AB-2124 • 2026

Electricity and natural gas: legislation imposing mandated programs and requirements: third-party review.

Budget Energy Technology

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Pacheco
Last action: 2026-04-14
Official status: Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify how often the CCST will be asked to review new laws or what happens after January 1, 2032.

Third-Party Review of Energy Legislation

This law requires the California Council on Science and Technology to review new energy-related laws affecting electricity or gas companies if requested by the Legislature, starting in January 2027.

What This Bill Does

Requires the CCST to establish a program by January 1, 2027, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to analyze legislation that affects electrical corporation or gas corporation ratepayers.
The CCST must develop rules to avoid conflicts of interest when analyzing these laws.
These requirements will end on January 1, 2032.

Who It Names or Affects

California Council on Science and Technology (CCST)
Legislature
Electricity and gas companies

Terms To Know

Conflict of interest: A situation where someone's personal interests might affect their ability to make fair decisions.
Ratepayers: People who pay for electricity or gas services from companies.

Limits and Unknowns

The program only starts if the Legislature provides funding.
It is unclear how often the CCST will be asked to review new laws.
This law does not say what happens after January 1, 2032.

Bill History

2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 8).
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on U. & E.
2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
2026-02-18 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2124, as amended, Pacheco.
Electricity and natural gas: legislation imposing mandated programs and requirements: third-party review.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations.
Existing law finds and declares that the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) was organized as a nonprofit corporation at the request of the Legislature for the specific purpose of offering expert advice to the state government on public policy issues significantly related to science and technology. Existing law requests the CCST, every 3 years, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals, as specified.
This bill would require the CCST to establish, on or before January 1, 2027,
upon appropriation by the Legislature,
a program to, upon request of the Legislature, analyze legislation that would establish a mandated requirement or program, as defined, or otherwise affect electrical corporation or gas corporation ratepayers, as specified. The bill would require the CCST to develop and implement conflict-of-interest provisions to prohibit a person from participating in an analysis for which the person knows or has reasons to know that the person has a material financial interest. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2032.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF