Senator Steven Choi announced on June 3 that two of his measures, Senate Bill 1126 and Senate Bill 935, have passed the Assembly Committee on Local Government with bipartisan support.
Senate Bill 1126 aims to increase government transparency by requiring local agencies, school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to post audited financial reports online in a prominent and easily accessible location. The bill mandates that these reports be posted within 30 days and remain available online for at least three years. This measure is intended to allow taxpayers to review how public funds are managed without submitting public records requests.
Senate Bill 935 removes the 2031 sunset date on California’s local agency design-build authority. This change would allow cities, counties, and other local entities to continue using design-build as a project delivery method for public works projects. According to the announcement, studies have shown that design-build projects are delivered faster and at a lower cost than traditional procurement methods.
“These bills reflect two fundamental responsibilities of government: transparency and efficiency,” said Senator Steven Choi. “Taxpayers deserve easy access to information about how their money is being spent, and local governments deserve reliable tools to deliver infrastructure projects on time and within budget. I am pleased to see both measures continue advancing through the legislative process.”
SB 1126 is sponsored by the California Policy Center with the aim of modernizing public access to financial information through uniform online posting requirements for audited financial statements. SB 935 is sponsored by the Design-Build Institute of America Western Pacific Region with support from local government and public works stakeholders who recognize the value of design-build contracting in accelerating project delivery while reducing costs for taxpayers.
