California 20252026 Regular Session Status: To Executive 1 D cosponsors

SB 774 — Department of Real Estate and the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers: Bureau of Automotive Repair.

Last action — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 786, Statutes of 2025.

  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.

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 8 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, the Automotive Repair Act, provides for the registration and regulation of automotive repair dealers by the Bureau of Automotive Repair in the Department of Consumer Affairs. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor unless otherwise specified. Existing law authorizes the Director of Consumer Affairs to adopt and enforce those rules and regulations that the director determines are reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of the act and declare the policy of the bureau. Existing law authorizes the director to include in the citation system a process for informal review of and recommendation on citations, as specified. Existing law subjects the bureau to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature, as specified, and requires that review to be performed as if the act were scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028. Existing law authorizes the director to include in the citation system a process for an automotive repair dealer to prevent disclosure of the citation on the internet, as specified and subject to a certain eligibility requirement. Existing law also authorizes the bureau to require any employee of the automotive repair dealer who was involved in the violation resulting in the bureau's issuance of the citation to attend remedial training with the automotive repair dealer to prevent disclosure of the citation. Existing law repeals these provisions on July 1, 2026. This bill would extend the effective date of these provisions until January 1, 2028. By extending these provisions, the violation of which is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The Real Estate Law establishes the Department of Real Estate in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency to license and regulate real estate licensees under that law, including real estate brokers and real estate salespersons. The Real Estate Appraisers' Licensing and Certification Law establishes within the Department of Consumer Affairs the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers to license and regulate real estate appraisers. Under existing law, the powers and duties of the Department of Real Estate and the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers under those laws, respectively, are subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature as if those laws were to be repealed on January 1, 2026. This bill would extend that date to January 1, 2030. Existing law requires the department to register a service member or spouse of a service member who relocated to this state because of military orders for military service within this state and who holds a professional license in good standing outside of California, subject to satisfaction of specified requirements, and deems the person to be a licensee of the department for specified purposes. This bill would add conforming provisions to the Real Estate Law. Existing law requires the department to compile information on military, veteran, and spouse licensure and submit an annual report to the Legislature and specifies the information required to be included in the report. This bill would require additional information to be included in the report, including the number of applicants who requested to apply military education, training, or experience towards meeting licensure requirements. The bill would require the department, in every application for licensure, to inquire as to whether the applicant is serving or has served in the military and whether the applicant intends to apply military experience and training toward licensure requirements. The bill would require the department to post specified information on the department's internet website about applying military experience and training toward licensure requirements. This bill would delete obsolete provisions relating to applications for licensure received by the commissioner before October 1, 2007. The bill would deem a salesperson license issued to an applicant who applied before October 1, 2007, whose license was suspended for failing to satisfy specified requirements to be deemed expired 4 years following the date of issuance of the license. The bill would make conforming changes. Existing law requires a fingerprint-based criminal history information check required by statute to be requested from the Department of Justice and to be applicable to the person identified in the referencing statute. Existing law also requires the agency or entity identified in the statute to submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of the types of applicants identified in the referencing statute, for the purpose of obtaining certain conviction and arrest information. Existing law requires the department to disseminate certain criminal history information when certain conditions are met, including that the information is to be used for employment, licensing, or certification purposes. This bill would require the Department of Real Estate to submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice for certain applicants and licensees, as specified. The bill would also require the Department of Justice to provide a state- or federal-level response pursuant to the above-described criminal history information dissemination provisions. Existing law requires every real estate broker and salesperson licensee to provide their current email address to the commissioner. This bill would specify that a licensee's email address shall not be considered a public record subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act. The bill would specify that information sent from an email account to a valid email address provided by the applicant or licensee is presumed to have been delivered to the email address provided. Existing law authorizes the Real Estate Commissioner to require proof as they may deem advisable concerning the honesty and truthfulness of certain applicants for a license, designated agents, and others, as specified, before authorizing the issuance of a license for a location. Existing law also authorizes the commissioner to hold a hearing and to refuse to issue a license to an applicant who does not furnish satisfactory proof of their honesty and truthfulness or of the honesty and truthfulness of the corporate officers, directors, and shareholders. To assist in this determination, existing