Public utilities: property, franchises, and permits: exemption.

Assembly Member Petrie-Norris's utility regulation measure creates a new exemption for certain easement transactions by large California public utilities, eliminating the need for Public Utilities Commission approval when ratepayer impacts remain below specified thresholds.

Under current law, public utilities must obtain commission authorization before selling, leasing, or otherwise disposing of assets necessary for public service - either through a commission order for transactions above $5 million or via an advice letter for smaller deals. The new provisions exempt easement transactions with ratepayer impacts under $100,000 from these requirements, provided the utility has annual California revenues exceeding $500 million. These threshold amounts will adjust for inflation starting in 2030 and every five years thereafter based on the Consumer Price Index. Utilities must file annual reports detailing all transactions conducted under this exemption, including dates, values, locations and parties involved.

The measure maintains existing protections requiring commission review of transactions affecting utility employees and preserves the commission's authority over non-easement asset dispositions. Any transactions conducted outside the prescribed approval processes remain void under the law. While the bill creates certain reporting mandates that constitute a state-mandated local program, it specifies that no state reimbursement is required since the only local costs stem from changes to crime definitions or penalties.