SB-76
Infrastructure

Vehicles: registration fees and penalties.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires DMV to automatically waive delinquent vehicle registration fees and penalties for buyers when the fees were due before their purchase.
  • Establishes a new DMV collection system to recover unpaid registration fees from sellers when they register another vehicle or renew their license.
  • Takes effect January 1, 2030, replacing the current discretionary waiver system with mandatory fee waivers for buyers.
  • Eliminates DMV's ability to pursue civil action against sellers for unpaid fees, instead implementing an administrative collection process.

Summary

Senator Seyarto's vehicle registration reform proposal establishes new requirements for handling delinquent fees when vehicles change ownership, mandating automatic waivers for buyers while creating a streamlined collection system targeting previous owners.

The legislation modifies how the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) processes unpaid registration fees and penalties during vehicle transfers. Under the new framework, the DMV must waive all delinquent registration charges for purchasers when those amounts accrued before the sale. This replaces the current discretionary waiver system that requires buyers to demonstrate they were unaware of unpaid fees. To recover these amounts, the DMV will implement an administrative collection mechanism that captures outstanding fees from previous owners when they register another vehicle or renew their license.

The measure also eliminates the DMV's existing authority to pursue unpaid registration fees through civil litigation against former owners. This shifts fee collection from a legal process to an administrative one integrated with routine DMV transactions. All provisions take effect January 1, 2030, allowing time for system development and implementation.

These changes alter the financial obligations between vehicle buyers and sellers regarding past-due registration fees. While purchasers receive automatic relief from inherited charges, previous owners retain responsibility for unpaid amounts through a more systematic collection approach tied to future DMV interactions.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Special Consent SB76 Seyarto
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Transportation Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Transportation Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
SB-932
Vehicles: registration fees and penalties.
January 2024
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Kelly Seyarto
Kelly SeyartoR
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

July 14, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Transportation Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
160016PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires DMV to automatically waive delinquent vehicle registration fees and penalties for buyers when the fees were due before their purchase.
  • Establishes a new DMV collection system to recover unpaid registration fees from sellers when they register another vehicle or renew their license.
  • Takes effect January 1, 2030, replacing the current discretionary waiver system with mandatory fee waivers for buyers.
  • Eliminates DMV's ability to pursue civil action against sellers for unpaid fees, instead implementing an administrative collection process.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Kelly Seyarto
Kelly SeyartoR
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Seyarto's vehicle registration reform proposal establishes new requirements for handling delinquent fees when vehicles change ownership, mandating automatic waivers for buyers while creating a streamlined collection system targeting previous owners.

The legislation modifies how the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) processes unpaid registration fees and penalties during vehicle transfers. Under the new framework, the DMV must waive all delinquent registration charges for purchasers when those amounts accrued before the sale. This replaces the current discretionary waiver system that requires buyers to demonstrate they were unaware of unpaid fees. To recover these amounts, the DMV will implement an administrative collection mechanism that captures outstanding fees from previous owners when they register another vehicle or renew their license.

The measure also eliminates the DMV's existing authority to pursue unpaid registration fees through civil litigation against former owners. This shifts fee collection from a legal process to an administrative one integrated with routine DMV transactions. All provisions take effect January 1, 2030, allowing time for system development and implementation.

These changes alter the financial obligations between vehicle buyers and sellers regarding past-due registration fees. While purchasers receive automatic relief from inherited charges, previous owners retain responsibility for unpaid amounts through a more systematic collection approach tied to future DMV interactions.

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 Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Transportation Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Special Consent SB76 Seyarto
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Transportation Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Transportation Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

July 14, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Transportation Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
160016PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
SB-932
Vehicles: registration fees and penalties.
January 2024
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1