AB 455: Real estate: environmental hazards: thirdhand smoke.

Official summary

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

Existing law requires that specified disclosures be made upon any transfer by sale, exchange, real property sales contract, lease with an option to purchase, any other option to purchase, or ground lease coupled with improvements, of any single-family residential property.

This bill would make it the sole responsibility of a seller of a single-family residential property who has actual knowledge of the existence of any residue from smoking tobacco or nicotine products, as defined, or any history of occupants smoking tobacco or nicotine products on the property, as specified, to disclose that knowledge to the buyer in writing.

Existing law requires the Department of Real Estate to develop a booklet to educate and inform consumers on, among other things, common environmental hazards that are located on, and affect, real property, and requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control to publish and distribute the booklet to the public upon request, as specified. Existing law also requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control to publish a new edition of the booklet and requires that this new edition be in substantial compliance with certain federal disclosure requirements regarding the safe management of lead and radon gas in housing, as provided.

This bill would require the Department of Toxic Substances Control to update the above-described booklet to include a new section on thirdhand smoke. To offset costs, the bill would require the Department of Toxic Substances to delegate the responsibility for the update to the Center for Tobacco and the Environment at San Diego State University, as specified. The bill would require the department to review the proposed update to ensure it adequately educates and informs consumers on specified matters relating to thirdhand smoke as a common environmental hazard.

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. October 3, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 263, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 3, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 11, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. September 4, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2931.).
5. September 4, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. September 3, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2461.).
7. August 20, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 19, 2025From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
9. July 17, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
10. July 16, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 15).
11. July 3, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
12. July 2, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 2).