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AB-2719 • 2026

Vehicles: certificates of title.

Vehicles: certificates of title.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Petrie-Norris
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the bill affects individuals or entities beyond defining terms.

Vehicles: Certificates of Title

AB-2719 defines 'title', 'certificate of title', and 'certificate of ownership' as official records proving legal vehicle ownership, whether in paper or electronic form.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines 'title', 'certificate of title', and 'certificate of ownership' for the Vehicle Code as an official record that establishes proof of legal ownership of a vehicle, regardless of whether it is on paper or electronically stored.

Terms To Know

Certificate of Title
An official document proving someone legally owns a car or other vehicle.
Coowners
Two or more people who own a vehicle together.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not change how the Electronic Lien and Title Program works.
  • It only makes small, nonsubstantive changes to existing laws about coownership of vehicles.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-03-17 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  3. 2026-03-16 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.

  4. 2026-03-16 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on TRANS.

  5. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  6. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2719, as amended, Petrie-Norris.
Vehicles: transfers of title or interest.
Vehicles: certificates of title.
Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a certificate of ownership to the legal owner of a vehicle upon registering the vehicle. Existing law requires the Director of Motor Vehicles to develop an Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) Program to require that all lienholders’ title information be held in an electronic format, if the department determines that the program is cost effective compared to the current paper title and registration system.
This bill would define “title,” “certificate of title,” and “certificate of ownership” for purposes of the Vehicle Code as an official record, whether in paper or electronic form, establishing
and providing proof of legal ownership of a vehicle.
Existing law authorizes 2 or more coowners of a vehicle subject to registration to hold the title of ownership as joint interest, partnership interests, interests in common, or community interest of spouses, except as specified. Existing law authorizes the title to be transferred to 2 or more coowners, as specified.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF