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SB-22 • 2026

Gift certificates.

Gift certificates.

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Laird
Last action
2025-10-01
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 207, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how businesses will handle donated gift certificates under the new rules, leaving this aspect uncertain.

Gift Certificates

This law updates how gift certificates with less than $15 in value can be redeemed and includes electronic versions.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes a gift certificate worth less than $15 redeemable for cash instead of goods or services.
  • Exempts certain donated gift certificates from the redemption requirement if they are given to nonprofits or charities.
  • Expands the definition of 'gift certificate' to include electronic versions.
  • These changes will take effect on April 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who buy and receive gift certificates
  • Businesses that sell gift certificates

Terms To Know

Gift Certificate
A card or voucher given as a present, which can be used to buy goods or services from a specific store.
Electronic Gift Card
A digital version of a gift certificate that is stored on an app or website and can be used for purchases online or in stores.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens to gift certificates worth between $10 and $15 before April 1, 2026.
  • It is unclear how businesses will handle donated gift certificates under the new rules.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-01 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 207, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-01 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-23 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

  4. 2025-09-12 California Legislative Information

    Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2964.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. 2025-09-12 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  6. 2025-09-11 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 58. Noes 16. Page 3281.) Ordered to the Senate.

  7. 2025-09-02 California Legislative Information

    Ordered to third reading.

  8. 2025-09-02 California Legislative Information

    Read third time and amended.

  9. 2025-07-03 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  10. 2025-07-02 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  11. 2025-07-01 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 9. Noes 4.) (June 24).

  12. 2025-06-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on P. & C.P.

  13. 2025-06-03 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  14. 2025-06-02 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 10. Page 1384.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  15. 2025-04-21 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  16. 2025-04-10 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  17. 2025-04-10 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 2. Page 704.) (April 8).

  18. 2025-04-03 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 8.

  19. 2025-01-29 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on JUD.

  20. 2024-12-03 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after January 2.

  21. 2024-12-02 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 22, Laird.
Gift certificates.
Existing law provides that a gift certificate, sold after January 1, 1997, is redeemable in cash or subject to replacement with a new gift certificate except that a gift certificate with a cash value of less than $10 is redeemable in cash for its cash value. For purposes of these provisions, existing law defines “gift certificate” to include gift cards.
This bill would, instead, make a gift certificate with a cash value of less than $15 redeemable in cash for its cash
value, exempt from that redemption provision certain gift certificates that are donated to a nonprofit or a charitable organization, as provided, and make these provisions operative on April 1, 2026. The bill would expand the definition of “gift certificate” to include electronic gift cards. The bill would also make conforming changes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF