California Assembly passes wide package of bills in House of Origin; major measures on policing oversight, housing, insurance, energy and health advance

The California State Assembly on May 20 approved a broad set of bills in its House of Origin session, advancing legislation on policing oversight, housing production, insurance regulation, energy policy and health-care access.

The session moved quickly through dozens of measures; most were approved on recorded roll-call votes after brief floor presentations and a small number of exchanges. Several bills that drew extended attention on policy grounds nonetheless passed with substantial majorities.

Among the measures that moved forward, Assembly Bill 847 (Sharp Collins) clarifies that local law‑enforcement civilian oversight commissions can review police personnel records and may meet in closed session to protect confidentiality; the Assembly recorded Ayes 41, Noes 13 and the bill passed. Assembly Bill 1 (Connolly) will require the Department of Insurance to review SAFE from Wildfire regulations on a five‑year schedule beginning Jan. 1, 2030; the roll call was Ayes 61, Noes 0. AB 86 (Ward) directs HCD to begin a process to allow “missing middle” buildings (3–10 units) to be built under the California Residential Code rather than the broader building code; it passed Ayes 61, Noes 0.

Other actions included passage of AB 593 (Wicks), a change to limited exemptions for data‑sharing to improve CalFresh administration (Ayes 59, Noes 0), AB 893 (Fong) to expand ministerial approval for mixed‑income campus‑adjacent housing (Ayes 56, Noes 4), and AB 258 (Connolly) to increase funding for California’s fairs network (Ayes 57, Noes 1). The Assembly also approved AB 31 (Ramos), creating a three‑year pilot for tribal peace officer status (Ayes 61, Noes 0), and AB 61 (Pacheco), requiring the Public Advocate to assess proposed legislative mandates’ impacts on utilities (Ayes 58, Noes 0).

Several public‑safety, workforce and consumer protection bills also passed. AB 325 (majority leader Agriarcuri) updates antitrust law for algorithmic price‑fixing (Ayes 42, Noes 15). AB 361 (Schultz) removes the sunset on Los Angeles Unified School District best‑value procurement and authorizes it statewide as an option for districts (Ayes 52, Noes 2). AB 343 (Pacheco) expanded protections for judges’ personal information in public records (Ayes 55, Noes 0), while AB 351 (various) and dozens of other bills covering education, public health, energy and housing also passed on recorded votes.

The Assembly also approved measures aimed at energy and climate policy: AB 368 (Ward) directs the California Energy Commission to evaluate passive‑house standards against Title 24 (Ayes 62, Noes 0); AB 443 (Bennett) asks the CEC to assess renewable curtailment and feasibility of using curtailed renewables for clean hydrogen (Ayes 59, Noes 0); and AB 431 (Wilson) established a framework for advanced air mobility infrastructure (Ayes 63, Noes 0).

Several bills addressing community and social services advanced: AB 450 (Pacheco) set standards for K‑9 units, AB 431 and AB 440 (Ramos) addressed public‑health and suicide‑prevention measures for bridges and roadways, and AB 500‑series items on housing, workforce, and caregiving were approved and passed to the next committee or to the inactive file as noted.

Votes at a glance (selection of floor actions with roll tallies): - AB 847 (Sharp Collins) — policing oversight; passed Ayes 41, Noes 13. - AB 593 (Wicks) — CalFresh data‑sharing exemptions; passed Ayes 59, Noes 0. - AB 1 (Connolly) — review schedule for SAFE from Wildfire program; passed Ayes 61, Noes 0. - AB 86 (Ward) — missing‑middle housing code shift; passed Ayes 61, Noes 0. - AB 893 (Fong) — streamlined housing near campuses; passed Ayes 56, Noes 4. - AB 325 (Agriarcuri) — antitrust modernization for algorithmic collusion; passed Ayes 42, Noes 15. - AB 361 (Schultz) — best‑value procurement for school construction; passed Ayes 52, Noes 2. - AB 443 (Bennett) — assess renewable curtailment and hydrogen uses; passed Ayes 59, Noes 0. - AB 413 (Fong) — translation of HCD guidelines; passed Ayes 61, Noes 0. - AB 400 (Pacheco) — K‑9 unit standards; passed Ayes 59, Noes 0. - AB 451 (Petrie‑Norris) — standardized protocols for gun‑violence restraining orders; passed Ayes 64, Noes 0. - AB 679–AB 900 range: numerous additional bills on education, public safety, health care, housing and environmental policy passed on the floor; roll tallies are recorded in the official floor journal.

Why it matters: the House of Origin calendar is the first major gate for legislation. Most measures that passed will move to the Senate for consideration; several are policy priorities with state‑level implementation implications for public safety oversight, housing supply and energy planning.

The Assembly also handled routine and noncontroversial items by unanimous voice vote and passed several resolutions. The day's proceedings included a memorial adjournment and a brief prayer and Pledge of Allegiance at the start of session.