California legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB501: Lawsuits, liens, and other encumbrances.
Status: Chaptered, September 27, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend Sections 765.010 and 765.040 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and to amend Section 9625 of, and to add Sections 9513.1 and 9529 to, the Commercial Code, relating to civil proceedings. civil proceedings Lawsuits, liens, and other encumbrances…
From the chaptered text, September 27, 2026:
An act to amend Sections 765.010 and 765.040 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and to amend Section 9625 of, and to add Sections 9513.1 and 9529 to, the Commercial Code, relating to civil proceedings. civil proceedings Lawsuits, liens, and other encumbrances. Existing law prohibits a person from filing or recording, or directing another to file or record, a lawsuit, lien, or other encumbrance against any person or entity, knowing that it is false, with the intent to harass the person or entity or to influence or hinder the person in discharging their official duties if the person is a public officer or employee. Existing law also provides that a person who files a lawsuit, lien, or other encumbrance against any person or entity in violation of this prohibition is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000. This bill would instead provide that a person who files a lawsuit, lien, or other encumbrance against a person or entity in violation of the above-described prohibition is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $15,000. The bill would also define “lien,” for purposes of the above-described prohibition, to include a financing statement. The bill would prohibit a person from filing, or directing another to file, a financing statement for which no reasonable basis or legal cause exists. The bill …
Sponsors
- Diane Papan (D, AD21) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 505, Statutes of 2026.
- : Approved by the Governor.
- : Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
- : Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6423.).
- : Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.).
- : Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling.
- : Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5587.).
- : In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- : Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
- : Ordered to special consent calendar.
Votes
- AB 501 Papan Concurrence in Senate Amendments (August 24, 2026): 78 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Special Consent AB501 Papan By Umberg (August 20, 2026): 39 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do pass (August 13, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Placed on suspense file (August 3, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar (June 30, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Rules] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar (June 9, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is AB501?
- AB501 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Lawsuits, liens, and other encumbrances.
- What does AB501 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend Sections 765.010 and 765.040 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and to amend Section 9625 of, and to add Sections 9513.1 and 9529 to, the Commercial Code, relating to civil proceedings. civil proceedings Lawsuits, liens, and other encumbrances…
- What is the status of AB501?
- Chaptered as of September 27, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 505, Statutes of 2026. (September 27, 2026).
- Who sponsored AB501?
- Diane Papan (D, AD21).
- Where is the official record for AB501?
- On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB501
Source: official California record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.