CaliforniaPublic agencies may use best-value bidding for smaller construction projects
Counties, cities, and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments may compare contractor qualifications with price when bidding on construction projects over $500,000.
What it does
Counties, cities, and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments may use best-value bidding for construction projects over $500,000, rather than relying only on the lowest price.
The best-value program continues through January 1, 2032. Participating agencies must submit a detailed program report before March 1, 2031.
Because the program reaches cities and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, false sworn bidder information can also fall within the program’s expanded perjury rule.
Argument forPublic agencies could compare price with contractor experience, safety, finances, and labor compliance instead of choosing solely by the lowest bid.
Argument againstContractors may face added preparation and qualification requirements, and an agency cannot award a project when fewer than three responsive bids are received.
More detail
A county, city, or the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments may use a best-value process to choose a construction contractor. The authority covers construction projects costing more than $500,000 in participating counties, cities, and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. The program is optional. The governing body must first hold a public meeting to consider the lowest-bid method and make a written finding that best value would reduce costs, speed completion, or provide features the lowest bid could not provide. The agency must use published evaluation criteria, prequalify bidders, and receive at least three responsive bids before awarding a project. Contractors and their subcontractors generally must commit to using a skilled and trained workforce, subject to project labor agreement exceptions.
Participating agencies must report their best-value contracts and related information to legislative committees. The report covers counties, cities, and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments that use the best-value program. The report must include project descriptions, contract amounts, selected contractors, protests and their resolution, the prequalification process, bid criteria and weighting, and any reported delays or cost increases. The program remains in effect only until January 1, 2032. Each participating agency must submit its report before March 1, 2031.
False information that bidders verify under oath may lead to perjury consequences under the expanded program. The provision applies to bidders in best-value procurements conducted by participating counties, cities, and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. Bidders must verify required information under oath as part of the prequalification and evaluation process. The provision applies while the best-value program remains in effect, through January 1, 2032.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 14Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 202, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 14Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 27Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 20Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6318.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1786 Harabedian Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 19In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1786 Harabedian By Reyes. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 19Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 5545.).Passed Senate
- Jun 30Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jun 29From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Jun 18Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jun 17From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 17).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- May 20Referred to Com. on L. GOV.Minor
- May 12In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 11Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 5003.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 1786 Harabedian Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 7Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 6From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 22
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Mar 16Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.Minor
- Mar 12From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.Major
- Feb 23Referred to Com. on L. GOV.Minor
- Feb 11From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.
- Feb 10Read first time. To print.Introduced
Government & EthicsEconomy & JobsCivil Rights & Voting