquire property needed for specified purposes, including golf courses.
Existing law, the Unfair Competition Law (UCL), defines unfair competition to mean and include an unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business act or practice, unfair, deceptive, untrue, or misleading advertising, and any false representations to the public. Existing law makes a person who engages in unfair competition liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for each violation, and requires that this penalty be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought by specified persons and entities, including cities.
This bill would prohibit an operator of a third-party golf reservation service platform from listing, advertising,
promoting, or selling
promoting, selling, or transferring
reservations for a golf course owned by a local public agency without a written authorization from the golf course operator, as specified.
The bill would exempt from this prohibition the sale or transfer of a reservation, for no more than the amount paid, by an individual who purchased the reservation, if the golf course operator does not offer refunds.
The bill would provide that a violation of these provisions constitutes an unlawful business act or practice under the UCL.
The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF