What AB 2461 does
An act to amend Sections 3202 and 3205.8 of the Public Resources Code, relating to oil and gas.
Under existing law, the Geologic Energy Management Division in the Department of Conservation regulates the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of oil and gas wells in the state. The State Oil and Gas Supervisor supervises the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of wells and the operation, maintenance, and removal or abandonment of tanks and facilities related to oil and gas production, as provided. Existing law divides the state into districts and requires the supervisor to appoint one chief deputy and at least one district deputy for each of the districts.
Existing law requires a person who acquires the right to operate a well or production facility, as soon as it is reasonably possible, but no later than the date when the acquisition of the well or production facility becomes final, to notify the supervisor or the district deputy, in writing, of the person’s operation, as provided. Existing law further requires a person who acquires the right to operate a well or production facility to file with the supervisor an individual indemnity bond or a blanket indemnity bond in an amount determined by the supervisor to be sufficient to cover, in full, all costs of plugging and abandonment, decommissioning the facility, and site restoration, as provided. Existing law requires a person who intends to acquire the right to operate a well or production facility, by purchase, transfer, assignment, conveyance, exchange, or other disposition, to submit a request to the supervisor for a determination of the amount of the bond required before completing the acquisition and prohibits that person from completing the acquisition until the determination is received and the bond has been filed with the supervisor.
A person who violates, fails, neglects, or refuses to comply with requirements of the oil and gas laws, including the bonding requirements described above, is guilty of a misdemeanor, as provided.
This bill would make the above-described requirements applicable to a person who acquires, or intends to acquire, as applicable, the right to control a well or production facility and would make conforming changes, as provided. The bill would provide that, for purposes of filing an indemnity bond, a person who “acquires a right to operate or control a well or production facility” includes, but is not limited to, the rights a person acquires through the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions resulting in the acquisition of more than 50% of the voting stock of the operator or through a liquidation or dissolution of the operator, among other transactions. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law exempts from the above-described requirements relating to filing an indemnity bond a well that has an average daily production level that exceeds 15 barrels of oil or 60,000 cubic feet of natural gas during the 12 months preceding the date of acquisition or a natural gas storage well, as provided.
This bill would delete that exemption.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This bill would make the operation of its provisions contingent upon the enactment of AB 2716 of the 2025–26 Regular Session.
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the amended senate text, July 6, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Assemblymember Hart introduced AB 2461 on February 20, 2026. The text was amended 2 times, 1 in the Assembly and 1 in the Senate, and heard in 6 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
- Assembly Floor, May 28, 2026: 53 ayes, 21 noes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Assembly Natural Resources, April 20, 2026: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 10-4.
- Assembly Appropriations, May 14, 2026: Do pass as amended., 11-4.
- Senate Natural Resources and Water, July 1, 2026: Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations], 5-2.
- Senate Appropriations, August 3, 2026: Placed on suspense file, 7-0.
Who supports and opposes AB 2461
The Senate Natural Resources and Water analysis dated June 30, 2026 lists 71 organizations in support and 1 in opposition. When Assembly Natural Resources first listed positions on April 17, 2026, the count was 63 in support and 2 opposed. By the Senate Natural Resources and Water analysis of June 30, 2026 it was 71 to 1.
In support: Natural Resources Defense Council (sponsor); Environment California (sponsor); Center for Biological Diversity (sponsor); 350 Bay Area Action; 350 Humboldt; 350 Sacramento; 350 Santa Barbara; 350 South Bay Los Angeles; and 63 more.
Opposed: California Chamber of Commerce.
Read the Senate Natural Resources and Water analysis.
What happens next
It is in Senate Appropriations. The last recorded action was on August 13, 2026.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for data center organizations
This is the stage where language still changes. Amendments taken in committee are the ones that reach the Governor, so an organization with a stake in the drafting has a reason to be in that conversation now rather than after the vote.
The data centers group at Capitol Axis handles that for data center clients.
Questions about AB 2461
What does AB 2461 do?
This bill would make the above-described requirements applicable to a person who acquires, or intends to acquire, as applicable, the right to control a well or production facility and would make conforming changes, as provided. The bill would provide that, for purposes of filing an indemnity bond, a person who “acquires a right to operate or control a well or production facility” includes, but is not limited to, the rights a person acquires through the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions resulting in the acquisition of more than 50% of the voting s
Has AB 2461 passed the California Legislature?
It is in Senate Appropriations. The last recorded action was on August 13, 2026.
Who supports and opposes AB 2461?
The Senate Natural Resources and Water analysis dated June 30, 2026 lists 71 organizations in support and 1 in opposition. Supporters include Natural Resources Defense Council (sponsor); Environment California (sponsor); Center for Biological Diversity (sponsor). Opponents include California Chamber of Commerce.
What happens next with AB 2461?
It still has committee and floor votes ahead of it. Amendments taken now are the ones that reach the Governor, so this is the stage where language changes are still possible.