law requires the fingerprinting of every original applicant, including designated agents, officers, directors, and persons owning 25 percent or more of the shares of the corporate applicant. This bill would also require, for that purpose, the fingerprinting of persons owning or controlling a beneficial ownership interest of 25 percent or more in the entity making application. Existing law establishes, within the Real Estate Fund, a Consumer Recovery Account, which is funded by fees and fines imposed on licensees. Existing law authorizes an aggrieved person to file an application with the department for payment from the Consumer Recovery Account for the unpaid amount of a final judgment or an arbitration award that the aggrieved person has obtained against a defendant for fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit, made with intent to defraud, or conversion of trust funds, arising out of a transaction in which the defendant, while licensed, performed acts for which a license was required. Existing law specifies that all matters finally adjudicated in the underlying action are conclusive as to the judgment debtor and applicant in the proceeding against the Consumer Recovery Account. Existing law requires the claimant to serve a notice to the judgment debtor with a specified statement, and requires the commissioner to give notice of a decision rendered with respect to the application to the claimant and judgment debtor that contains a specified statement relating to denial or payment of the claim. Existing law provides that the license of the broker, salesperson, or prepaid rental listing service license shall be automatically suspended upon the date of payment from the Consumer Recovery Account. This bill would instead specify that all matters finally adjudicated in the underlying action are conclusive if the final judgment was established by proof by clear and convincing evidence or the commissioner determined that the applicant provided clear and convincing evidence of the judgment debtor's fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or conversion of trust funds. The bill would authorize the commissioner to grant payment on an application if the final judgment was established by proof by preponderance of the evidence or a higher standard of proof. Under the bill, the above-described requirement for the automatic suspension of the license upon the date of payment from the Consumer Recovery Account would be conditioned on the final judgment being established by proof by clear and convincing evidence or the commissioner determining that the claimant provided clear and convincing evidence of the fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or conversion of trust funds. The bill would revise the statements in the notices specified above, including revising the statement on the notice required to be given by the commission after the decision rendered, depending on whether the decision includes suspension of the judgment debtor's license. Existing law establishes the Real Estate Appraisers Regulation Fund, consisting of moneys raised by fees and assessments imposed pursuant to the Real Estate Appraisers' Licensing and Certification Law. Existing law further establishes within that fund the Administration Account and the Recovery Account and requires 5% of the amount of any license or certificate fee under the Real Estate Appraisers' Licensing and Certification Law to be credited to the Recovery Account, a continuously appropriated fund. Existing law requires the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers to adopt regulations for the administration of the Recovery Account relating to claims, funding, and administrative procedures, as specified. This bill would repeal the provisions providing for the adoption of regulations and would instead enact provisions relating to claims, funding, and the administration of the Recovery Account. The bill, among other things, would establish eligibility, application, and notice requirements and procedures for the bureau's consideration and investigation of applications. The bill would authorize the bureau to transfer funds between the Administration Account and the Recovery Account under specified circumstances. By authorizing the transfer of funds into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. The bill would require a real estate appraiser's license to be automatically suspended upon payment from the Recovery Account of a settlement of a claim or toward satisfaction of a judgment based on clear and convincing evidence of fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit with intent to defraud. The bill would require a claimant who is an electronic filer who signs the application using an electronic signature to declare under penalty of perjury that the information submitted is true and correct, and would make it a misdemeanor for a person to file documents with false information. By expanding the crime of perjury and creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would repeal all of the provisions relating to the Real Estate Appraisers Regulation Fund on January 1, 2030. This bill would require the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers, on and after July 1, 2026, to post specified information about the Recovery Account on the bureau's internet website, including eligibility requirements and the application process. The bill would require the bureau, upon receipt of a complaint by a licensee or a member of the public, to provide a notification to the complainant that includes information regarding eligibility and the application process. The bill would require the bureau, on or before January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, to submit to the Legislature a report that includes specified information relating to the Recovery Account, including the balance of the account for the prior fiscal year and the total payments made from the Recovery Account. This bill would require the bureau to conduct a study on the feasibility of mandatory licensing for real estate appraisers in California and to report its findings to the appropriate committees of the Legislature on or before December 31, 2028. The bill would require the report to include, among other things, the types of real estate appraisal assignments for which a license is currently not required in California and the bureau's recommendations on specified matters, including recommended amendments to existing law. The bill would repeal those provisions on January 1, 2030. The bill would make other conforming and technical changes to various provisions of the Real Estate Law, including eliminating gendered pronouns and updating cross-references. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 786, Statutes of 2025.

  2. Approved by the Governor.

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

  4. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2998.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  6. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3276.) Ordered to the Senate.

  7. Ordered to third reading.

  8. Read third time and amended.

  9. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  10. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29).

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

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

  13. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (July 8).

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

  15. Referred to Com. on B. & P.

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

  17. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1329.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  18. Ordered to special consent calendar.

  19. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  20. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1213.) (May 23).

  21. Set for hearing May 23.

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

  23. Set for hearing May 12.

  24. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Joint Rule 10.5.

  25. Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.

  26. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 917.) (April 28).

  27. Set for hearing April 28.

  28. Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

  29. Read first time.

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

  31. Introduced. 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

Passed 37 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 29001
Republican 8002
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 Not Voting
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 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 Not Voting
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 →

Passed 79 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 59000
Republican 19001
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 79001
% of votes cast 99%0%0%1%
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 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 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 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
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.

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 4000
Democratic 11000
Total 15000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
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 Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea
Ta, Tri Republican Yea
Tangipa, David J. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passed 17 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 12001
Republican 5000
Total 17001
% of votes cast 94%0%0%6%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Ahrens, Patrick Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Not Voting
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea
Hadwick, Heather Republican Yea
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Special Consent

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 →

Do pass as amended

Passed 11 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 8000
Republican 3000
Total 11000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Choi, Steven S. Republican Yea
Niello, Roger W. Republican Yea
Strickland, Tony Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 774 do?
Existing law, the Automotive Repair Act, provides for the registration and regulation of automotive repair dealers by the Bureau of Automotive Repair in the Department of Consumer Affairs. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor unless otherwise specified. Existing law authorizes the Director of Consumer Affairs to adopt and enforce those rules and regulations that the director determines are reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of the act and declare the policy of the bureau. Existing law authorizes the director to include in the citation system a process for informal review of and recommendation on citations, as specified. Existing law subjects the bureau to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature, as specified, and requires that review to be performed as if the act were scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028. Existing law authorizes the director to include in the citation system a process for an automotive repair dealer to prevent disclosure of the citation on the internet, as specified and subject to a certain eligibility requirement. Existing law also authorizes the bureau to require any employee of the automotive repair dealer who was involved in the violation resulting in the bureau's issuance of the citation to attend remedial training with the automotive repair dealer to prevent disclosure of the citation. Existing law repeals these provisions on July 1, 2026. This bill would extend the effective date of these provisions until January 1, 2028. By extending these provisions, the violation of which is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The Real Estate Law establishes the Department of Real Estate in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency to license and regulate real estate licensees under that law, including real estate brokers and real estate salespersons. The Real Estate Appraisers' Licensing and Certification Law establishes within the Department of Consumer Affairs the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers to license and regulate real estate appraisers. Under existing law, the powers and duties of the Department of Real Estate and the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers under those laws, respectively, are subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature as if those laws were to be repealed on January 1, 2026. This bill would extend that date to January 1, 2030. Existing law requires the department to register a service member or spouse of a service member who relocated to this state because of military orders for military service within this state and who holds a professional license in good standing outside of California, subject to satisfaction of specified requirements, and deems the person to be a licensee of the department for specified purposes. This bill would add conforming provisions to the Real Estate Law. Existing law requires the department to compile information on military, veteran, and spouse licensure and submit an annual report to the Legislature and specifies the information required to be included in the report. This bill would require additional information to be included in the report, including the number of applicants who requested to apply military education, training, or experience towards meeting licensure requirements. The bill would require the department, in every application for licensure, to inquire as to whether the applicant is serving or has served in the military and whether the applicant intends to apply military experience and training toward licensure requirements. The bill would require the department to post specified information on the department's internet website about applying military experience and training toward licensure requirements. This bill would delete obsolete provisions relating to applications for licensure received by the commissioner before October 1, 2007. The bill would deem a salesperson license issued to an applicant who applied before October 1, 2007, whose license was suspended for failing to satisfy specified requirements to be deemed expired 4 years following the date of issuance of the license. The bill would make conforming changes. Existing law requires a fingerprint-based criminal history information check required by statute to be requested from the Department of Justice and to be applicable to the person identified in the referencing statute. Existing law also requires the agency or entity identified in the statute to submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of the types of applicants identified in the referencing statute, for the purpose of obtaining certain conviction and arrest information. Existing law requires the department to disseminate certain criminal history information when certain conditions are met, including that the information is to be used for employment, licensing, or certification purposes. This bill