veeto
Home
Bills
Influence
Feedback
hamburger
    Privacy PolicyResources
    © 2025 Veeto.
    SB-36
    Consumer Protection

    Price gouging: state of emergency.

    Engrossed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Establishes new penalties up to $2,500 for price gouging against people displaced during emergencies.
    • Requires housing platforms to remove listings that violate price gouging laws within 30 days of an emergency.
    • Expands price gouging restrictions to counties within 50 miles of declared emergency areas.
    • Authorizes search warrants to gather evidence of price gouging violations during emergencies.

    Summary

    Senators Umberg and Smallwood-Cuevas have introduced legislation to strengthen California's price gouging protections during emergencies by expanding enforcement tools and oversight of housing platforms. The bill establishes new civil penalties up to $2,500 for unfair competition violations against displaced persons during emergencies and requires housing listing platforms to monitor and remove listings that violate price gouging restrictions.

    The measure creates specific obligations for housing platforms during the 30 days following an emergency declaration, including removing violating listings upon law enforcement notification, maintaining policies to inform users about prohibited practices, and providing mechanisms to report potential violations. It defines housing platforms as online intermediaries facilitating housing transactions between consumers and providers.

    The legislation extends enhanced civil penalties, currently available for violations affecting seniors, disabled persons, and veterans, to also cover individuals displaced by emergencies. Courts may triple statutory penalties when violations specifically target or substantially impact these protected groups. The bill also authorizes search warrants to gather evidence of price gouging violations and applies restrictions to areas within a 50-mile radius of declared emergency zones.

    For enforcement purposes, the measure amends multiple codes to align definitions of emergencies, clarify prohibited practices, and establish consistent standards for determining violations. The provisions take effect through a phased approach, with civil code changes beginning July 2024 and penal code amendments starting January 2026.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Next Step
    Assembly Committee
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Hearing scheduled for , State Capitol, Room 126
    Assembly Judiciary Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Judiciary Hearing
    Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Senate Floor
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Senate 3rd Reading SB36 Umberg et al
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass as amended
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Placed on suspense file
    Senate Public Safety Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Public Safety Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]
    Introduced
    Senate Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Tom LackeyR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Eloise ReyesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    James RamosD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Melissa HurtadoD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 20 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Tom LackeyR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Eloise ReyesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    James RamosD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Melissa HurtadoD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Juan AlanisR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Stephanie NguyenD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Mark GonzalezD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    John HarabedianD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Nick SchultzD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    LaShae Sharp-CollinsD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sasha Renee PerezD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Bill Author

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Aisha Wahab
    Aisha WahabD
    California State Senator
    Eloise Reyes
    Eloise ReyesD
    California State Senator
    Sasha Renee Perez
    Sasha Renee PerezD
    California State Senator
    Caroline Menjivar
    Caroline MenjivarD
    California State Senator
    Melissa Hurtado
    Melissa HurtadoD
    California State Senator
    Lena Gonzalez
    Lena GonzalezD
    California State Senator
    Dave Cortese
    Dave CorteseD
    California State Senator
    Sabrina Cervantes
    Sabrina CervantesD
    California State Senator
    Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    California State Senator
    Tom Umberg
    Tom UmbergD
    California State Senator
    Co-Author
    Laura Richardson
    Laura RichardsonD
    California State Senator
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/3/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    June 24, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Judiciary Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    93012PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Establishes new penalties up to $2,500 for price gouging against people displaced during emergencies.
    • Requires housing platforms to remove listings that violate price gouging laws within 30 days of an emergency.
    • Expands price gouging restrictions to counties within 50 miles of declared emergency areas.
    • Authorizes search warrants to gather evidence of price gouging violations during emergencies.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Aisha Wahab
    Aisha WahabD
    California State Senator
    Eloise Reyes
    Eloise ReyesD
    California State Senator
    Sasha Renee Perez
    Sasha Renee PerezD
    California State Senator
    Caroline Menjivar
    Caroline MenjivarD
    California State Senator
    Melissa Hurtado
    Melissa HurtadoD
    California State Senator
    Lena Gonzalez
    Lena GonzalezD
    California State Senator
    Dave Cortese
    Dave CorteseD
    California State Senator
    Sabrina Cervantes
    Sabrina CervantesD
    California State Senator
    Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    California State Senator
    Tom Umberg
    Tom UmbergD
    California State Senator
    Co-Author
    Laura Richardson
    Laura RichardsonD
    California State Senator

    Summary

    Senators Umberg and Smallwood-Cuevas have introduced legislation to strengthen California's price gouging protections during emergencies by expanding enforcement tools and oversight of housing platforms. The bill establishes new civil penalties up to $2,500 for unfair competition violations against displaced persons during emergencies and requires housing listing platforms to monitor and remove listings that violate price gouging restrictions.

    The measure creates specific obligations for housing platforms during the 30 days following an emergency declaration, including removing violating listings upon law enforcement notification, maintaining policies to inform users about prohibited practices, and providing mechanisms to report potential violations. It defines housing platforms as online intermediaries facilitating housing transactions between consumers and providers.

    The legislation extends enhanced civil penalties, currently available for violations affecting seniors, disabled persons, and veterans, to also cover individuals displaced by emergencies. Courts may triple statutory penalties when violations specifically target or substantially impact these protected groups. The bill also authorizes search warrants to gather evidence of price gouging violations and applies restrictions to areas within a 50-mile radius of declared emergency zones.

    For enforcement purposes, the measure amends multiple codes to align definitions of emergencies, clarify prohibited practices, and establish consistent standards for determining violations. The provisions take effect through a phased approach, with civil code changes beginning July 2024 and penal code amendments starting January 2026.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/3/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Next Step
    Assembly Committee
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Hearing scheduled for , State Capitol, Room 126
    Assembly Judiciary Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Judiciary Hearing
    Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Senate Floor
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Senate 3rd Reading SB36 Umberg et al
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass as amended
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Placed on suspense file
    Senate Public Safety Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Public Safety Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]
    Introduced
    Senate Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    June 24, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Judiciary Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    93012PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Tom LackeyR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Eloise ReyesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    James RamosD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Melissa HurtadoD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 20 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Tom LackeyR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Eloise ReyesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    James RamosD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Melissa HurtadoD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Juan AlanisR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Stephanie NguyenD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Mark GonzalezD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    John HarabedianD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Nick SchultzD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    LaShae Sharp-CollinsD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sasha Renee PerezD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Bill Author