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AB-361 • 2026

Best value procurement: school districts.

Best value procurement: school districts.

Education
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Schultz
Last action
2025-10-01
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 144, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about reporting requirements for Los Angeles Unified School District after December 31, 2025.

Best Value Procurement for School Districts

This law extends the ability of Los Angeles Unified School District to use a 'best value' procurement method indefinitely and allows other California school districts to use it until December 31, 2030.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the ability of the Los Angeles Unified School District to use a 'best value' way to choose contractors for large public projects without a set end date.
  • Allows other school districts in California to use this method until December 31, 2030, for big projects over $1 million.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Los Angeles Unified School District
  • Other California school districts

Terms To Know

Best Value Procurement Method
A way to choose contractors that looks at more than just the lowest price, considering factors like quality and reliability.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens after January 1, 2031.
  • It is unclear if other school districts will continue using this method beyond December 31, 2030.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-01 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 144, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-01 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-09 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

  4. 2025-09-03 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

  5. 2025-09-03 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 31. Noes 8. Page 2428.).

  6. 2025-06-26 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  7. 2025-06-25 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 25).

  8. 2025-06-11 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on ED.

  9. 2025-06-03 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  10. 2025-06-02 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 70. Noes 3. Page 1821.)

  11. 2025-05-28 California Legislative Information

    Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 1756.)

  12. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  13. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (May 23).

  14. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  15. 2025-03-28 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 97.

  16. 2025-03-19 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  17. 2025-03-18 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  18. 2025-03-17 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 12).

  19. 2025-03-04 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on ED.

  20. 2025-03-03 California Legislative Information

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

  21. 2025-02-18 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on ED.

  22. 2025-01-31 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 2.

  23. 2025-01-30 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 361, Schultz.
Best value procurement: school districts.
Existing law establishes a pilot program authorizing the Los Angeles Unified School District to use, before December 31, 2025, a best value procurement method for bid evaluation and selection for public projects that exceed $1,000,000. The pilot program establishes various requirements applicable to the use of the best value procurement method under the authorization. Existing law requires the school district to submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on the use of the best value procurement method as provided and in accordance with a specified schedule. These provisions are repealed on January 1, 2026.
This bill would delete the reporting requirement and repeal date, thereby extending these provisions concerning the Los Angeles Unified School District indefinitely, and make related conforming
changes.
This bill would additionally authorize the governing board of any school district, except for the Los Angeles Unified School District, to use, before December 31, 2030, a best value procurement method for bid evaluation and selection for public projects that exceed $1,000,000. The bill would establish various requirements applicable to the use of the best value procurement method under this authorization. The bill would require a school district to submit a report on the use of the best value procurement method, as specified, to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, on or before January 1, 2030. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2031.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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