AB 628: Hiring of real property: dwellings: untenantability. - California

09/05/25 - Amended Senate → 09/15/25 - Enrolled · 3 edits · Sep 15, 2025

MINOR

AB 628 moved from its amended-in-senate version to the enrolled version, meaning it passed both chambers and was sent to the Governor. The substantive policy content is unchanged; the differences are limited to standard enrolled-bill formatting (removal of amendment history, line numbers, and vote/appropriation lines) plus a minor drafting correction in paragraph (11)(A) where a duplicated reference to 'subdivision (b)' was cleaned up.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a drafting error in Civil Code Section 1941.1(a)(11)(A): the old text read 'Except as provided in subdivision (b), (b) and subparagraph (B)' with a duplicated '(b)'; the enrolled version reads 'Except as provided in subdivision (b) and subparagraph (B).'

Cleaned up misplaced text in paragraph (11)(A)-(B) transition. The old version had the phrase 'refrigerator, provided that all of the following apply' appearing after the January 1, 2026 effective date line rather than immediately after the introductory clause of subparagraph (B). The enrolled version places it in the correct position.

Removed amendment history headers, line numbers, 'as amended' language from the digest, and the vote/appropriation/fiscal committee/state-mandated local program lines - all standard changes when a bill transitions to its enrolled form for the Governor's signature.

06/12/25 - Amended Senate → 09/05/25 - Amended Senate · 3 edits · Sep 5, 2025

MINOR

The September 5 amendment significantly expands the tenant-provided refrigerator option by adding specific conditions that must be met, including required lease language, a 30-day notice mechanism allowing tenants to revert to a landlord-provided refrigerator, and a prohibition on landlords conditioning tenancy on the tenant bringing their own unit. The bill also restructures its subdivisions for clarity and corrects a cross-reference in the residential hotel exemption.

REQUIREMENT

The tenant-provided refrigerator option (paragraph 11) was restructured from a brief mention into detailed subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C). Subparagraph (B) now requires: (i) specific lease language acknowledging the tenant's choice and responsibility, (ii) a 30-day written notice process allowing the tenant to stop providing their own refrigerator at which point the landlord must install a working one, (iii) a prohibition on landlords conditioning tenancy on the tenant bringing their own refrigerator, and (iv) confirmation that the landlord is not responsible for maintaining a tenant-provided refrigerator.

TECHNICAL

The bill's subdivision structure was reorganized. The recall repair/replace requirement and the utility energy savings provision were moved into clearly lettered subdivisions (c) and (d), removing a stray blank '(c)' line that appeared in the prior version.

DEFINITION

The residential hotel exemption in subdivision (b)(3) was corrected to properly reference 'Section 50519 of the Health and Safety Code' rather than splitting the code name across lines in a way that could create ambiguity.

09/15/25 - Enrolled → 10/06/25 - Chaptered · 3 edits · Oct 6, 2025

MINOR

This diff reflects only the transition of AB 628 from its enrolled form to its chaptered (signed) form after the Governor approved it on October 6, 2025. The header was updated to show 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL' and 'CHAPTER 342,' and the governor's approval date was filled in. No substantive policy language changed between these two versions.

TECHNICAL

Header changed from Assembly Bill passage information (dates, clerk signatures) to the standard chaptered format with 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL' and chapter number 342.

Governor's signature line was completed with the approval date of October 6, 2025, replacing the previously blank fields.

Page numbering changed from 'AB 628' format to 'Ch. 342' format throughout the document.

10/06/25 - Chaptered → AB628 · 1 edit

MINOR

No substantive policy changes occurred between these two versions. The diff reflects a transition from the official chaptered document format (with page numbers and state authentication headers) to a web-based bill text page with navigation elements. The legal provisions of AB 628 regarding stove and refrigerator tenantability requirements are identical in both versions.

TECHNICAL

The document was reformatted from an official chaptered legislative document (with page numbers, 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGISLATION MATERIAL' header, and column layout) to a web-based bill text page with site navigation elements (skip to content, home, FAQ, sitemap, login, quick search, etc.). No changes to the actual legal text or policy provisions were made.

03/27/25 - Amended Assembly → 06/12/25 - Amended Senate · 5 edits · Jun 12, 2025

MODERATE

The Senate amendment removes the requirement that stoves and refrigerators be purchased within the last 10 years, replacing it with a simpler 'good working order' standard. It also adds a new obligation requiring landlords to repair or replace recalled appliances within 30 days of notice, and clarifies that this does not limit tenants' existing remedies under Section 1942.

Scope change

The bill's scope is effectively broadened by removing the 10-year age limit on appliances, meaning landlords must ensure working stoves and refrigerators regardless of how old they are. The new 30-day recall repair/replacement obligation also adds a specific enforcement timeline that did not exist in the Assembly version.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that stoves and refrigerators be purchased within the last 10 years. The Senate version only requires they be maintained in good working order and capable of safely generating heat or storing food, regardless of age.

Added clarification (subdivision c(2)) that the landlord's obligation to repair or replace recalled appliances does not prohibit a tenant from exercising remedies under Section 1942, such as repair-and-deduct or vacating the premises.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new requirement (subdivision c(1)) that landlords must repair or replace a stove or refrigerator subject to recall by a manufacturer or public entity within 30 days of receiving notice of the recall.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the tenant self-provided refrigerator provision from a simple notice requirement to one where the tenant notifies the landlord and the landlord may mutually agree on the arrangement at lease signing.

TECHNICAL

Corrected the citation for Section 50519 to include 'of the Health and Safety Code' in the residential hotel exemption.

02/13/25 - Introduced → 03/27/25 - Amended Assembly · 5 edits · Mar 27, 2025

MODERATE

The amendment splits the combined stove-and-refrigerator requirement into two separate paragraphs with added functional safety standards, allows tenants to provide their own refrigerator, and creates a new exemption for several housing types including permanent supportive housing, SROs, residential hotels, and units with communal kitchens. These changes make the bill more targeted by excluding housing where individual appliances are impractical or unnecessary.

Scope change

The bill's scope is narrowed by exempting four categories of housing from the new stove and refrigerator requirements: permanent supportive housing, SROs, residential hotel units, and units with communal kitchen spaces. This significantly reduces the number of dwelling units subject to the new appliance standards.

REQUIREMENT

The stove requirement now explicitly requires the appliance to be 'capable of safely generating heat for cooking purposes,' and a stove subject to a manufacturer or public entity recall is deemed not capable of meeting this standard.

The refrigerator requirement now explicitly requires the appliance to be 'capable of safely storing food,' and a refrigerator subject to recall is deemed not capable of meeting this standard.

ELIGIBILITY

A tenant may notify the landlord at lease signing that they will provide and maintain their own refrigerator, in which case the landlord has no maintenance responsibility for that appliance.

SCOPE

A new subdivision (b) exempts the stove and refrigerator requirements from applying to: permanent supportive housing, single-room occupancy units (including those with shared food preparation facilities), units in residential hotels, and dwelling units in facilities with shared or communal kitchen spaces including assisted living facilities.

TECHNICAL

The old subdivision (b) regarding utility energy savings programs is relettered to subdivision (c) to accommodate the new exemption provision.

Hiring of real property: dwellings: untenantability.

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors