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: 2026-04-24
Official status: Set for hearing May 4.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation had an incorrect start date for when state agencies can use Green Globes certification. The official source material indicates that projects must initiate design documents on or after January 1, 2027.

Green Globes Certification for State Buildings

This law allows state agencies to use Green Globes certification as an alternative to LEED Gold or Silver for new building and 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 in 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 that build or renovate large buildings
Companies that certify building sustainability

Terms To Know

Green Globes: A system for rating how environmentally friendly a building is.
LEED Gold and Silver: Levels of certification that show how sustainable a building is, with Gold being higher than Silver.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if Green Globes certification conflicts with security or cost requirements.
It's unclear when the new rules will officially start because there is no effective date listed yet.

Bill History

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.) (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.) (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