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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
Official status
Chaptered
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not specify an effective date in the provided metadata or summary sections.

Best Value Procurement for School Districts

This law lets the Los Angeles Unified School District use a special bidding method without an end date and allows other school districts to try it until December 31, 2030.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the previous end date so the Los Angeles Unified School District can keep using best value procurement indefinitely.
  • Allows any school district except Los Angeles Unified to use best value procurement for projects over $1 million until December 31, 2030.
  • Sets rules that schools must follow when they choose contractors based on best value instead of just the lowest price.
  • Requires other school districts to send a report about how they used this method by January 1, 2030.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Los Angeles Unified School District
  • All other public school district governing boards in California

Terms To Know

Best value procurement
A method for choosing a contractor that looks at quality and cost together, not just the lowest price.
Repeal date
The day when a law stops working or is removed from the books.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This special bidding method only applies to public projects that cost more than $1,000,000.
  • The rules for school districts other than Los Angeles Unified end on January 1, 2031.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Chaptered

Official Summary Text

Best value procurement: school districts.