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SB 33 CA
Became Law

Public contracts: claim resolution.

CA · session 20252026 · Senate · bill

A state bill is a proposed law in a state legislature — separate from the U.S. Congress. Learn more →

Introduced Dec 2, 2024

Latest action (Jul 16, 2026) Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 99, Statutes of 2026.

Summary

California Senate Bill 33 would make permanent the public contract claim resolution process for public works projects. The bill would eliminate the January 1, 2027 expiration date of existing requirements for public entities to review contractor claims and provide written statements within 45 days, extending these requirements indefinitely.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill (from the OpenStates abstract — no full text available yet) — neutral, and may be imperfect.

Official abstract

Existing law prescribes various requirements regarding the formation, content, and enforcement of state and local public contracts. Existing law establishes, until January 1, 2027, for contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2017, a claim resolution process applicable to any claim by a contractor in connection with a public works project against a public entity, as specified. For purposes of these provisions, existing law defines "public entity" to include, among others, a city, including a charter city, and county, including a charter county. Existing law imposes various requirements on a public entity in relating to the claim resolution process, including, among other things, conducting a reasonable review of the claim and, within 45 days, providing the claimant a written statement identifying the disputed and undisputed portions of the claim. This bill would repeal the above-described January 1, 2027, repeal date, thereby extending the operation of these provisions indefinitely. By indefinitely extending the duties of local agencies in relation to the above-specified claim resolution process, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Sponsor (1)

Action history (32)
  1. Dec 2, 2024 Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. · upper
  2. Dec 3, 2024 From printer. May be acted upon on or after January 2. · upper
  3. Jan 29, 2025 Referred to Coms. on ED. and HUMAN S. · upper
  4. Mar 3, 2025 Set for hearing March 19. · upper
  5. Mar 10, 2025 From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED. · upper
  6. Mar 19, 2025 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUMAN S. (Ayes 6. Noes 1. Page 419.) (March 19). Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S. · upper
  7. Apr 4, 2025 Set for hearing April 21. · upper
  8. Apr 22, 2025 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 811.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. · upper
  9. Apr 25, 2025 Set for hearing May 5. · upper
  10. May 5, 2025 May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. · upper
  11. May 16, 2025 Set for hearing May 23. · upper
  12. May 23, 2025 May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. · upper
  13. Jan 5, 2026 From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. · upper
  14. Jan 5, 2026 Withdrawn from committee. · upper
  15. Jan 5, 2026 Re-referred to Com. on RLS. · upper
  16. Jan 5, 2026 Re-referred to Com. on JUD. · upper
  17. Jan 6, 2026 Set for hearing January 13. · upper
  18. Jan 14, 2026 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 3213.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. · upper
  19. Jan 15, 2026 Set for hearing January 20. · upper
  20. Jan 20, 2026 From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8. · upper
  21. Jan 21, 2026 Read second time. Ordered to third reading. · upper
  22. Jan 26, 2026 Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 3279.) Ordered to the Assembly. · upper
  23. Jan 26, 2026 In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. · lower
  24. Jun 1, 2026 Referred to Com. on G.O. · lower
  25. Jun 10, 2026 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. · lower
  26. Jun 24, 2026 From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 24). · lower
  27. Jun 25, 2026 Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar. · lower
  28. Jul 2, 2026 Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. · lower
  29. Jul 2, 2026 In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. · upper
  30. Jul 15, 2026 Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m. · legislature
  31. Jul 16, 2026 Approved by the Governor. · legislature
  32. Jul 16, 2026 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 99, Statutes of 2026. · legislature
Subjects
Publiccontractsclaimresolution

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