SB-779
Consumer Protection

Contractors: civil penalties.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Increases minimum penalties for unlicensed contractor violations from $200 to $1,500 starting July 2026.
  • Authorizes the Contractors State License Board to adjust penalty amounts for inflation every five years.
  • Doubles the Board's maximum reserve fund from 6 to 12 months of annual expenditures.
  • Establishes new minimum penalties of $500 for general contractor violations and $1,500 for serious infractions.

Summary

Senator Archuleta's contractor regulation bill raises minimum civil penalties for unlicensed contracting and establishes new baseline fines for violations of California's Contractors State License Law. Starting July 1, 2026, citations for unlicensed contracting will carry minimum penalties of $1,500, up from the current $200, while maintaining the existing $15,000 maximum. The legislation also sets new minimum penalties of $500 for general licensing violations and $1,500 for specific infractions related to workers' compensation and contractor responsibilities.

The bill authorizes the Contractors State License Board to adjust these minimum penalties every five years based on Consumer Price Index changes, with increases rounded to the nearest $100 for smaller penalties and $1,000 for larger ones. Additionally, the board's reserve fund capacity would double from six to twelve months of annual authorized expenditures.

Under the citation process, the registrar must notify public entities within 72 hours when they plan to award contracts to unlicensed contractors. The registrar may then issue citations to responsible public officials who proceed with such awards after receiving notice. These enforcement mechanisms operate separately from other civil or criminal remedies available under existing law.

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 Business And Professions Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB779 Archuleta
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
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]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. 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
Bob ArchuletaD
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
Bob ArchuletaD
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

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Bob Archuleta
Bob ArchuletaD
California State Senator
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/3/2025)

Latest Voting History

July 1, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
170118PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Increases minimum penalties for unlicensed contractor violations from $200 to $1,500 starting July 2026.
  • Authorizes the Contractors State License Board to adjust penalty amounts for inflation every five years.
  • Doubles the Board's maximum reserve fund from 6 to 12 months of annual expenditures.
  • Establishes new minimum penalties of $500 for general contractor violations and $1,500 for serious infractions.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Bob Archuleta
Bob ArchuletaD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Archuleta's contractor regulation bill raises minimum civil penalties for unlicensed contracting and establishes new baseline fines for violations of California's Contractors State License Law. Starting July 1, 2026, citations for unlicensed contracting will carry minimum penalties of $1,500, up from the current $200, while maintaining the existing $15,000 maximum. The legislation also sets new minimum penalties of $500 for general licensing violations and $1,500 for specific infractions related to workers' compensation and contractor responsibilities.

The bill authorizes the Contractors State License Board to adjust these minimum penalties every five years based on Consumer Price Index changes, with increases rounded to the nearest $100 for smaller penalties and $1,000 for larger ones. Additionally, the board's reserve fund capacity would double from six to twelve months of annual authorized expenditures.

Under the citation process, the registrar must notify public entities within 72 hours when they plan to award contracts to unlicensed contractors. The registrar may then issue citations to responsible public officials who proceed with such awards after receiving notice. These enforcement mechanisms operate separately from other civil or criminal remedies available under existing law.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/3/2025)

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 Business And Professions Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB779 Archuleta
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
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]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

July 1, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
170118PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Bob ArchuletaD
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
Bob ArchuletaD
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