SB-1398 • 2026

State agencies: building and renovation projects: Green Globes certification.

Energy

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Rubio
Last action: 2026-05-26
Official status: Referred to Com. on G.O.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about the effective date of the changes beyond projects initiated on or after January 1, 2027.

Green Globes Certification for State Buildings

The bill allows state agencies to use Green Globes certification as an alternative to LEED Gold or Silver certification for new building and major renovation projects larger than 10,000 square feet starting in 2027.

What This Bill Does

Allows state agencies to choose Three Green Globes certification instead of LEED Gold for large building and renovation projects starting on or after January 1, 2027.
Permits Two Green Globes certification as an alternative to LEED Silver for the same types of projects.

Who It Names or Affects

State agencies undertaking building and renovation projects larger than 10,000 square feet starting on or after January 1, 2027.

Terms To Know

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - a system for rating how environmentally friendly buildings are.
Green Globes: A certification program that rates the environmental performance of buildings.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if Green Globes certification is not available or applicable.
It's unclear how this will affect existing projects started before January 1, 2027.

Bill History

2026-05-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on G.O.
2026-05-19 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2026-05-05 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-04 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
2026-04-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4010.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-17 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 22.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0. Page 3867.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 14.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Coms. on G.O. and E.Q.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-03-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1398, as amended, Rubio.
State buildings.
State agencies: building and renovation projects: Green Globes certification.
Existing law requires all new building and major renovation projects larger than 10,000 gross square feet undertaken by state agencies, and for which the project schematic design documents are initiated by the state agency on or after January 1, 2024, to obtain the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or “LEED” Gold or higher certification, except as provided. Existing law requires state agencies to obtain LEED Silver certification for new buildings or major renovations, as described above, if the state agency concerned makes a finding that achieving LEED Gold conflicts with critical operational or security requirements, is demonstrably cost ineffective, or conflicts with California Building Code requirements.
This bill would, as an alternative to
obtaining LEED Gold certification as described above, allow building or renovation projects to obtain Three Green Globes or higher certification, as specified. This bill would, as an alternative to obtaining LEED Silver as described above, allow building or renovation projects to obtain Two Green Globes certification, as specified. The bill would make its requirements apply to projects for which the project schematic design documents are initiated by a state agency on or after January 1, 2027.
Existing law, the California Building Standards Law, continues into existence the California Building Standards Commission (commission) and requires the commission to approve and adopt building standards and to codify those standards in the California Building Standards Code.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to state buildings.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF