AB-521
Consumer Protection

Contractors State License Board: bond deposits: liability for legal fees and costs.

Enrolled
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Exempts the Contractors State License Board from liability for legal fees in actions against contractor deposits.
  • Requires contractors to maintain bonds through approved surety insurers or specific deposits with the registrar.
  • Establishes a three-year deadline for filing claims against contractor deposits.
  • Sets a six-month window to file wage-related claims after discovering payment issues.

Summary

Assembly Member Carrillo's legislation expands protections for the Contractors State License Board by exempting it from liability for legal fees and costs in actions against contractor license bonds and deposits, regardless of when those deposits were filed with the registrar.

The measure builds upon existing requirements that contractors maintain surety bonds or approved deposits with the board's registrar. While current law prohibits charging legal fees against these deposits, the new provisions explicitly shield the board from any legal fee liability in related actions. The bill preserves established procedures for handling claims against deposits, including requirements that funds remain frozen during litigation and that wage-related claims be adjudicated through the Labor Commissioner's office.

For contractors and licensees, the legislation maintains existing bond requirements and claim processes, including the three-year statute of limitations for most actions and shorter timelines for wage-related claims. The measure requires no new appropriations and creates no additional administrative procedures for deposit management or claims processing.

Key Dates

Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Consent Calendar 2nd AB521 Carrillo
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 521 Carrillo Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass. To Consent Calendar
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Juan CarrilloD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
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Juan CarrilloD
Assemblymember
Bill Author

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Juan Carrillo
Juan CarrilloD
California State Assembly Member
70% progression
Bill has passed both houses in identical form and is being prepared for the Governor (8/26/2025)

Latest Voting History

August 25, 2025
PASS
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
370340PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Exempts the Contractors State License Board from liability for legal fees in actions against contractor deposits.
  • Requires contractors to maintain bonds through approved surety insurers or specific deposits with the registrar.
  • Establishes a three-year deadline for filing claims against contractor deposits.
  • Sets a six-month window to file wage-related claims after discovering payment issues.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Juan Carrillo
Juan CarrilloD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Carrillo's legislation expands protections for the Contractors State License Board by exempting it from liability for legal fees and costs in actions against contractor license bonds and deposits, regardless of when those deposits were filed with the registrar.

The measure builds upon existing requirements that contractors maintain surety bonds or approved deposits with the board's registrar. While current law prohibits charging legal fees against these deposits, the new provisions explicitly shield the board from any legal fee liability in related actions. The bill preserves established procedures for handling claims against deposits, including requirements that funds remain frozen during litigation and that wage-related claims be adjudicated through the Labor Commissioner's office.

For contractors and licensees, the legislation maintains existing bond requirements and claim processes, including the three-year statute of limitations for most actions and shorter timelines for wage-related claims. The measure requires no new appropriations and creates no additional administrative procedures for deposit management or claims processing.

70% progression
Bill has passed both houses in identical form and is being prepared for the Governor (8/26/2025)

Key Dates

Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Consent Calendar 2nd AB521 Carrillo
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 521 Carrillo Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass. To Consent Calendar
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

August 25, 2025
PASS
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
370340PASS

Contacts

Profile
Juan CarrilloD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 1 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 1
Select All Legislators
Profile
Juan CarrilloD
Assemblymember
Bill Author