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AB-2612 • 2026

Building standards: qualified plug-in photovoltaic systems.

Building standards: qualified plug-in photovoltaic systems.

Energy Housing
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Schultz
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact date when new standards will start being used is not specified in the official source material.

Building Standards for Solar Panels

This law requires new buildings to include electrical systems that can use solar panels as an energy source.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the California Building Standards Commission to create rules for new buildings to have special electrical circuits that allow qualified plug-in photovoltaic systems (solar panel systems) to work properly.
  • Allows the Department of Housing and Community Development to research and suggest these building standards.
  • Needs the commission and department to consult with experts and invite public participation before making final decisions.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who build new houses or buildings in California
  • Homeowners and businesses that want to use solar panels

Terms To Know

Qualified plug-in photovoltaic system
A type of solar panel system that can be plugged into a building's electrical circuit.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law only applies to new buildings constructed after the rules are made.
  • It is not clear when exactly these new standards will start being used.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-04-23 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  3. 2026-04-20 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.

  4. 2026-04-16 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended.

  5. 2026-04-15 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 15).

  6. 2026-04-07 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.

  7. 2026-04-06 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. Read second time and amended.

  8. 2026-03-16 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and U. & E.

  9. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  10. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2612, as amended, Schultz.
Building standards: qualified plug-in photovoltaic systems.
Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. Existing law, the California Building Standards Law, establishes the California Building Standards Commission. Existing law requires the commission to approve and adopt building standards and to codify those standards in the California Building Standards Code. Existing law, the State Housing Law, establishes statewide construction and occupancy standards for buildings used for human habitation.
Existing law, until January 1, 2033, requires the commission and the department, commencing with the next triennial edition of the code adopted after January 1, 2023, to research and develop, and authorizes the commission and the department to propose for adoption by the commission, mandatory building standards for the
installation of electric vehicle charging stations in existing multifamily dwellings, hotels, motels, and nonresidential developments, as specified.
This bill would
require
authorize
the commission, commencing with the first triennial edition of the code adopted after June 1, 2031, to adopt, approve, codify, and publish
mandatory
building energy standards for
new construction
building electrical circuit features to enable a qualified plug-in photovoltaic system, as defined, to function as an energy source within
the electrical circuit of
a single-family residential
dwelling’s,
dwelling,
multiunit residential
dwelling’s,
dwelling,
or nonresidential
development’s electrical circuit,
development, that is constructed after that
edition is adopted,
as specified. The bill would, for purposes of that requirement, require the department to research, develop, and propose for adoption
mandatory
building standards for a qualified plug-in photovoltaic system to function as an energy source within
the electrical circuit of
a single-family residential
dwelling’s,
dwelling,
multiunit residential
dwelling’s,
dwelling,
or nonresidential
development’s electrical circuit.
development, as specified.
The bill would require the commission and the department, in satisfying those requirements, to, among other things, consult with certain interested parties and invite the participation of the public at large in the development of those building energy standards through open consensus-based processes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Download Bill PDF