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AB-2633 • 2026

Secondhand dealers.

Secondhand dealers.

Crime Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Gipson
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms for the expanded reporting requirements.

Secondhand Dealers Law

AB-2633 changes the rules for secondhand dealers in California, making it illegal to run such businesses without a state license and requiring them to report certain items they buy or sell.

What This Bill Does

  • Expands what 'tangible personal property' includes by adding secondhand jewelry and other objects.
  • Makes coin dealers exempt from the current reporting requirements for tangible personal property.
  • Allows licensed secondhand dealers to sue unlicensed ones in court.
  • Prohibits local governments from issuing licenses or permits to entities conducting business as a secondhand dealer without a state license.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Secondhand dealers and jewelry sellers who buy, sell, or trade items.
  • Local government agencies responsible for issuing business licenses.

Terms To Know

Tangible Personal Property
Physical objects that can be touched and owned, like furniture, electronics, and now also secondhand jewelry.
Secondhand Dealer License
A state-issued permit required to legally operate a business buying or selling used items.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the expanded reporting requirements will be enforced.
  • It is unclear what happens if local governments issue licenses without checking for a state license first.
  • There are no details on penalties for secondhand dealers who do not comply with these new rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-04-07 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  3. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on B. & P.

  4. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  5. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2633, as introduced, Gipson.
Secondhand dealers.
Existing law imposes upon secondhand dealers and coin dealers a uniform, statewide, state-administered program of regulation of persons whose principal business is buying, selling, trading, auctioning, or taking in pawn tangible personal property, as defined, and requires a secondhand dealer or coin dealer to report tangible personal property they acquired to the California Pawn and SecondhandDealer System (CAPSS) operated by the Department of Justice, as specified. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions a misdemeanor, as specified.
This bill would make the above-described provisions inapplicable to coin dealers and make other related and conforming changes. The bill would expand the definition of “tangible personal property” to include secondhand jewelry, items, or objects. By expanding the items subject to the reporting requirement,
the violation of which is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law makes it unlawful for any person to engage in the business of a secondhand dealer without being licensed and authorizes a district attorney or the Attorney General to bring an action to enjoin the violation, or the threatened violation, of any provisions regulating secondhand dealers.
This bill would also authorize a licensee to bring an action in superior court against a person engaging in the business of a secondhand dealer without a state license, as specified.
Existing law requires the chief of police, sheriff, or police commission to accept an application for licensure and to grant a license to a qualified applicant, as specified. Existing law requires the licensing authority to submit the application to the Department of Justice before granting the license. If the Department
of Justice does not comment on the application within 30 days after the submission, existing law authorizes the licensing authority to grant the applicant a license.
This bill would prohibit a city, county, city and county, or any other state agency from issuing a license or permit to allow any entity to conduct business as a secondhand dealer without the entity having a state secondhand dealer license issued pursuant to the provisions described above.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF