AB-2781 • 2026

Civil cases: filing fees.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Committee on Judiciary (A) - (Assembly Members Kalra (Chair), Bauer-Kahan, Bryan, Connolly, Harabedian, Pacheco, Papan, Stefani, and Zbur)
Last action: 2026-05-13
Official status: Referred to Com. on JUD.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Civil cases: filing fees.

AB 2781, as amended, Committee on Judiciary.

What This Bill Does

AB 2781, as amended, Committee on Judiciary.
Civil cases: filing fees.
Existing law requires a filing fee of $50 in a small claims case where the demand is more than $1,500 but less than or equal to $5,000, and a filing fee of $75 if the amount of the demand in a small claims case is more than $5,000.
This bill would instead require a filing fee of $50 for small claims cases with a demand of more than $1,500 but less than or equal to $7,500, $6,250, and a filing fee of $75 for cases if the amount of the demand is more than $7,500.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-05-13 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-05-05 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-04 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 4917.)
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 22).
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-03-12 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee April 11.
2026-03-11 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2781, as amended, Committee on Judiciary.
Civil cases: filing fees.
Existing law requires a filing fee of $50 in a small claims case where the demand is more than $1,500 but less than or equal to $5,000, and a filing fee of $75 if the amount of the demand in a small claims case is more than $5,000.
This bill would instead require a filing fee of $50 for small claims cases with a demand of more than $1,500 but less than or equal to
$7,500,
$6,250,
and a filing fee of $75 for cases if the amount of the demand is more than
$7,500.
$6,250.
Existing law requires a uniform filing fee of $205 for the first paper in a case where the amount demanded, excluding attorney’s fees and costs, is $10,000 or less. Existing law requires the first paper to state whether the amount demanded exceeds or does not exceed $10,000. Existing law also requires a $205 filing fee for a petition for a writ or a notice of appeal to the appellative division of the superior court if the amount demanded in a limited civil case, excluding attorney’s fees and costs, is $10,000 or less.
This bill would revise these provisions to apply to cases where the amount demanded, excluding attorney’s fees and costs, is $12,500 or less.
Existing law requires, if a plaintiff or petitioner files an amended complaint or other initial pleading that increases the amount demanded to an amount that exceeds $10,000 but does not exceed $25,000, a fee equal to the
difference between the original filing fee and the filing fee for the new amount demanded to be charged to make up the difference between the filing fees. Existing law also requires, if a party files a cross-complaint, amended cross-complaint, or amendment to a cross-complaint demanding an amount that exceeds $10,000 but does not exceed $25,000, a fee equal to the difference between the original filing fee and the filing fee for the new amount to be charged to make up the difference between the filing fees.
This bill would revise these provisions to apply to cases where the revised amount demanded exceeds $12,500 but does not exceed $35,000.

Current Bill Text

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