SB-54 • 2026

Court fee waivers: veterans.

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Umberg
Last action: 2025-10-11
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 646, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the specific criteria for eligibility beyond excluding service-connected disability compensation from monthly income calculations.

Court Fee Waivers: Veterans

The law excludes veterans' service-connected disability compensation from the calculation of monthly income when determining eligibility for court fee waivers.

What This Bill Does

Excludes veterans’ service-connected disability compensation from the calculation of monthly income for court fee waiver eligibility.

Who It Names or Affects

Veterans applying for court fee waivers in California’s superior courts.
Courts that process applications for court fee waivers.

Terms To Know

Service-connected disability compensation: Money given to veterans by the government because of injuries or illnesses related to their military service.
Court fee waiver: Permission for someone to file a court case without paying fees if they cannot afford it.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money veterans can earn from other sources and still qualify for fee waivers.
This law only applies to California’s superior courts, not federal or military courts.

Bill History

2025-10-11 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 646, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-11 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-16 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 2989.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29).
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-17 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on JUD. and M. & V.A.
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1322.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Ordered to special consent calendar.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1189.) (May 23).
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-12 California Legislative Information
May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-02 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 12.
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 918.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-17 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 28.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 705.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 8.
2025-01-29 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on JUD. and M. & V.A.
2025-01-08 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 7.
2025-01-07 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 54, Umberg.
Court fee waivers: veterans.
Existing law sets forth filing fees and other civil fees for superior courts. Existing law requires certain applicants to be granted initial permission to proceed without paying court fees and costs because of the applicant’s financial condition, including an applicant whose monthly income is 200% or less of the current poverty guidelines, as specified.
This bill would prohibit veterans disability service-connected compensation from being included in monthly income for purposes of that provision.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF