California 20252026 Regular Session Status: Introduced 2 D cosponsors

SB 493 — Unlawful business practices: price gouging.

Last action — Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended.

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

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced February 19, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

Stalled 32% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 9 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.

In plain language

The bill addresses unlawful business practices related to price gouging.

This bill seeks to regulate price gouging by prohibiting businesses from charging excessively high prices during emergencies. It aims to protect consumers from unfair pricing practices.

What this means for you
  • Consumers: This means consumers may face fewer instances of excessively high prices during emergencies.

Summary

Unlawful business practices: price gouging.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the California codes: Section 396 of the Penal Code.

  • Section 396 of the Penal Code

    However, a greater price increase is not unlawful that goods, or If However, a greater price increase is not unlawful that goods, or hotel However, a greater price increase is not unlawful However, a greater rental price increase is not unlawful if that person can prove that the increase is directly attributable to additional costs for repairs or additions beyond normal maintenance that were amortized over the rental term that caused the rent to be increased greater than 10 percent or that an increase was contractually agreed to by the tenant prior to the proclamation or declaration. It shall not be a defense to a prosecution under this subdivision that an increase in rental price was based on the length of the rental term, the inclusion of additional goods or services, except as provided in paragraph (11) of subdivision (j) with respect to furniture, or that the rent was offered by, or paid by, an insurance company, or other third party, on behalf of a tenant. This subdivision does not authorize a landlord to charge a price greater than the amount authorized by a local rent control ordinance. any Contractors’ housing with an initial lease term of no longer than one year, SEC. 2. → SEC. 1.5. Section 396 of the Penal Code is amended to read: war, (1) (2) (A) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of price gouging pursuant to this subdivision either of the following: (i) That goods. (ii) That the increase in price was (B) If (1) (2) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of price gouging pursuant to this subdivision either of the following: (A) That goods. (B) That the increase in price was (1) hotel’s (2) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of price gouging pursuant to this subdivision (1) (2) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of price gouging pursuant to this subdivision if that person can prove either of the following:(A) That an increase was contractually agreed to by the tenant prior to the proclamation or declaration.(B) That the increase was directly attributable to additional costs for repairs or additions beyond normal maintenance incurred within the year prior to the proclamation or declaration and either of the following is true:(i) The housing was rented, advertised for rent, or offered for rent at the time the costs were incurred.(ii) That person can prove that within a year before the proclamation or declaration, the intent to offer the housing for rent within six months of the repair or addition already existed.(3) It shall not be a defense to a prosecution under this subdivision that an increase in rental price was based on the length of the rental term, the inclusion of additional goods or services, except as provided in paragraph (11) of subdivision (j) with respect to furniture, or that the rent was offered by, or paid by, an insurance company, or other third party, on behalf of a tenant. This subdivision does not authorize a landlord to charge a price greater than the amount authorized by a local rent control ordinance. a war, Contractors housing, Housing advertised, offered, or charged at a daily rate following a declaration or proclamation of emergency, but that was not advertised, offered, or charged at a daily rate in the year prior to the declaration or proclamation of emergency, shall be subject to a rental price that is one-thirtieth of the rental price described in subparagraph (B). (13) “War” means any of the following:(A) A time during which Congress has declared war and peace has not been formally restored.(B) A time during which the United States is engaged in active military operations against any foreign state, whether or not war has been formally declared.(C) A time during which the United States is assisting the United Nations, in actions involving the use of armed force, to maintain or restore international peace and security.(D) The prohibitions and associated penalties, pursuant to a proclamation or declaration of a state of emergency for war, shall apply only upon the proclamation or declaration by the President of the United States or the Governor and shall apply only for the essential consumer goods or services for which the Attorney General issues a written opinion, consistent with Section 12519 of the Government Code, finding a sufficient nexus between the war at issue and increases in the prices of those goods or services. The prohibitions and associated penalties shall apply only for a period of 30 days following the proclamation or declaration but may be extended for additional periods of 30 days, if deemed necessary. An extension also may authorize specified price increases that exceed the amount that would be permissible during the initial 30 days after a proclamation or declaration of a state of emergency for war. SEC. 2. SEC. 3.

    amended

Action History

  1. Ordered to third reading.

  2. Read third time and amended.

  3. Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended.

  4. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

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

  6. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 13).

  7. Assembly Rule 63 suspended.

  8. August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.

  9. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  10. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 30).

  11. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  12. Re-referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.

  13. Ordered to third reading.

  14. Read third time and amended.

  15. Ordered to third reading.

  16. Action rescinded whereby bill was read third time, passed, and ordered to the Senate.

  17. In Assembly. Held at Desk.

  18. Ordered to the Assembly.

  19. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  20. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 75. Noes 1. Page 2773.) Ordered to the Senate.

  21. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  22. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).

  23. Coauthors revised.

  24. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

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

  26. Referred to Com. on AGRI.

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

  28. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1319.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  29. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  30. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1202.) (May 23).

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

  32. Set for hearing May 23.

  33. May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

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

  35. Set for hearing May 12.

  36. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 933.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  37. Set for hearing April 29.

  38. Referred to Com. on AGRI.

  39. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.

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

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 119 not signed on · 7 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (119)

119 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 119 →

"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 as amended.

Passed 11 Yea · 4 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 11000
Republican 0400
Total 11400
% of votes cast 73%27%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Nay
Hoover, Josh Republican Nay
Ta, Tri Republican Nay
Tangipa, David J. Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Committee vote — Committee CX18 — Committee vote

Passed 5 Yea · 2 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 5002
Republican 0200
Total 5202
% of votes cast 56%22%0%22%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Not Voting
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Schultz, Nick Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Not Voting
Alanis, Juan Republican Nay
Lackey, Tom Republican Nay

Official roll call →

SB 493 Becker Senate Third Reading By Wilson

Passed 75 Yea · 1 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 56003
Republican 18100
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 75103
% of votes cast 95%1%0%4%
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 Not Voting
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Not Voting
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 Yea
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 Not Voting
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 Nay
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.

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 11000
Republican 4000
Total 15000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Gonzalez, Jeff Republican Yea
Ta, Tri Republican Yea
Tangipa, David J. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

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

Passed 8 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 3000
Democratic 5000
Total 8000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (8)
Member Party Vote
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Ransom, Rhodesia Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Yea
Gonzalez, Jeff Republican Yea
Hadwick, Heather Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading SB493 Becker et al.

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 28002
Republican 10000
Total 38002
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
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 Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Richardson, Laura Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
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 Yea
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 →

Subjects

public-safety finance housing civil-rights agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 493 do?
Unlawful business practices: price gouging.
Who sponsors SB 493?
SB 493 is sponsored by Allen, Becker, Josh (Democratic), and Stern, Henry I. (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 493?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced February 19, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 493?
Track SB 493 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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