CaliforniaCalifornia extends job order contracting for schools and colleges
School districts and community college districts may use job order contracts through 2036, while school districts face a new project cost rule and revised estimating steps.
What it does
School districts and community college districts may keep using job order contracts through 2036. Each must have a labor agreement covering that work and other public works above a threshold it sets.
School districts may not use job order contracts for a project they find would cost more without enough documented reason.
School districts no longer have to make a plan for eligible modernization projects or choose projects from it each year.
For each school job order, the district must estimate the cost before receiving the contractor's proposal. It no longer has to compare the estimate with the proposed price.
School district task order and job order contracts may last no more than five years. Orders validly issued before a contract expires remain enforceable afterward.
Argument forDistricts may keep using job order contracting through 2036, giving schools and colleges another way to arrange public works projects.
Argument againstWithout a required price comparison, school districts may have a harder time spotting a contractor's unreasonable price before issuing a job order.
More detail
School districts and community college districts may use job order contracting through 2036. This applies to California school districts and community college districts using job order contracting. Each district must have a project labor agreement covering job order work and other public works above a threshold set by that district. The provisions and related labor agreement requirements last until January 1, 2037.
A school district may not use job order contracting if its established review finds that it would raise a project's total cost without enough documented reason. This applies to school district projects considered for job order contracting. The district must base its finding on criteria and a method it has established.
School districts no longer have to prepare an execution plan for eligible modernization projects or select projects from it each year. This applies to school district modernization projects that may qualify for job order contracting.
School districts must prepare an independent estimate before receiving a contractor's proposal, but need not compare the estimate with the proposed price. This applies to each individual job order developed under a school district job order contract. Districts must document the basis for estimate adjustments. They may reject an unreasonable, not cost-effective, or undesirable proposal and use another available procurement method. The estimate must be prepared before the district receives the contractor's proposal.
School district task order procurement contracts and job order contracts may last no more than five years; valid orders under them remain enforceable after the contract expires. This applies to school district task order procurement contracts and job order contracts issued under the specified Public Contract Code provisions. An individual order must have been validly issued under the contract.
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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 27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 548, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved 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 61. Noes 12. Page 6319.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1809 Fong Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 19In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1809 Fong By Durazo. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 19Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 9. Page 5546.).Passed Senate
- Jun 23Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jun 22From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Jun 10From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 1From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED.Major
- May 27Referred to Com. on ED.Minor
- May 18In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1809 Fong Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 11. Page 5142.)Passed Assembly
- May 14Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 3.) (May 13).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 3.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.Minor
- Mar 23Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 19From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 18).Major
- Mar 18
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Higher Education]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2Referred to Coms. on ED. and HIGHER ED.Minor
- Feb 11From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.
- Feb 10Read first time. To print.Introduced
EducationEmergency ManagementGovernment & Ethics