AB 1470: Food facilities: retail food safety.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the California Retail Food Code, establishes uniform health and sanitation standards for retail food facilities. Under existing law, local health agencies are primarily responsible for enforcing these standards. Under existing law, a person who violates any provision of the California Retail Food Code is guilty of a misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided.

Existing law prohibits a food facility from locating a grease trap or grease interceptor in a food handling area, unless approved by an enforcement agency. Existing law exempts from the prohibition a food facility with an approved grease trap or grease interceptor that was in operation before the effective date of the code.

This bill would instead prohibit a food facility from locating a grease trap or grease interceptor in a food preparation area. The bill would additionally exempt a grease trap or grease interceptor from this prohibition if (1) a structural hardship can be determined preventing the grease trap or grease interceptor from being installed in an area not designated for food preparation or food storage or a utensil handling area, (2) the site can provide a cleaning or maintenance plan that indicates how and when the grease trap or grease interceptor will be accessed for service to prevent any cross contamination of food or food contact surfaces, and (3) the site can provide procedures that will be taken to properly clean and sanitize the area following servicing.

Existing law limits the size of a passthrough window service opening to 216 square inches. Existing law authorizes a passthrough window of up to 432 square inches if equipped with an air curtain device.

This bill would instead authorize a passthrough window service opening of up to 432 square inches if equipped with an air curtain device or equipped with a self-closing device. The bill would authorize a passthrough service opening that is larger than 432 square inches if equipped with both a self-closing device and an air curtain device. The bill would authorize an enforcement agency to approve alternative passthrough window or other service openings if the proposed alternative can adequately maintain exclusion of vermin or other means of contamination.

Existing law requires a food facility’s walls and ceilings to be durable, smooth, nonabsorbent, and easily cleanable. Existing law exempts from this requirement walls and ceilings of bar areas in which alcoholic beverages are sold or served directly to the consumers, except wall areas adjacent to bar sinks and areas where food is prepared, among other things. Existing law also exempts from this requirement restrooms that are used exclusively by the consumers, except that the walls and ceilings in the restrooms shall be of a nonabsorbent and washable surface.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 29, 2025In committee: Held under submission.
2. August 18, 2025In committee: Referred to suspense file.
3. July 15, 2025Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. July 15, 2025Withdrawn from committee.
5. July 14, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.
6. July 10, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 9).
7. June 25, 2025Re-referred to Coms. on HEALTH and E.Q.
8. June 24, 2025Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
9. June 24, 2025Withdrawn from committee.
10. June 23, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED.
11. June 5, 2025In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
12. June 4, 2025Referred to Com. on ED.