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AB-863 • 2026

Residential rental properties: language requirements.

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
Official status
Chaptered
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

New Language Rules for Eviction Court Forms

This law requires a new court eviction summons to be printed in six languages instead of just two.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Judicial Council to create one standard summons form for evicting tenants from homes by January 1, 2027.
  • Mandates that this form include specific legal notices in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean.
  • Sets a deadline of January 1, 2027, for creating this new multilingual form.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The California Judicial Council
  • Landlords who file eviction cases against tenants in residential properties
  • Tenants facing removal from residential rental properties

Terms To Know

Unlawful detainer
A legal case filed by a landlord to remove a tenant from their property.
Summons
An official court document that tells someone they are being sued and must respond within 30 days.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not state when the new form becomes effective after it is created.
  • The text does not explain how courts will handle cases filed before January 1, 2027.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Chaptered

Official Summary Text

Residential rental properties: language requirements.