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AB-494 • 2026

Nonminor dependents: transfer of county of residence.

Nonminor dependents: transfer of county of residence.

Children
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Davies
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on consequences for failing to comply with these requirements, leaving this as a limit or unknown.

Moving Nonminor Dependents Between Counties

This law allows courts to change where a nonminor dependent lives for legal purposes if the person asks and shows they have a significant connection to the new place.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows courts to change the county of residence for nonminor dependents who request it and show a significant connection to the new county.
  • Requires courts to issue an order within 30 days after receiving a request from a nonminor dependent.
  • Makes the new county responsible for the case within 10 days after the court issues an order.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Nonminor dependents who want to move between counties.
  • Courts that handle cases involving nonminor dependents.

Terms To Know

nonminor dependent
A young adult, usually up to age 26, who is still under the care of a court system because they were once in foster care or had other legal issues as a minor.
jurisdiction
The authority that a court has over a case and the people involved in it.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if a nonminor dependent does not have a significant connection to their new county.
  • It is unclear how this law will be enforced or monitored by courts.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and JUD.

  4. 2025-02-11 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.

  5. 2025-02-10 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 494, as introduced, Davies.
Nonminor dependents: transfer of county of residence.
Existing law authorizes the residence of a nonminor dependent to be changed to another county where they are living if the court finds that the nonminor dependent has had a continuous physical presence in the new county for one year as a nonminor dependent and the nonminor dependent expressed intent to remain in that county. Existing law requires the juvenile court of the county where that nonminor dependent then resides to take jurisdiction of the case upon the receipt and filing of the finding of the facts and an order transferring the case.
This bill would additionally authorize the residence of a nonminor dependent to be changed to another county where they are living if the nonminor dependent requests the transfer of jurisdiction to the new county and demonstrates an intent to remain in the new county by establishing a significant connection
to the new county, as specified. The bill would require a court issuing an order to transfer the case pursuant to this new authority to issue the order within 30 calendar days of the nonminor dependent’s request, and deems the new county to have jurisdiction over the nonminor dependent within 10 calendar days of an issuance of an order to transfer.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF