SB-54
Social Services

Court fee waivers: veterans.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Excludes veterans' disability compensation from monthly income calculations when determining eligibility for court fee waivers.
  • Expands access to court fee waivers for veterans while maintaining existing income thresholds of 200% or less of federal poverty guidelines for other applicants.
  • Requires courts to implement this veterans' exemption when evaluating fee waiver applications.

Summary

Senator Umberg's proposal to modify California's court fee waiver system would exclude veterans' disability service-connected compensation from income calculations when determining eligibility for court fee waivers. The measure addresses how superior courts evaluate financial qualifications for waiving filing fees and other civil court costs.

Under current law, courts grant fee waivers to applicants whose monthly income falls at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines, as well as those receiving specific public benefits like CalWORKs or SSI. The proposed change maintains these existing qualification pathways while creating a separate provision for veterans' disability compensation, removing it from the monthly income assessment that determines eligibility.

The measure preserves the Judicial Council's role in publishing annual income thresholds for fee waivers adjusted by household size, while modifying how courts calculate monthly income for veterans receiving disability compensation. Superior courts would continue evaluating applicants' ability to pay fees without using funds needed for basic necessities, now with veterans' disability payments excluded from that determination.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary
Hearing scheduled for , State Capitol, Room 437
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Special Consent SB54 Umberg
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Military and Veterans Affairs] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Rebecca Bauer-KahanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Isaac BryanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Damon ConnollyD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 13 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Rebecca Bauer-KahanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Isaac BryanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Damon ConnollyD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane PapanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Rick ZburD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
John HarabedianD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Catherine StefaniD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Tom Umberg
Tom UmbergD
California State Senator
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

Latest Voting History

May 29, 2025
PASS
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
380240PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Excludes veterans' disability compensation from monthly income calculations when determining eligibility for court fee waivers.
  • Expands access to court fee waivers for veterans while maintaining existing income thresholds of 200% or less of federal poverty guidelines for other applicants.
  • Requires courts to implement this veterans' exemption when evaluating fee waiver applications.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Tom Umberg
Tom UmbergD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Umberg's proposal to modify California's court fee waiver system would exclude veterans' disability service-connected compensation from income calculations when determining eligibility for court fee waivers. The measure addresses how superior courts evaluate financial qualifications for waiving filing fees and other civil court costs.

Under current law, courts grant fee waivers to applicants whose monthly income falls at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines, as well as those receiving specific public benefits like CalWORKs or SSI. The proposed change maintains these existing qualification pathways while creating a separate provision for veterans' disability compensation, removing it from the monthly income assessment that determines eligibility.

The measure preserves the Judicial Council's role in publishing annual income thresholds for fee waivers adjusted by household size, while modifying how courts calculate monthly income for veterans receiving disability compensation. Superior courts would continue evaluating applicants' ability to pay fees without using funds needed for basic necessities, now with veterans' disability payments excluded from that determination.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary
Hearing scheduled for , State Capitol, Room 437
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Special Consent SB54 Umberg
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Military and Veterans Affairs] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

May 29, 2025
PASS
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
380240PASS

Contacts

Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Rebecca Bauer-KahanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Isaac BryanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Damon ConnollyD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 13 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Rebecca Bauer-KahanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Isaac BryanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Damon ConnollyD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane PapanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Rick ZburD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
John HarabedianD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Catherine StefaniD
Assemblymember
Committee Member