AB-1950 • 2026

Civil actions: mediation.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Harabedian
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Com. on JUD.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation did not include information about the reporting requirements for mediations ordered by the court. This detail is present in the official bill summary text.

Civil Actions: Mediation in Los Angeles County

AB-1950 allows the Superior Court of Los Angeles to order civil cases into mediation without a $75,000 limit on the amount in dispute and requires reports about these mediations.

What This Bill Does

Allows the Superior Court of Los Angeles County to order any civil case into mediation, regardless of whether it involves more than $75,000.
Requires cases ordered for mediation to meet all conditions except the $75,000 limit.
Provides up to 3 hours of free mediation services for cases ordered by the court.
Permits parties in a case to attend mediation remotely via video or phone calls.
Prohibits mediations from delaying trial dates or other expedited procedures.

Who It Names or Affects

People involved in civil cases in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County.

Terms To Know

Mediation: A process where a neutral person helps people in conflict to reach an agreement without going to court.
Amount in controversy: The total value of money or property that is being disputed in a case.

Limits and Unknowns

This law only applies to civil cases in Los Angeles County.
It does not apply after January 1, 2032, when the provisions will be repealed.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-05-22 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-22 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0.)
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-03-17 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 17).
2026-03-10 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-02-14 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
2026-02-13 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1950, as amended, Harabedian.
Civil actions: mediation.
Existing law authorizes the presiding judge, or a judge designated as an alternative to judicial arbitration, of the courts of the County of Los Angeles submit to mediation any civil case in which arbitration is otherwise required, as specified. Beginning on January 1, 2027, existing law will prohibit the court from ordering a case into mediation unless, among other required conditions, the amount in controversy does not exceed $75,000.
This bill would authorize the Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles to issue an order permitting any case into mediation, notwithstanding the $75,000 limitation on the amount in controversy described above. The bill would require any case submitted to mediation pursuant to such order to meet all mandatory conditions to qualify for mediation, other than the limitation on the amount in controversy. The bill
would require all cases ordered to mediation to be entitled up to 3 hours of no-cost mediation services provided by a court-sanctioned mediation program. The bill would authorize the parties to appear remotely.
The bill would also prohibit a mediation ordered pursuant to these provisions from delaying or serving as grounds to continue the trial date or otherwise to delay or continue any expedited procedures.
If the presiding judge issues the order described above, the bill would require the court to transmit a report to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary on or before January 31, 2028, and annually thereafter, containing specified information about the cases submitted to mediation. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2032.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the
County of Los Angeles.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF