New Laws Strengthen Justice, Expand Access to Care and Protect California Families 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D–Santa Ana), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that the Governor has signed 16 bills from his 2025 Legislative Package into law. The new laws crack down on deceptive election tactics by billionaires, close gaps in the state’s mental health court system, stop unfair arbitration agreements that deny families access to justice and strengthen consumer protections across California.

“These new laws tackle some of the most immediate challenges Californians face — from unfair contracts and deceptive practices to gaps in our mental health courts,” said Senator Umberg. “Each measure represents a step toward a fairer, more accountable state that works for people, not powerful interests.”

“California should always lead with integrity and innovation,” Umberg added. “Whether it’s protecting veterans, expanding access to care, or ensuring honesty in advertising and elections, these laws make our state stronger and more just.”

Legislation Signed into Law:

SB 26 - Lemon Law Reform Cleanup: Specifies that the procedures described in AB 1755 would only apply to manufacturers if they elect to be governed by those procedures and notify the Department of Consumer Affairs. This bill would also require a consumer who sells their vehicle during an unresolved legal case to provide a specified disclosure to the buyer.

SB 27 - Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program: A cleanup measure to strengthen the CARE Act by improving coordination between CARE partners, broadening eligibility criteria to include Bipolar I Disorder with psychotic features, and affirming ongoing court oversight of CARE plans. It also enables courts to consider CARE referrals for Misdemeanor Incompetent to Stand Trial (MIST) defendants and allows additional licensed medical professionals to participate.

SB 37 - Protecting Consumer Rights and Public Trust in Consumer Advertising: Modernizes rules for attorney advertising, clarifies definitions and prohibited practices and allows citizen lawsuits against deceptive or unethical advertising tactics.

SB 42 - California Fair Elections Act: Places a measure on the November 2026 ballot allowing voters to decide whether to remove the current prohibition on public campaign financing in California. It sets clear requirements to ensure transparency, protect taxpayer funds, and maximize voter benefit.

SB 47 - February 2025 Bar Exam Audit: Requires the California State Auditor to conduct an audit of the February 2025 bar exam to evaluate the administration of the exam and how the problems occurred. 

SB 54 - Court Fee Waivers for Veterans: Ensures that veterans receiving disability benefits remain eligible for court fee waivers, removing unnecessary barriers to accessing the justice system.

SB 66 - Prevent Discovery Abuse: Removes the sunset provision added to the Civil Discovery Act by SB 235 (Umberg 2023) which required that parties in a civil action provide certain initial disclosures to the other parties to the action within 60 days of a demand.

SB 82 - Eliminating Infinite Arbitration Clauses to Protect Consumers:  Ensures that contract terms between businesses and consumers apply only to the specific product or service covered by the agreement at the time of signing and targets overly broad terms and conditions requiring unsuspecting consumers to sign “infinite” arbitration clauses. 

SB 83 - State Department of Health Care Services Website Violations: Requires the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to publicly disclose a summary of violations issued to treatment centers, improving public access to critical safety information.

SB 85 - Alternative e-Service for Court Processing: Allows a plaintiff alternative means of service through email or electronic means when they, with reasonable diligence, cannot reasonably effect service.  

SB 253 - California State Bar Annual License Fee: Requires the State Bar to provide notice to the public if it uses AI in either the creation or grading of the exam and makes the changing of the vendor for the multiple-choice questions a “substantial change” requiring a public two-year notice.

SB 312 - Puppy Importation Transparency Act: Improves oversight of dog importation by requiring health certificates to be submitted electronically to the California Department of Food and Agriculture within 10 days of shipment.

SB 398 - Criminalizing Election Lotteries: Criminalizes the use of lottery-style incentives to encourage voter registration, reinforcing the integrity and fairness of California elections.

SB 447 - Health Benefits for Children of Deceased First Responders: Extends health care benefits eligibility for children of peace officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty from age 21 to 26.

SB 576 - CALM Act Modernization: Prevents video streaming services that serve consumers in California, from transmitting commercial advertisement audio at levels louder than primary video content. 

SB 645 - Preemptory Challenges in Civil Trial: Preserves current procedures to evaluate the unlawful use of peremptory challenges based on discrimination and removes the provision that would have extended these procedures to civil cases starting in 2026.

###

 Senator Thomas J. Umberg represents the 34th Senate District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra, Long Beach, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, and East and South Whittier. Umberg is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, former federal prosecutor, and small businessman. He and his wife, Brigadier General Robin Umberg, USA (ret.), live in Orange County.