CaliforniaState would take over limited farmland contract fee relief decisions
Landowners with locally approved farmland contract cancellations for solar projects in basins critically overdrawn when they apply would get fee delays after complete applications if developers have local benefit agreements.
What it does
For locally approved solar cancellations in basins critically overdrawn when owners apply, the state would grant complete fee delay requests if developers have local benefit agreements. Owners proving construction before the delay ends would get a waiver. These rules apply only until January 1, 2037.
For state-certified solar projects in basins critically overdrawn when certified, farmland contracts would end on approved land or rights if developers have local benefit agreements. If the certified project owner decides not to build there, farmland protections would have to return.
Cities and counties would lose limited fee relief power when an involuntary transfer or change in allowed land use cancels a farmland contract. Owners could seek relief from the state if the land is neither ready nor immediately used for a more profitable purpose, and the state finds relief serves the public interest.
Argument forFor solar cancellations in basins critically overdrawn when owners apply, required meetings could let neighbors comment on developers’ local benefit agreements.
Argument againstIn basins critically overdrawn when certified, state-certified solar projects with local benefit agreements could end farmland protections on approved land or rights before construction.
More detail
The state natural resources secretary would approve complete requests to delay fees for eligible solar cancellations and waive payment after timely proof of construction. This covers locally approved farmland contract cancellations for solar projects in groundwater basins critically overdrawn when owners apply. Owners must submit a checklist, local approval of the contract cancellation, a sworn statement about groundwater conditions, and a map. Developers must have a local benefit agreement, notify nearby landowners, and hold a local meeting. Owners must prove construction before the fee delay ends to receive a waiver. The required approval and waiver rules would apply only until January 1, 2037. Owners would need to prove construction before the fee delay ends.
Approval of a state-certified solar project would end the farmland contract for approved land or property rights when the groundwater and local benefit agreement conditions are met. The project must be state-certified, and its groundwater basin must be critically overdrawn when certified. Only approved land or property rights would leave the contract; other land would remain covered unless separately canceled. The developer must have a local benefit agreement, notify nearby landowners, and hold a local meeting about community benefits. Those benefits must begin no later than construction. If the certified project owner decides not to build there, the owner must notify local officials. The land must enter a new farmland contract or carry a deed restriction at least as strict as state law requires. The contract would end for approved land or rights when solar use is approved. Community benefits would have to begin no later than construction.
Cities and counties would lose limited fee relief authority for certain involuntary cancellations. The state natural resources secretary could grant that relief after a landowner applies. This covers farmland contract cancellations caused by an involuntary transfer or a change in how the land may be used. The secretary must find that relief serves the public interest. The land must be neither immediately suitable nor immediately used for a purpose that earns the owner more.
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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
- Sep 30Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 875, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 14Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1:30 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 1
- Vote recorded AB 1156 WICKS Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 31Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 56. Noes 6. Page 7068.).Major
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1156 Wicks By Laird. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 31Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 7068.)
- Aug 31In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 31Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 21. Noes 14.).Major
- Aug 28From committee: That the measure be returned to Senate Floor for consideration. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (August 28)Minor
- Vote recorded That the measure be returned to Senate Floor for consideration. Ordered to third reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 28From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on L. GOV. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10 (b). (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.Minor
- Aug 28Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10 (b).Minor
- Aug 28Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 27Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 27Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 27(Ayes 30. Noes 10.)
- Aug 27Action rescinded whereby the bill was read third time, passed, and to Assembly.Major
- Jun 4In Senate. Held at Desk.
- Jun 4Ordered to the Senate.
- Jun 4From inactive file.
- 2025
- Sep 13Ordered to inactive file at the request of Assembly Member Wicks.
- Sep 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3477.)
- Sep 13In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Sep 12Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 25. Noes 8. Page 2963.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1156 Wicks By Laird. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 10Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Sep 9Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Sep 9Joint Rule 61(a)(13) suspended. (Ayes 28. Noes 8. Page 2568.)
- Aug 29Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 29From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (August 29).Minor
- Aug 18In committee: Referred to suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 22Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 22From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 16).Major
- Jul 16
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 9From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Environmental Quality]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 18Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and E.Q.Minor
- Jun 4In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1156 Wicks Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 3Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 66. Noes 5. Page 2015.)Passed Assembly
- May 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 23Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- May 23From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (May 23).Major
- May 23Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)
- May 21Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 1627.)
- May 21In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- May 14In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
- May 6Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- May 5Read second time and amended.Major
- May 1From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (April 30).Major
- Apr 30
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on AGRI. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on AGRI.Minor
- Apr 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Utilities and Energy]. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Agriculture]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 10(Pending re-refer to Com. on U. & E.).)Minor
- Apr 10Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 1114.)
- Mar 24Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.Minor
- Mar 20From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 10Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and AGRI.Minor
- Feb 21From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
- Feb 20Read first time. To print.Introduced
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