Residential rental properties: language requirements.

Housing

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Kalra
Last action: 2025-10-06
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 344, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not mention the costs of creating and publishing the form, leaving this detail uncertain.

Language Requirements for Rental Property Eviction Notices

This law requires the creation and use of a standard eviction notice in six languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Judicial Council to create a single summons form by January 1, 2027, for mandatory use in unlawful detainer actions against tenants.
The new form must include all required legal information about responding to an eviction notice in six languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean.
Requires the Judicial Council to publish this form on their website.

Who It Names or Affects

People who live in rental homes
Courts that handle eviction cases

Terms To Know

Judicial Council: A group of judges and legal experts who make rules for California courts.
Unlawful detainer: When a landlord tries to remove a tenant from their rental property through the court system.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify consequences if someone does not follow the new rules.
It is unclear how much it will cost to create and publish these forms.
The law only applies to California, not other states or countries.

Bill History

2025-10-06 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 344, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-06 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 70. Noes 1. Page 2920.).
2025-09-03 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 2436.).
2025-08-26 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
2025-08-18 California Legislative Information
(Ayes 27. Noes 0. Page 2171.)
2025-08-18 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 APPR.
2025-08-07 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-03 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.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on JUD. and APPR.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 50. Noes 17. Page 1997.)
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-06 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 8. Noes 3.) (May 6).
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-26 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-03-20 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 863, Kalra.
Residential rental properties: language requirements.
Existing law outlines requirements for civil actions for unlawful detainer filed by landlords to remove tenants from their properties. Existing law also requires plaintiffs to ensure service of a summons and complaint to defendants in civil suits, as specified. Existing law requires a summons to contain, among other things, (1) a direction that the defendant file with the court a written pleading in response to the complaint within 30 days after service on the defendant, (2) a notice that, unless the defendant responds, default will be entered upon application of the plaintiff, (3) a statement advising the defendant of their right to seek an attorney, and (4) an introductory legend at the top of the summons, in English and Spanish, notifying the defendant that they have been sued.
This bill would require the Judicial Council to create, by January 1, 2027, a single summons form for mandatory use in an action for unlawful detainer to remove a tenant from a residential property that includes the information specified above in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean. The bill would require the Judicial Council to publish this form on its internet website.

Current Bill Text

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