Residential rental properties: language requirements.

Kalra, joined by Assembly Members Bryan and Haney and Senator Pérez, advances a statewide reform to standardize the summons used in residential eviction actions by directing the Judicial Council to create a single, mandatory-use form that presents essential procedural notices in six languages.

The measure adds a new provision requiring a multilingual, single summons form for actions regarding residential property brought under unlawful detainer, to be developed by the Judicial Council and published online by January 1, 2027. The form must include the content specified for the response deadline, default notice, and attorney-advisory statement, along with a bilingual introductory legend, in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean. A summons generated in a form approved by the Judicial Council is deemed compliant, and counties may require additional languages if the translation approach mirrors the current bilingual legend standard.

Key content requirements focus on items that inform the defendant of: (3) the 30-day response deadline, (4) the default and relief available to the plaintiff, (5) the advisory about seeking legal counsel, and (6) the introductory legend at the top, all presented in the six specified languages. The new form is limited to residential unlawful detainer actions and must be a “single summons form” for mandatory use, with translations published by the Judicial Council.

Implementation hinges on a procedural change rather than new rights or penalties, with no explicit funding attached. The Judicial Council bears responsibility for design, translation, approval, and online publication, while courts and counties must adopt the form for the targeted actions, raising considerations about translation accuracy, staff training, and form-management systems as part of the transition.