AB 1156 Gut and Amend, Leadership Approves Jailbreak, Bill Squeaks Through Senate
Published Friday, September 4, 2026
Assembly Bill 1156 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, is opposed by the California Farm Bureau. The bill removes cities' and counties' discretion to waive or extend payment of Williamson Act contract cancellation fees and instead gives that authority to the secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, who may grant a waiver or extension either for an involuntary transfer/land-use change, as under current law, or newly, to facilitate a photovoltaic solar facility that meets specified conditions.
Farm Bureau's opposition centers on using the Williamson Act's cancellation process—designed to discourage taking land out of agricultural preserves—easing the path for converting preserved agricultural land to solar development.
Notable: This was the closest floor vote for Farm Bureau-tracked bills. AB 1156 passed the Assembly in June 2025, was voluntarily held on the inactive file by Assemblymember Wicks that last September, then was taken back up and passed the Senate this year on Aug. 31 by the bare minimum 21 of 40 votes, with 14 votes against and 5 members not recorded. This was an unusually fractured result, with several Democrats joining Republicans in voting no or declining to vote. The Assembly then concurred in the Senate's amendments without a recorded roll call.
Staff contact: Peter Ansel, pansel@cfbf.com.
.svg.png?cacheid=0.9616018850896426)