would require the Department of Real Estate to submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice for certain applicants and licensees, as specified. The bill would also require the Department of Justice to provide a state- or federal-level response pursuant to the above-described criminal history information dissemination provisions. Existing law requires every real estate broker and salesperson licensee to provide their current email address to the commissioner. This bill would specify that a licensee's email address shall not be considered a public record subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act. The bill would specify that information sent from an email account to a valid email address provided by the applicant or licensee is presumed to have been delivered to the email address provided. Existing law authorizes the Real Estate Commissioner to require proof as they may deem advisable concerning the honesty and truthfulness of certain applicants for a license, designated agents, and others, as specified, before authorizing the issuance of a license for a location. Existing law also authorizes the commissioner to hold a hearing and to refuse to issue a license to an applicant who does not furnish satisfactory proof of their honesty and truthfulness or of the honesty and truthfulness of the corporate officers, directors, and shareholders. To assist in this determination, existing law requires the fingerprinting of every original applicant, including designated agents, officers, directors, and persons owning 25 percent or more of the shares of the corporate applicant. This bill would also require, for that purpose, the fingerprinting of persons owning or controlling a beneficial ownership interest of 25 percent or more in the entity making application. Existing law establishes, within the Real Estate Fund, a Consumer Recovery Account, which is funded by fees and fines imposed on licensees. Existing law authorizes an aggrieved person to file an application with the department for payment from the Consumer Recovery Account for the unpaid amount of a final judgment or an arbitration award that the aggrieved person has obtained against a defendant for fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit, made with intent to defraud, or conversion of trust funds, arising out of a transaction in which the defendant, while licensed, performed acts for which a license was required. Existing law specifies that all matters finally adjudicated in the underlying action are conclusive as to the judgment debtor and applicant in the proceeding against the Consumer Recovery Account. Existing law requires the claimant to serve a notice to the judgment debtor with a specified statement, and requires the commissioner to give notice of a decision rendered with respect to the application to the claimant and judgment debtor that contains a specified statement relating to denial or payment of the claim. Existing law provides that the license of the broker, salesperson, or prepaid rental listing service license shall be automatically suspended upon the date of payment from the Consumer Recovery Account. This bill would instead specify that all matters finally adjudicated in the underlying action are conclusive if the final judgment was established by proof by clear and convincing evidence or the commissioner determined that the applicant provided clear and convincing evidence of the judgment debtor's fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or conversion of trust funds. The bill would authorize the commissioner to grant payment on an application if the final judgment was established by proof by preponderance of the evidence or a higher standard of proof. Under the bill, the above-described requirement for the automatic suspension of the license upon the date of payment from the Consumer Recovery Account would be conditioned on the final judgment being established by proof by clear and convincing evidence or the commissioner determining that the claimant provided clear and convincing evidence of the fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or conversion of trust funds. The bill would revise the statements in the notices specified above, including revising the statement on the notice required to be given by the commission after the decision rendered, depending on whether the decision includes suspension of the judgment debtor's license. Existing law establishes the Real Estate Appraisers Regulation Fund, consisting of moneys raised by fees and assessments imposed pursuant to the Real Estate Appraisers' Licensing and Certification Law. Existing law further establishes within that fund the Administration Account and the Recovery Account and requires 5% of the amount of any license or certificate fee under the Real Estate Appraisers' Licensing and Certification Law to be credited to the Recovery Account, a continuously appropriated fund. Existing law requires the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers to adopt regulations for the administration of the Recovery Account relating to claims, funding, and administrative procedures, as specified. This bill would repeal the provisions providing for the adoption of regulations and would instead enact provisions relating to claims, funding, and the administration of the Recovery Account. The bill, among other things, would establish eligibility, application, and notice requirements and procedures for the bureau's consideration and investigation of applications. The bill would authorize the bureau to transfer funds between the Administration Account and the Recovery Account under specified circumstances. By authorizing the transfer of funds into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. The bill would require a real estate appraiser's license to be automatically suspended upon payment from the Recovery Account of a settlement of a claim or toward satisfaction of a judgment based on clear and convincing evidence of fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit with intent to defraud. The bill would require a claimant who is an electronic filer who signs the application using an electronic signature to declare under penalty of perjury that the information submitted is true and correct, and would make it a misdemeanor for a person to file documents with false information. By expanding the crime of perjury and creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would repeal all of the provisions relating to the Real Estate Appraisers Regulation Fund on January 1, 2030. This bill would require the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers, on and after July 1, 2026, to post specified information about the Recovery Account on the bureau's internet website, including eligibility requirements and the application process. The bill would require the bureau, upon receipt of a complaint by a licensee or a member of the public, to provide a notification to the complainant that includes information regarding eligibility and the application process. The bill would require the bureau, on or before January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, to submit to the Legislature a report that includes specified information relating to the Recovery Account, including the balance of the account for the prior fiscal year and the total payments made from the Recovery Account. This bill would require the bureau to conduct a study on the feasibility of mandatory licensing for real estate appraisers in California and to report its findings to the appropriate committees of the Legislature on or before December 31, 2028. The bill would require the report to include, among other things, the types of real estate appraisal assignments for which a license is currently not required in California and the bureau's recommendations on specified matters, including recommended amendments to existing law. The bill would repeal those provisions on January 1, 2030. The bill would make other conforming and technical changes to various provisions of the Real Estate Law, including eliminating gendered pronouns and updating cross-references. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors SB 774?
SB 774 is sponsored by Ashby, Angelique V. (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 774?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 21, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track SB 774?
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