A bill that would have required some landlords and sellers to disclose nearby oil wells and install methane monitoring systems in multifamily rental housing was halted Thursday by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, ending its chances for 2026.

AB 1725 would have required housing providers with properties on or within 300 feet of active, idle, orphaned or abandoned wells to notify prospective tenants and buyers about nearby wells and associated hazards, including potential health impacts and increased risks of fire, toxic exposure and methane gas emergencies. Sellers of residential property would have faced a parallel disclosure requirement for prospective buyers.

For multifamily rental housing, the bill would have required owners or their agents to install and maintain methane gas monitoring or alarm systems in covered units, inspect and test them monthly or at the manufacturer's recommended frequency, and periodically certify compliance to the Department of Housing and Community Development or a local enforcement agency.

The California Apartment Association and coalition partners issued a letter opposing the bill in April, arguing it placed responsibility for oil well-related hazards on neighboring housing providers who do not drill, operate, maintain or abandon the wells that create those risks. The coalition argued that stronger oversight of the oil industry - not monitoring mandates on adjacent property owners - was the appropriate response where methane or other hazards affect nearby communities.