California 20252026 Regular Session Status: To Executive 1 D cosponsors

SB 85 — Civil actions: service of summons.

Last action — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 403, Statutes of 2025.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 21, 2025. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 64% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 5 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Existing law prescribes specified methods for the service of a summons in a civil action. Under existing law, if no provision is made in statute for the service of summons, a court may direct a summons to be served in a manner that is reasonably calculated to give actual notice to the party to be served. This bill would also authorize a court to direct a summons to be served in a manner that is reasonably calculated to give actual notice to the party to be served if a plaintiff, exercising reasonable diligence, has been unable to serve the summons using methods prescribed by statute. The bill would authorize a court, upon motion, to direct service of the summons by electronic means, if such service is reasonably calculated to give actual notice. The bill would require a plaintiff seeking to establish reasonable diligence under this section to set forth facts that detail, as specified, the attempts to effect service pursuant to the methods prescribed by statute. The bill would also except actions against public entities or agents or employees of public entities from these provisions.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 403, Statutes of 2025.

  2. Approved by the Governor.

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.

  4. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2253.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. Ordered to special consent calendar.

  6. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  7. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 2369.) Ordered to the Senate.

  8. Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

  9. Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  10. From committee: Do pass as amended. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 24).

  11. Referred to Com. on JUD.

  12. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  13. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 34. Noes 0. Page 1089.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  14. Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

  15. From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 1026.) (May 6).

  16. Set for hearing May 6.

  17. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

  18. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

  19. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  20. Referred to Com. on RLS.

  21. From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 21.

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

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Special Consent

Passed 37 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 28002
Republican 9001
Total 37003
% of votes cast 93%0%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Cabaldon, Christopher Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Not Voting
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
McNerney, Jerry Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Pérez, Sasha Renée Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Richardson, Laura Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Not Voting
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Not Voting
Choi, Steven S. Republican Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Grove, Shannon Republican Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea
Niello, Roger W. Republican Yea
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Yea
Strickland, Tony Republican Yea
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Yea

Official roll call →

SB 85 Umberg Consent Calendar Second Day

Passed 78 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 58001
Republican 19000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 78001
% of votes cast 99%0%0%1%
How each member voted (79)
Member Party Vote
Ávila Farías — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Ahrens, Patrick Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Garcia, Robert Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Ortega, Liz Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Patel, Darshana R. Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Not Voting
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Ransom, Rhodesia Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Celeste Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Michelle Democratic Yea
Rogers, Chris Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Schultz, Nick Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Yea
Castillo, Leticia Republican Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
DeMaio, Carl Republican Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Ellis, Stan Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea
Gallagher, James Republican Yea
Gonzalez, Jeff Republican Yea
Hadwick, Heather Republican Yea
Hoover, Josh Republican Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Yea
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Yea
Patterson, Joe Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea
Ta, Tri Republican Yea
Tangipa, David J. Republican Yea
Wallis, Greg Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar.

Passed 12 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 3000
Democratic 9000
Total 12000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (12)
Member Party Vote
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Garcia, Robert Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea
Tangipa, David J. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Consent Calendar 2nd

Passed 34 Yea · 0 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 26004
Republican 8002
Total 34006
% of votes cast 85%0%0%15%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Cabaldon, Christopher Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Not Voting
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
McNerney, Jerry Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Not Voting
Pérez, Sasha Renée Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Not Voting
Richardson, Laura Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Not Voting
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Not Voting
Choi, Steven S. Republican Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Grove, Shannon Republican Not Voting
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea
Niello, Roger W. Republican Yea
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Yea
Strickland, Tony Republican Yea
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

Passed 12 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 11000
Republican 1001
Total 12001
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Niello, Roger W. Republican Yea
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights elections healthcare health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 85 do?
Existing law prescribes specified methods for the service of a summons in a civil action. Under existing law, if no provision is made in statute for the service of summons, a court may direct a summons to be served in a manner that is reasonably calculated to give actual notice to the party to be served. This bill would also authorize a court to direct a summons to be served in a manner that is reasonably calculated to give actual notice to the party to be served if a plaintiff, exercising reasonable diligence, has been unable to serve the summons using methods prescribed by statute. The bill would authorize a court, upon motion, to direct service of the summons by electronic means, if such service is reasonably calculated to give actual notice. The bill would require a plaintiff seeking to establish reasonable diligence under this section to set forth facts that detail, as specified, the attempts to effect service pursuant to the methods prescribed by statute. The bill would also except actions against public entities or agents or employees of public entities from these provisions.
Who sponsors SB 85?
SB 85 is sponsored by Umberg, Thomas J. (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 85?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 21, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track SB 85?
Track SB 85 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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