SB-577
Justice & Public Safety

Civil actions.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a 5-year limit for refiling dismissed childhood sexual assault cases.
  • Requires plaintiffs over 40 to obtain mental health practitioner certification before filing abuse claims.
  • Allows defendants to recover legal costs if a civil case is dismissed for lack of reasonable cause.
  • Permits public agencies to issue refunding bonds for tort judgments under specific conditions.

Summary

Senator Laird's civil procedure reform package modifies California's handling of childhood sexual assault cases, public entity bond financing, and defense challenges to civil actions through three key amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure.

The bill establishes a five-year limit on refiling dismissed childhood sexual assault cases and requires plaintiffs over 40 to obtain certificates of merit from both their attorney and a mental health practitioner before proceeding. These certificates must verify that the attorney has consulted experts and found reasonable cause for the action, while the practitioner must confirm a basis for believing abuse occurred. The measure maintains existing provisions allowing treble damages when defendants are found to have concealed evidence of assault.

For public entities, the legislation clarifies when indebtedness exists for refunding bonds issued to cover tort judgments. Under the new provisions, such debt is deemed to exist when an agency adopts a qualifying resolution that specifies final judgment dates, confirms the judgments' finality, and sets maximum coverage amounts. The bill also expands defendants' ability to challenge civil proceedings by allowing courts to evaluate whether actions were brought in good faith at the demurrer stage, rather than waiting for summary judgment or trial motions.

The amendments apply to sexual assault cases occurring after January 1, 2024, while maintaining previous statutes of limitations for earlier incidents. Public agencies must comply with the new bond validation requirements when refinancing tort-related debt, and defendants seeking to recover defense costs must raise challenges before jury discharge or judgment entry.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 13 row(s) selected.
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Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Maria DurazoD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Angelique AshbyD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Suzette ValladaresR
Senator
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

John Laird
John LairdD
California State Senator
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/20/2025)

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a 5-year limit for refiling dismissed childhood sexual assault cases.
  • Requires plaintiffs over 40 to obtain mental health practitioner certification before filing abuse claims.
  • Allows defendants to recover legal costs if a civil case is dismissed for lack of reasonable cause.
  • Permits public agencies to issue refunding bonds for tort judgments under specific conditions.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

John Laird
John LairdD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Laird's civil procedure reform package modifies California's handling of childhood sexual assault cases, public entity bond financing, and defense challenges to civil actions through three key amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure.

The bill establishes a five-year limit on refiling dismissed childhood sexual assault cases and requires plaintiffs over 40 to obtain certificates of merit from both their attorney and a mental health practitioner before proceeding. These certificates must verify that the attorney has consulted experts and found reasonable cause for the action, while the practitioner must confirm a basis for believing abuse occurred. The measure maintains existing provisions allowing treble damages when defendants are found to have concealed evidence of assault.

For public entities, the legislation clarifies when indebtedness exists for refunding bonds issued to cover tort judgments. Under the new provisions, such debt is deemed to exist when an agency adopts a qualifying resolution that specifies final judgment dates, confirms the judgments' finality, and sets maximum coverage amounts. The bill also expands defendants' ability to challenge civil proceedings by allowing courts to evaluate whether actions were brought in good faith at the demurrer stage, rather than waiting for summary judgment or trial motions.

The amendments apply to sexual assault cases occurring after January 1, 2024, while maintaining previous statutes of limitations for earlier incidents. Public agencies must comply with the new bond validation requirements when refinancing tort-related debt, and defendants seeking to recover defense costs must raise challenges before jury discharge or judgment entry.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/20/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 13 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Maria DurazoD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Angelique AshbyD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Suzette ValladaresR
Senator
Committee Member