California Assembly Bill 1156
Session 20252026
Williamson Act contracts: cancellation fees: photovoltaic solar facilities.
Became Law
Became Law on Sep 30, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
1156
State
California
Session
20252026
Motion Text
AB 1156 WICKS Concurrence in Senate Amendments
Assembly Roll Call Votes
Yes
Yes
Ávila Farías
Yes
Other
Other
Yes
Yes
Other
Yes
Yes
Yes
Other
Yes
Yes
Other
Other
Yes
Other
Other
Other
Yes
Yes
Other
Other
Other
Yes
Other
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Other
Yes
Yes
Other
Yes
Other
Yes
Summary
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (act) , otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to contract with a landowner to limit the use of agricultural land to agricultural use if the land is located in an agricultural preserve designated by the city or county, as specified. Existing law authorizes the county or city to cancel a contract under certain circumstances and conditions. Existing law requires the city or county to determine the amount of the cancellation fee, based on the assessor's determination of the fair market value of the land as though it were free of the contractual restriction, that the landowner shall pay if the city and county approves a cancellation of a contract, as specified. Existing law authorizes the city or county to waive the payment or extend the time for making payment if the cancellation is caused by an involuntary transfer or change in the use which may be made of land, the county or city has determined that it is in the best interest of the program to conserve agricultural land use that the payment be either deferred or not required, and the extension is approved by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, as provided.
This bill would remove the ability of a city or county to waive payment or extend the time for making payment, as described above. The bill would instead authorize the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, upon application by the landowner, to waive payment or extend the time for making payment, as described above, if either the cancellation is caused by an involuntary transfer or change in the use which may be made of the land, as described above, or the cancellation is to facilitate a photovoltaic solar facility that meets specified conditions. The bill, until January 1, 2037, would require the secretary to approve a completed application for extension of making the payment by a landowner if it includes certain items, as provided, and would require the secretary to waive payment if the landowner attests and provides proof to the secretary that a solar project has been constructed on the property.
The act deems a contract null and void upon acquisition of the land subject to the contract in an eminent domain action or upon acquisition of land in lieu of eminent domain, as provided. The Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2021 authorizes the Governor, until January 1, 2032, to certify, among other projects, a clean renewable energy project that generates electricity exclusively through wind or solar, as specified, for certain streamlining benefits.
This bill would additionally deem a contract null and void when that land is approved for use as a photovoltaic solar facility certified under the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2021, as provided.
02/20/25 - Introduced
February 20, 2025
03/20/25 - Amended Assembly
March 20, 2025
05/05/25 - Amended Assembly
May 5, 2025
05/23/25 - Amended Assembly
May 23, 2025
07/22/25 - Amended Senate
July 22, 2025
09/09/25 - Amended Senate
September 9, 2025
08/27/26 - Amended Senate
August 27, 2026
09/04/26 - Enrolled
September 4, 2026
09/30/26 - Chaptered
September 30, 2026
04/21/25- Assembly Local Government
April 21, 2025
04/22/25- Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy
April 22, 2025
04/29/25- Assembly Agriculture
April 29, 2025
05/19/25- Assembly Appropriations
May 19, 2025
05/28/25- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS
May 28, 2025
06/27/25- Senate Local Government
June 27, 2025
07/03/25- Senate Local Government
July 3, 2025
07/14/25- Senate Environmental Quality
July 14, 2025
07/15/25- Senate Environmental Quality
July 15, 2025
08/17/25- Senate Appropriations
August 17, 2025
08/30/25- Sen. Floor Analyses
August 30, 2025
09/11/25- Sen. Floor Analyses
September 11, 2025
09/12/25- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS
September 12, 2025
08/28/26- Senate Local Government
August 28, 2026
08/30/26- Sen. Floor Analyses
August 30, 2026
08/31/26- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS
August 31, 2026
Sort by most recent
09/30/2026
California State Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 875, Statutes of 2026.
09/30/2026
California State Legislature
Approved by the Governor.
09/14/2026
California State Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1:30 p.m.
08/31/2026
Assembly
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 56. Noes 6. Page 7068.).
08/31/2026
Assembly
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 7068.)
08/31/2026
Assembly
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
08/31/2026
Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 21. Noes 14.).
08/28/2026
Senate
From committee: That the measure be returned to Senate Floor for consideration. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (August 28)
08/28/2026
Senate
From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on L. GOV. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10 (b). (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
08/28/2026
Senate
Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10 (b).
08/28/2026
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
08/27/2026
Senate
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
08/27/2026
Senate
Ordered to third reading.
08/27/2026
Senate
(Ayes 30. Noes 10.)
08/27/2026
Senate
Action rescinded whereby the bill was read third time, passed, and to Assembly.
06/04/2026
Senate
In Senate. Held at Desk.
06/04/2026
Assembly
Ordered to the Senate.
06/04/2026
Assembly
From inactive file.
09/13/2025
Assembly
Ordered to inactive file at the request of Assembly Member Wicks.
09/13/2025
Assembly
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3477.)
09/13/2025
Assembly
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
09/12/2025
Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 25. Noes 8. Page 2963.).
09/10/2025
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
09/09/2025
Senate
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
09/09/2025
Senate
Joint Rule 61(a)(13) suspended. (Ayes 28. Noes 8. Page 2568.)
08/29/2025
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
08/29/2025
Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (August 29).
08/18/2025
Senate
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
07/22/2025
Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
07/22/2025
Senate
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 16).
07/09/2025
Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.
06/18/2025
Senate
Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and E.Q.
06/04/2025
Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
06/03/2025
Assembly
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 66. Noes 5. Page 2015.)
05/27/2025
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
05/23/2025
Assembly
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
05/23/2025
Assembly
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (May 23).
05/23/2025
Assembly
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)
05/21/2025
Assembly
Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 1627.)
05/21/2025
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
05/14/2025
Assembly
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
05/06/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
05/05/2025
Assembly
Read second time and amended.
05/01/2025
Assembly
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (April 30).
04/24/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on AGRI. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on AGRI.
04/23/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
04/10/2025
Assembly
(Pending re-refer to Com. on U. & E.).)
04/10/2025
Assembly
Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 1114.)
03/24/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
03/20/2025
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.
03/10/2025
Assembly
Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and AGRI.
02/21/2025
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
02/20/2025
Assembly
Read first time. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 21, 2025 6:02:06 AM
Record Updated
Oct 2, 2026 9:17:26 AM