CaliforniaLos Angeles County could pay households near oil wells
If lawmakers appropriate account funds, Los Angeles County would make equal one-time payments to up to 1,000 nearby households with respiratory or reproductive health impacts.
What it does
If lawmakers appropriate the money, Los Angeles County would make equal, one-time payments to eligible households near the identified oil wells. No more than 1,000 households may receive payments.
The county would use a simple application to check residency and health impacts. If more than 1,000 verified households apply, a random lottery would choose recipients.
Lawmakers may also set aside money for Los Angeles County to run the program. That amount cannot exceed 10% of the money appropriated for household payments.
Argument forIf lawmakers provide the money, eligible households could receive equal cash payments, and the payments would not reduce state or local benefits.
Argument againstEligible households could receive no payment if funds are not appropriated or if a lottery selects other households when more than 1,000 qualify.
More detail
The Department of Conservation would send the first $5 million in qualifying account deposits to Los Angeles County for one-time household payments. Households must live within 2.5 miles of the wells identified under this section and have at least one member with respiratory or reproductive health impacts. The Legislature must appropriate the money, and the payment is subject to the terms of that appropriation. The county may pay no more than 1,000 households. Payments are a one-time lump sum. The county must send them within 60 days after selecting recipients.
Los Angeles County would verify applicants and use a random lottery to choose recipients when more than 1,000 verified households qualify. These rules apply to households seeking the cash assistance described in this section. The county may accept self-attestation for health impacts and must provide equitable access, including for people with disabilities, limited technology access, or a preferred language other than English. A person helping with an application may not take any of the household's payment.
The Department of Conservation would distribute county funds for program administration, if lawmakers appropriate them. The funds would go to Los Angeles County to administer the household cash-assistance program. The Legislature must appropriate funds for this purpose from the account. The amount may not exceed 10% of the amount appropriated for program payments.
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 27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 539, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 3Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 26Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 60. Noes 16. Page 6566.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1661 Bryan Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 25In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1661 Bryan By Stern. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 8.).Passed Senate
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 15From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.Major
- Jun 3Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.Minor
- May 27In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 58. Noes 14. Page 5295.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 1661 Bryan Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 7From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 1.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 6
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.Minor
- Jan 30From printer. May be heard in committee March 1.
- Jan 29Read first time. To print.Introduced
HealthcareEnvironment & EnergyMental Health