California 20252026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

AB 646 — Insurance: warranty: catalytic converter.

Last action — From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

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

This bill is in committee in the Assembly. Introduced February 13, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Assembly.

Prognosis

Advancing 36% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    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 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote 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

Under existing law, a warranty issued by the warrantor of a vehicle protection product constitutes an express warranty and does not constitute automobile insurance if the warrantor complies with various requirements, including that the warranty is in writing and provides, among other things, that the benefits are limited to the difference between the actual cash value of the stolen vehicle and the vehicle's replacement cost, temporary vehicle rental expenses, reimbursement for insurance policy deductible, and registration fees and taxes on a replacement vehicle or a fixed amount for those benefits, and that the benefit is payable upon the theft of the vehicle. Existing law defines a vehicle protection product for these purposes to mean a vehicle protection device, system, or service that is installed on, or applied to, a vehicle, is designed to deter the theft of the vehicle, and includes a written warranty that provides specified incidental costs if the product fails to deter the theft of the vehicle. Existing law requires, except as specified, a dealer or person holding a retail seller's permit who sells new or used vehicles equipped with a catalytic converter to permanently mark the catalytic converter with the vehicle identification number of the vehicle to which it is attached. This bill would expand the definition of a vehicle protection product to include a physical device, system, or service designed to prevent the unauthorized removal of a vehicle's catalytic converter, and would limit the warranty benefit for this vehicle protection product to the actual cash value and replacement cost of the catalytic converter, temporary vehicle rental expenses, and reimbursement for the insurance policy deductible. The bill would require the benefit to be payable upon the theft of the catalytic converter from the vehicle, as specified. The bill would also require a seller to disclose a specified notice if this vehicle protection product is a body part marking product designed to permanently mark the catalytic converter.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. In committee: Held under submission.

  4. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

  5. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  6. Re-referred to Com. on INS.

  7. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Read second time and amended.

  8. Referred to Com. on INS.

  9. From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.

  10. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

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

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 4000
Democratic 11001
Unaffiliated 0001
Total 15002
% of votes cast 88%0%0%12%
How each member voted (17)
Member Party Vote
Ávila Farías — Not Voting
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Ortega, Liz Democratic Not Voting
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Michelle Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Yea
Ellis, Stan Republican Yea
Hadwick, Heather Republican Yea
Wallis, Greg Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety finance healthcare
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 AB 646 do?
Under existing law, a warranty issued by the warrantor of a vehicle protection product constitutes an express warranty and does not constitute automobile insurance if the warrantor complies with various requirements, including that the warranty is in writing and provides, among other things, that the benefits are limited to the difference between the actual cash value of the stolen vehicle and the vehicle's replacement cost, temporary vehicle rental expenses, reimbursement for insurance policy deductible, and registration fees and taxes on a replacement vehicle or a fixed amount for those benefits, and that the benefit is payable upon the theft of the vehicle. Existing law defines a vehicle protection product for these purposes to mean a vehicle protection device, system, or service that is installed on, or applied to, a vehicle, is designed to deter the theft of the vehicle, and includes a written warranty that provides specified incidental costs if the product fails to deter the theft of the vehicle. Existing law requires, except as specified, a dealer or person holding a retail seller's permit who sells new or used vehicles equipped with a catalytic converter to permanently mark the catalytic converter with the vehicle identification number of the vehicle to which it is attached. This bill would expand the definition of a vehicle protection product to include a physical device, system, or service designed to prevent the unauthorized removal of a vehicle's catalytic converter, and would limit the warranty benefit for this vehicle protection product to the actual cash value and replacement cost of the catalytic converter, temporary vehicle rental expenses, and reimbursement for the insurance policy deductible. The bill would require the benefit to be payable upon the theft of the catalytic converter from the vehicle, as specified. The bill would also require a seller to disclose a specified notice if this vehicle protection product is a body part marking product designed to permanently mark the catalytic converter.
Who sponsors AB 646?
AB 646 is sponsored by Wallis, Greg (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 646?
This bill is in committee in the Assembly. Introduced February 13, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track AB 646?
Track AB 646 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on AB 646

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of AB 646

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →