AB-325 • 2026

Cartwright Act: violations.

Crime Education

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Aguiar-Curry
Last action: 2025-10-06
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 338, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or the impact of changes in complaint filing requirements.

Cartwright Act: Violations

AB-325 modifies the Cartwright Act to ease complaint filing requirements and prohibits the use of common pricing algorithms in ways that limit competition.

What This Bill Does

Modifies the rules for filing a complaint under the Cartwright Act, allowing complaints to be filed with less detailed evidence as long as it is plausible that there might be an agreement or plan to limit trade.
Makes it illegal to use common pricing algorithms in agreements or plans that restrain competition and commerce.

Who It Names or Affects

Businesses and individuals who violate the Cartwright Act by limiting trade or using certain pricing algorithms.
People filing complaints under the Cartwright Act.

Terms To Know

Cartwright Act: A law that stops businesses from making agreements to limit competition and fair trade.
common pricing algorithm: Computer programs used by companies to set prices for their products or services.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify who will enforce these new rules.
It is unclear how the changes in filing complaints will affect the number of cases brought under the Cartwright Act.

Bill History

2025-10-06 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 338, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-06 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-24 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 54. Noes 18. Page 3371.).
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 9. Page 2905.).
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-05 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
2025-07-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-06-11 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-02 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 54. Noes 17. Page 1818.)
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 1788.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (May 23).
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 2.) (May 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-28 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2025-04-24 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (April 8).
2025-03-11 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-03-10 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-10 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on JUD. and P. & C.P.
2025-01-28 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee February 27.
2025-01-27 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 325, Aguiar-Curry.
Cartwright Act: violations.
Existing law establishes the Attorney General as the head of the Department of Justice, with charge of all legal matters in which the state is interested, except as specified. Existing law imposes various requirements on the Attorney General related to consumer protection, including, among others, the supervision of charitable trusts and the enforcement of antitrust laws. Existing law, commonly known as the Cartwright Act, identifies certain acts that are unlawful restraints of trade and unlawful trusts and prescribes provisions for its enforcement.
Existing law requires a complaint or cross-complaint to contain, among other things, a statement of facts constituting the cause of action, in ordinary and concise language.
This bill would instead provide that in a complaint for any violation of the
Cartwright Act, it is sufficient to contain factual allegations demonstrating that the existence of a contract, combination in the form of a trust, or conspiracy to restrain trade or commerce is plausible. The bill would provide that a complaint for any violation of the Cartwright Act is not required to allege facts tending to exclude the possibility of independent action.
This bill would also make it unlawful for a person to use or distribute a common pricing algorithm as part of a contract, combination in the form of a trust, or conspiracy to restrain trade or commerce. The bill would make it unlawful for a person to use or distribute a common pricing algorithm if the person coerces another person to set or adopt a recommended price or commercial term recommended by the common pricing algorithm for the same or similar products or services in the jurisdiction
of the state. Because the bill would expand the scope of activities prohibited by the Cartwright Act, the violation of which is punishable as a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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

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