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AB-540 • 2026

Motions: filing and service requirements.

Motions: filing and service requirements.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Connolly
Last action
2025-09-08
Official status
Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Laird.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on conforming changes or the exact nature of electronic service methods.

Rules for Filing and Serving Legal Papers

This law clarifies that electronic service of certain legal motion notices does not require an additional two court or calendar days.

What This Bill Does

  • Clarifies that electronic service of a notice for summary judgment or judgment on pleadings does not require an extra two court days.
  • States that electronic service of other types of motion notices also does not need an additional two calendar days.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People involved in civil actions who file or receive legal motions.
  • Courts and judges handling civil cases.

Terms To Know

Summary judgment
A decision made by a judge without going to trial, based on the evidence presented.
Judgment on the pleadings
A ruling that decides a case based only on what is written in the legal documents filed with the court.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how electronic service should be carried out.
  • It is unclear if this law will change how other types of legal notices are served electronically.

Bill History

  1. 2025-09-08 California Legislative Information

    Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Laird.

  2. 2025-07-07 California Legislative Information

    Ordered to third reading.

  3. 2025-07-07 California Legislative Information

    From Consent Calendar.

  4. 2025-07-03 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  5. 2025-07-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 1).

  6. 2025-05-07 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on JUD.

  7. 2025-04-02 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  8. 2025-04-01 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.)

  9. 2025-03-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  10. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 25).

  11. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on JUD.

  12. 2025-02-12 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

  13. 2025-02-11 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 540, as introduced, Connolly.
Motions: filing and service requirements.
Existing law establishes various requirements and deadlines for the filing and service of prescribed motions in civil actions, including a motion for summary judgment and a motion for judgment on the pleadings, as specified. A notice of motion for summary judgment or motion for judgment on the pleadings must be served on all other parties to the action at least 81 days before the time appointed for hearing, except when the notice is served by facsimile transmission, express mail, or another method of delivery providing for overnight delivery, in which case the required 81-day period of notice must be increased by 2 court days. For prescribed motions other than a motion for summary judgment or a motion for judgment on the pleadings, as specified, existing law requires a notice of such motion to be provided at least 16 court days before the hearing, except when the notice is served by
facsimile transmission, express mail, or another method of delivery providing for overnight delivery, in which case the required 16-day period of notice before the hearing must be increased by 2 calendar days. Existing law authorizes the service of documents in a civil action by electronic means pursuant to rules adopted by the Judicial Council, as specified.
This bill would clarify that service of a notice of motion described above by electronic service is not among the methods of service requiring an increase to the period of notice. The bill would also make conforming changes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF