Local government: ordinances: penalties for violation: nonresidential structures.

Enhanced fines for nonresidential structures with 20,000+ sq ft now require that the violation poses a threat to health and safety. Previously, any ordinance violation at such a structure triggered the higher penalty tier.

New tenant/third-party liability rule: if a nonresidential structure is leased and the violation arises from a condition within the tenant's possession, operation, or contractual control, the fine is assessed against the tenant rather than the owner. Owner liability is preserved for structural, core, shell, common-area elements and the owner's own maintenance failures.

The enhanced penalty provisions were moved from embedded subsections (25132(g) and 36900(f)) into new standalone sections 25132.5 (counties) and 36900.5 (cities), with explicit notwithstanding language overriding the standard fine limits in Sections 25132, 25133, 36900, and 36901.

Section 25133 was simplified to contain only the general county board of supervisors penalty authority (fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to 6 months). The nonresidential structure provisions previously in subsection (b) were removed and relocated to new Section 25132.5.

Formatting changes: page numbers shifted from 92 to 91, header alignment adjusted, 'first time' corrected to 'first-time,' and the urgency clause was repositioned within the bill structure.

The bill now amends Government Code Sections 25132 and 36900 and adds new Sections 25133 and 36901, expanding its scope from broadband lifeline policy to also cover local government enforcement powers for counties and cities.

Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez was added as a principal coauthor alongside Assembly Member Boerner.

New penalty schedule for ordinance violations involving nonresidential structures with 20,000 or more square feet of floor area: $1,000 for a first violation, $2,000 for a second violation within 5 years, and $5,000 for each subsequent violation within 5 years. These amounts can be increased by a factor of 10 (up to $50,000 per violation) if the violation results in a state of emergency or federal disaster declaration.

New penalty schedule for short-term rental ordinance violations: $1,500 first violation, $3,000 second within one year, $5,000 each additional within one year. Applies only to infractions posing a threat to public health or safety and does not apply to first-time failure to register or pay a business license fee.

New penalty schedule for building and safety code violations: $130 first, $700 second within one year, $1,300 each additional within one year. For commercial property with existing buildings where the violation involves failure to remove visible refuse or prohibit unauthorized use, the fine increases to $2,500 for additional violations within two years.

New penalty schedule for event permit requirement violations: $150 first, $700 second within three years, $2,500 each additional within three years. An 'event permit requirement' is defined as failure to obtain a permit for a professionally organized special event on private property that is commercial in nature or from which the owner derives a commercial benefit.

Counties and cities levying certain fines must establish a hardship waiver process allowing reduction of the fine upon a showing of bona fide compliance effort after the first violation and undue financial burden.

An urgency clause was added declaring the act necessary for immediate preservation of public peace, health, or safety, so it takes effect immediately upon passage rather than on January 1 of the following year.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'yes' to 'no,' and the state-mandated local program designation changed from 'yes' to 'no.'

Minor corrections in the broadband lifeline provisions: 'standalone' corrected to 'stand-alone,' duplicated words removed ('purposes purpose of' to 'purpose of'), and 'does not preclude prohibit' corrected to 'does not prohibit.'

The document was reformatted from a traditional legislative print layout (with line numbers, page headers/footers, and formal spacing) to a web page rendering that includes site navigation, quick search fields, version comparison links, and metadata such as publication date. No substantive policy language was added, removed, or altered.

All Public Utilities Code provisions (Sections 873.5 and 914.8) establishing a mechanism for internet service providers to offer stand-alone broadband as a lifeline service were deleted, including eligibility criteria (100 Mbps downstream / 20 Mbps upstream at $30 or less per month), anti-bundling protections, surcharge rate caps, reporting requirements, and the January 1, 2032 sunset date.

Legislative findings regarding the loss of federal Affordable Connectivity Program support, federal preemption barriers, and California's commitment to broadband affordability were removed entirely.

Bill title changed from 'relating to communications' to 'relating to local government,' reflecting the removal of all telecommunications/broadband content.

New subdivision (h) added to Section 25132 establishing fine limits for fireworks violations as infractions in counties: $1,000 first violation, $2,000 second within five years, $5,000 subsequent within five years.

New Sections 1.5 and 3.5 added as conditional amendments to Sections 25132 and 36900 that would incorporate changes proposed by SB 828, operative only if both bills are enacted and SB 716 is enacted last.

Fiscal committee designation changed from 'yes' to 'no' and state-mandated local program designation changed from 'yes' to 'no,' consistent with the removal of the lifeline surcharge provisions that had triggered those designations.

Participation in the broadband lifeline program changed from a mandatory mechanism to a voluntary one: ISPs may now 'voluntarily include' standalone broadband as a lifeline service class, subject to the section's requirements and limitations.

A new legislative findings section (Section 1) was added explaining the bill's rationale, including the loss of federal Affordable Connectivity Program support, the Trump administration's stance on state broadband mandates, and a note that the Legislature may wish to consider future funding mechanism revisions.

A new clarifying provision states that Section 873.5 only applies to the lifeline subsidy established pursuant to that section, limiting its reach to the new broadband-specific subsidy.

New surcharge cap added: the commission shall not increase the lifeline program surcharge above the highest rate collected within the previous four years, as of January 1, 2026.

The upselling prohibition was narrowed from a blanket ban on 'upselling' to a ban on 'the inappropriate upselling' of internet service plans, giving ISPs more latitude in marketing to lifeline subscribers.

A new reporting requirement (Section 914.8) requires the commission to report to the Legislature by July 1, 2028 on program performance and fiscal impact, including participation changes, number of participants switching from telephone to broadband, and number applying subsidy to bundled service.

The deadline for the commission to adopt implementing rules was extended from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027.

The expedited ETC designation process for affiliates of small independent telephone corporations was changed from a requirement to 'become' an ETC to having 'the option to become' one, making it optional rather than mandatory.

Removed the creation of the Universal LifeLine Home Internet Services Fund in the State Treasury (former Section 3 amending PUC 270), which would have held moneys in trust and received transfers from other universal service funds.

Removed the establishment of the Universal LifeLine Home Internet Services Committee (former Section 4 amending PUC 277), an advisory board with at least five members representing state agencies, industry associations, TURN, CWA, and consumer advocates.

Removed the renaming of the Moore Universal Telephone Service Act to the Moore Universal LifeLine Services Act, and the naming of the bill as the California Home Internet LifeLine Act of 2025.

Removed the amendment to Government Code Section 11549.56 regarding the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network and encouraging internet service providers using it to participate in lifeline programs.

Removed the specific $20 per month home internet subsidy and the $10 maximum household payment cap (former Section 872), along with the biannual adjustment mechanism tied to federal poverty levels.

Added a requirement for the commission to submit to the Legislature by December 31, 2026 an estimate of any increase to the Universal Service Public Purpose Programs surcharge rate needed to implement these provisions.

Removed the requirement to enroll at least 90 percent of eligible households by December 31, 2032, and the detailed outreach program including up to $20 million for community and ethnic media public awareness.

Removed detailed provider obligations including advice letter filing requirements, expedited eligible telecommunications carrier designation procedures, anti-upselling rules with specific remedies for missed payments, and rate regulation protections for local exchange carriers until 2033.

Added a prohibition on providing more than one lifeline subsidy per household under the act.

Shifted eligibility language from requiring that an internet service plan be eligible for a lifeline subsidy to requiring that an internet service plan provider be eligible, changing the unit of analysis from individual plans to providers.

Added a sunset date: all provisions of Section 873.5 are repealed as of January 1, 2032.

Changed the deadline for the commission to adopt implementing rules from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027.

New Section 277(h) allows the commission, after public comment, to suspend the Universal LifeLine Home Internet Services Program if it determines a federal program would meet the needs of eligible California subscribers and achieve the program's objectives. If suspended, the program continues operating until all funds in the fund are fully expended.

Annual reporting requirement now extends to both the Legislature AND the California Broadband Council (previously Legislature only), broadening oversight of enrollment progress.

Section 872(b)(1) now requires the commission to establish the cost of a plan meeting minimum speed requirements AND establish a minimum contribution from the eligible household, adding a co-payment requirement that was not explicitly stated in the prior version.

Section 872(b)(1) adds 'Tribal organizations' alongside small rural internet service providers as entities whose cost of service differentials must be considered when setting subsidy levels, expanding the group recognized for potentially higher costs.

New legislative findings (items 2 and 3 in renumbered section) declare that offering high-quality broadband at affordable rates has been a long-standing state goal and that the state's police power to expand broadband access improves public health and safety, providing a stronger constitutional basis for the program.

Section 270(e) clarifies that the transfer of excess moneys applies to funds 'created pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (6)' rather than all funds in those paragraphs, and changes 'the program' to 'the program associated with the fund' for precision. Also changes 'home broadband internet services' to 'home broadband internet access services' throughout.

Fiscal notes changed: fiscal committee review is now 'yes' (was 'no') and state-mandated local program is now 'yes' (was 'no'), indicating the bill's fiscal impact analysis was updated to reflect new obligations on local entities.

The digest references a commission review of the Universal LifeLine Home Internet Services Fund on or before December 31, 2030 (appears as '3030' in the text, likely a typo) to determine whether expenditures were adequate and fair to all ratepayers, with a report to the Legislature.

New Section 873.5 requires the commission to establish standalone broadband internet access service as a class of lifeline service. A plan is eligible for subsidy if it provides at least 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream and costs $30 or less per month. The commission may adjust these thresholds for certain areas.

New Section 873.5 prohibits the commission from requiring a lifeline subscriber to bundle voice and internet service plans to receive a subsidy, and requires the commission to prohibit participating ISPs from upselling their plans.

New Section 872(b)(7) requires participating ISPs to immediately enroll eligible households as of the first day of the following month or beginning of the next billing period, and prohibits imposing waiting periods.

New Section 872(b)(3) requires the commission to adopt annual enrollment goals, including enrolling no less than 90 percent of all eligible households by December 31, 2032.

New Section 872(b)(5) prohibits requiring an eligible household to submit a social security number to participate in the program.

New Section 872(b)(6) prohibits requiring a credit check for enrollment in the program.

New Section 872(b)(4) explicitly authorizes a home internet subsidy for all eligible households, including those already receiving a Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Program subsidy, confirming dual enrollment is permitted.

The subsidy amount language changed from a flat $20 to 'up to twenty dollars ($20) per month per eligible household,' giving the commission flexibility to set the exact amount at or below $20.

The term 'home broadband internet access service' was replaced with 'home internet service' throughout the bill, broadening the scope of covered services beyond just broadband.

New Section 873.5 requires the commission to adopt rules implementing the standalone broadband lifeline provisions by July 1, 2026.

Establishes the California Home Internet LifeLine Act of 2025, expanding universal service from telephone-only to include home broadband internet access for low-income households.

Amends Government Code Section 11549.56 to require that internet service providers using the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network consider adopting rules to participate in the lifeline program.

Creates the Universal LifeLine Home Internet Services Fund in the State Treasury, funded by a per-telephone-access-line fee set by the Public Utilities Commission. Requires transfer of excess moneys from six existing universal service funds to this new fund as of March 1, 2025.

Authorizes up to $20 million from the new fund for public awareness through community and ethnic media channels selected through an open competitive process, with a requirement to assess impact after spending the first $10 million before expending the remainder.

Requires the commission to adopt rules by December 31, 2026 and implement a Universal LifeLine Home Internet Service Program by July 1, 2027, providing a $20-per-month subsidy per eligible household with a maximum $10-per-month cost to households for service meeting minimum speed requirements of 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream.

Requires the commission to annually report to the Legislature on enrollment progress compared to goals set by socioeconomic demographic factors and participating providers (new Section 914.8).

Requires participating internet service providers to immediately enroll eligible households as of the first day of the following month or next billing period, prohibits waiting periods, and prohibits surcharges on enrolled customers. Requires electrical corporations to inform CARE program customers about the LifeLine program.

Defines eligible households as those with at least one resident participating in qualified public assistance programs including Medi-Cal, CalFresh, TANF, tribal TANF, SSI/SSP, CARE, or Pell Grant recipients. Prohibits requiring credit checks or social security numbers for enrollment.

Sets an enrollment goal of at least 90 percent of all eligible households enrolled by December 31, 2032. Requires the commission to implement the program on or before July 1, 2027.

Renames the Moore Universal Telephone Service Act to the Moore Universal LifeLine Services Act and renames the Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Trust Administrative Committee to the Universal LifeLine Home Internet Services Committee with specified membership including CETA, Department of Technology, Health Care Services, Social Services, ISP associations, TURN, Center for Accessible Technology, and CWA.

Changes the vote requirement from majority to two-thirds of each house due to the access line fee constituting a tax increase under Article XIIIA of the California Constitution. Changes state-mandated local program designation from no to yes because violation of commission rules implementing the bill would be a crime.