CaliforniaCalifornia associations must repair shared utility outages and update election notices
California associations must arrange certain shared-area utility repairs and give members updated notice periods for board nominations and electronic voting.
What it does
Associations must arrange repairs when gas, heat, water, or electrical service is interrupted starting in a shared area, even if the problem reaches an owner’s property. Exceptions apply when the governing declaration or a utility provider assigns responsibility elsewhere.
Associations using electronic secret ballots must send the ballot notice to each member who will vote electronically. The notice must explain how to access the voting system and submit a ballot.
For board elections where candidates may be seated without a ballot, associations must give members the first nomination notice at least 30 days before nominations close and a reminder at least 10 days before.
Argument forEarlier election notices may give members more time to learn about candidates and decide whether to nominate someone.
Argument againstAssociations may face repair costs they cannot cover from reserves, which could lead to emergency assessments for affected owners.
More detail
An association must arrange repairs to restore interrupted gas, heat, water, or electrical service when the outage starts in a common area. The rule applies even when the service problem extends into an owner’s separate property or an area reserved for that owner’s use. This applies unless the development’s governing declaration assigns responsibility differently or a utility provider must maintain, repair, or replace the failed service parts. A utility company’s or local government’s separate legal duties do not change. The board must start the repair process within 14 days after service is interrupted. A disaster or emergency that materially affects the association’s ability to act suspends this section’s requirements.
An association using electronic secret ballots must send the individual ballot notice to each member who will vote electronically. This applies to members voting electronically in an association election conducted by electronic secret ballot. The association must have adopted a rule allowing electronic secret ballots; this option does not apply to votes on regular or special assessments. The notice must explain how to access the online voting system and cast an electronic ballot. It may be sent to an electronic address or system the member designated. The association must deliver the notice no later than 30 days before the election.
An association must send the initial and reminder notices about nominations closer to the nomination deadline. This applies to associations holding board elections in which the number of qualified candidates is no more than the number of open positions. These notice periods apply when the association may seat candidates without a ballot because the number of qualified candidates does not exceed the open board positions. The association may use acclamation only if the other legal conditions are met, including a board vote. The initial notice is due at least 30 days before the nomination deadline; the reminder is due no less than 10 days before that deadline.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 31Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 169, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Aug 31Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 25Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 19Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 1. Page 6246.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1892 Davies Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 17In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1892 Davies By Choi. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 17Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 1. Page 5499.).Passed Senate
- Aug 5Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 4Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Jun 25Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 23).Minor
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 17From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Jun 16
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 8From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HOUSING.Major
- Jun 3Referred to Coms. on HOUSING and JUD.Minor
- May 21In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1892 Davies Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 21Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 1. Page 5178.)Passed Assembly
- Apr 30Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Apr 29Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Apr 28From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (April 28).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and JUD.Minor
- Feb 13From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
- Feb 12Read first time. To print.Introduced
HousingGovernment & EthicsCivil Rights & Voting