California 20252026 Regular Session Status: To Executive 1 D cosponsors

SB 791 — Vehicle dealers: document processing charge.

Last action — Veto sustained.

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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 February 21, 2025. It awaits signature.

Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom (Democratic) on March 02, 2026.

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

Low

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 6 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 authorizes a dealer to charge the purchaser or lessee of a vehicle a document processing charge for the preparation and processing of documents, disclosures, and titling, registration, and information security obligations imposed by state and federal law. Existing law authorizes a dealer that has a contractual agreement with the Department of Motor Vehicles to be a private industry partner to set the document processing charge at up to $85 and authorizes all other dealers to set the document processing charge at up to $70. This bill would, until January 1, 2031, subject to specified requirements, authorize a dealer to charge a document processing charge that exceeds those amounts if the charge does not exceed 1% of the total price of the vehicle and does not exceed $260. The bill would exempt the sale of vehicles to the State of California and any local governmental entity from these provisions. The bill would make a conforming change.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Veto sustained.

  2. Stricken from file.

  3. In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.

  4. Vetoed by the Governor.

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

  6. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2830.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  7. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  8. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 60. Noes 3. Page 3010.) Ordered to the Senate.

  9. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

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

  11. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (August 29).

  12. August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  13. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

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

  15. Referred to Com. on TRANS.

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

  17. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 1. Page 1457.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  18. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  19. Ordered to second reading.

  20. Withdrawn from committee.

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

  22. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  23. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 12. Noes 1. Page 843.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  24. Set for hearing April 22.

  25. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

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

  27. Referred to Com. on RLS.

  28. Read first time.

  29. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.

  30. Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 5 voted No

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

Unfinished Business SB791 Cortese et al. Concurrence

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 Not Voting
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 Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
McNerney, Jerry Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Not Voting
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Pérez, Sasha Renée Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
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 Not Voting
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Yea
Strickland, Tony Republican Yea
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Yea

Official roll call →

SB 791 Cortese Senate Third Reading By Wilson

Passed 60 Yea · 3 Nay · 17 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 413015
Republican 18002
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 603017
% of votes cast 75%4%0%21%
How each member voted (80)
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 Not Voting
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Not Voting
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Not Voting
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Nay
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Not Voting
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Garcia, Robert Democratic Not Voting
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Not Voting
Harabedian, John Democratic Not Voting
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Nay
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Nay
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Not Voting
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Not Voting
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Not Voting
Ortega, Liz Democratic Not Voting
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Patel, Darshana R. Democratic Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Rodriguez, Michelle Democratic Yea
Rogers, Chris Democratic Not Voting
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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
Johnson, Natasha Republican Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
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.

Passed 12 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 11000
Republican 1003
Total 12003
% of votes cast 80%0%0%20%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Ahrens, Patrick Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Not Voting
Sanchez, Kate Republican Not Voting
Ta, Tri Republican Not Voting
Tangipa, David J. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

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

Passed 11 Yea · 0 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 3001
Democratic 8004
Total 11005
% of votes cast 69%0%0%31%
How each member voted (16)
Member Party Vote
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Ahrens, Patrick Democratic Not Voting
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Not Voting
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Not Voting
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Ransom, Rhodesia Democratic Yea
Rogers, Chris Democratic Not Voting
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
Hoover, Josh Republican Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading SB791 Cortese et al.

Passed 29 Yea · 1 Nay · 10 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 22107
Republican 7003
Total 291010
% of votes cast 73%3%0%25%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Not Voting
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Not Voting
Cabaldon, Christopher Democratic Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Nay
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Not Voting
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Yea
Strickland, Tony Republican Yea
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Rules]

Passed 12 Yea · 1 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 9101
Republican 3001
Total 12102
% of votes cast 80%7%0%13%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Nay
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Not Voting
Richardson, Laura Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Not Voting
Strickland, Tony Republican Yea
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

finance transportation
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 791 do?
Existing law authorizes a dealer to charge the purchaser or lessee of a vehicle a document processing charge for the preparation and processing of documents, disclosures, and titling, registration, and information security obligations imposed by state and federal law. Existing law authorizes a dealer that has a contractual agreement with the Department of Motor Vehicles to be a private industry partner to set the document processing charge at up to $85 and authorizes all other dealers to set the document processing charge at up to $70. This bill would, until January 1, 2031, subject to specified requirements, authorize a dealer to charge a document processing charge that exceeds those amounts if the charge does not exceed 1% of the total price of the vehicle and does not exceed $260. The bill would exempt the sale of vehicles to the State of California and any local governmental entity from these provisions. The bill would make a conforming change.
Who sponsors SB 791?
SB 791 is sponsored by Cortese, Dave (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 791?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 21, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track SB 791?
Track SB 791 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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