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AB-1827 • 2026

Small claims court: jurisdiction.

Small claims court: jurisdiction.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Chen
Last action
Official status
Senate - Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official digest contains conflicting numbers ('6' and '3') for the number of allowed cases; based on context, '3' was selected as it aligns with raising the limit from 2.

AB-1827: Small Claims Court Jurisdiction Changes

This law raises the maximum amount a person can ask for in small claims court and increases how many cases they can file each year.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the dollar limit for money damages from $12,500 to $15,000 for actions brought by natural persons.
  • Allows a person to file up to three small claims actions in one calendar year if any claim exceeds $2,500.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Natural persons who want to sue for money damages in superior court small claims divisions.
  • Superior courts that manage and hear these specific types of legal actions.

Terms To Know

Small claims court
A special division within a superior court for handling smaller money disputes.
Natural person
An actual human being, as opposed to a business or corporation.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text does not state when this law will officially take effect.
  • The bill mentions exceptions for certain actions but does not list what those specific cases are in the provided summary.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Senate - Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Small claims court: jurisdiction.