AB 1915: Accelerated restaurant equipment permitting approval: retail food safety.

Official summary

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

(1)Existing law authorizes the legislative body of any county or city to adopt ordinances that regulate the use of buildings, structures, and land as between industry, business, residences, and open space, including agriculture, recreation, enjoyment of scenic beauty, use of natural resources, and other purposes. Existing law establishes a streamlined approval process for a local permit for a tenant improvement relating to a restaurant, as those terms are defined.

This bill would establish a streamlined approval process for a local permit for a like-for-like equipment installation relating to a restaurant, as those terms are defined. In this regard, the bill would require a local building department, upon the request and at the expense of the permit applicant, to allow a qualified licensed contractor certifier, defined as a licensed contractor that meets certain requirements, to submit a certification of the installation’s compliance with applicable codes. The bill would require a qualified licensed contractor certifier to prepare certain affidavits related to the equipment installation under penalty of perjury. The bill would require the local building department to approve or deny the permit application within 10 business days of receipt and would deem the plan approved for permitting purposes if the local building department does not approve or deny the application within that timeframe, provided that all required fees have been paid. The bill would make qualified licensed contractor certifiers liable for damages arising from negligent or false certification. The bill would also require the applicant to indemnify the local agency from any property damage or personal injury arising from construction performed under the above-described provisions.

(2)Existing law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA does not apply to the approval of ministerial projects.

To the extent that the streamlined, ministerial review processes established by the bill would apply to final, discretionary approval of a like-for-like equipment installation, the bill would exempt those projects from CEQA.

(3)Existing law, the Contractors State License Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of contractors by the Contractors State License Board. Under existing law, willful or deliberate disregard by a licensed contractor of various state building, labor, and safety laws constitutes a cause for disciplinary action by the board. Existing law provides for related disciplinary proceedings and requires the board to promulgate regulations covering the assessment of civil penalties under those disciplinary provisions, as prescribed. Existing law, beginning on July 1, 2026, requires a civil penalty to be assessed of not less than $1,500 and not to exceed $30,000 for certain violations of the Contractors State License Law, as provided.

This bill would make a false statement made in a certification submitted pursuant to the above-described provisions grounds for disciplinary action by the Contractors State License Board and grounds for a conviction of perjury. The bill would also require that false statement to be assessed as a civil penalty in accordance with the amounts described above.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 6

“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 13, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
2. August 3, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
3. July 1, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. June 30, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 29).
5. June 25, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
6. June 25, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on B. P. & E.D. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
7. June 18, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HOUSING. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING.
8. June 10, 2026Referred to Coms. on HEALTH, HOUSING and B. P. & E.D.
9. May 28, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
10. May 27, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 5475.)
11. May 18, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
12. May 14, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).