AB 2188 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Regional park and open-space districts: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

Summary
Existing law establishes procedures for the formation of regional park, park and open-space, and open-space districts and prescribes the powers, functions, and duties of those districts. Existing law requires the board of directors of these districts to appoint a general manager as chief administrative officer of the district, as provided. Existing law generally authorizes the general manager of a regional park, park and open space, and open-space district, with district board approval, to bind the district, in accordance with board policy, and without advertising, for the payment for supplies, materials, labor, or other valuable consideration for any purpose in amounts not exceeding $50,000. Existing law authorizes the district, by action of the board in an open meeting, to increase the amount by which the general manager of the district may bind the district above that limit. Existing law authorizes a general manager of a district with a population of 200,000 or more, with the approval of the board, to bind the district, in accordance with board policy that has been adopted in an open meeting, for the payment for equipment, supplies, and materials for any purpose, including new construction of a building, structure, or improvement, excluding labor and services, when the annual aggregate cost does not exceed $150,000. This bill would authorize, until January 1, 2032, the general manager of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, with the approval of the board, to bind the district, in accordance with board policy that has been adopted in an open meeting, for the payment of equipment, supplies, materials, labor, or other valuable consideration for any purpose, including new construction of a building, structure, or improvement, in amounts not exceeding $72,000, as provided. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Jul 2026
Assembly Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 19, 2026 Last action Aug 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

04/16/26 - Amended Assembly 05/05/26 - Amended Assembly · 5 edits · May 5, 2026
MODERATE
The May 5 amendment to AB 2188 restructures the Midpeninsula-specific procurement authority from a subdivision within Section 5549 into a new standalone section (5549.5), adds a sunset date of January 1, 2032, removes the prior prohibition on advertising contracts, and introduces a new requirement that contracts over $50,000 must receive at least three informal bids awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Senator Becker was also added as a coauthor.
Scope change
The bill's scope is substantively narrowed by adding a January 1, 2032 sunset date, and modified by removing the no-advertising restriction while adding a competitive bidding requirement for contracts over $50,000. The Midpeninsula-specific authority is now housed in its own section rather than embedded within the general district provisions.
REQUIREMENT

New Section 5549.5(a)(3) requires that if a contract exceeds $50,000, the district must solicit a minimum of three informal bids, award to the lowest responsible bidder (or reject all and resolicit or perform by force account), memorialize all solicitations in writing, and include awarded contracts in the board report.

The phrase 'and without advertising' was removed from the Midpeninsula-specific procurement authority. The old subdivision (d)(1) explicitly prohibited advertising; the new Section 5549.5(a)(1) no longer contains that restriction, allowing the district to advertise contracts.

TIMELINE

A sunset provision was added: Section 5549.5 shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2032, and is repealed as of that date. The prior version had no expiration.

SCOPE

The Midpeninsula-specific provisions were moved from subdivision (d) within Section 5549 to a new standalone section 5549.5, making the special authority more visible and easier to track as a separate statutory provision with its own sunset.

TECHNICAL

Senator Becker was added as a coauthor of the bill.

Floor votes · Assembly May 11, 2026

How they voted

701
Passed · 8 other
Total votes 79
May 11, 2026
D Democratic59
52 Yea 7
88% Yea
R Republican20
18 Yea 1 Nay 1
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Amendments
4
Jul 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1).
upper
Jun 24, 2026
Introduced
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
upper
May 20, 2026
Committee
Referred to Com. on L. GOV.
upper
May 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 71. Noes 1. Page 5002.)
lower
May 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
lower
May 4, 2026
Introduced
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 29).
lower
Apr 20, 2026
Committee
Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Introduced
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Com. on L. GOV.
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors