California AB2039: Attorneys.

What the bill says

An act to amend Section 6153 of, and to add Sections 6090.9, 6149.6, and 6152.5 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to attorneys. attorneys Attorneys. The State Bar Act provides for the licensure and regulation of attorneys by the State Bar of California (State Bar), a public corporation governed by a board of trustees. Existing law authorizes the board of trustees, with the approval of the Supreme Court, to formulate and enforce rules of professional conduct for all licensees of the State Bar…

From the chaptered text, September 27, 2026:

An act to amend Section 6153 of, and to add Sections 6090.9, 6149.6, and 6152.5 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to attorneys. attorneys Attorneys. The State Bar Act provides for the licensure and regulation of attorneys by the State Bar of California (State Bar), a public corporation governed by a board of trustees. Existing law authorizes the board of trustees, with the approval of the Supreme Court, to formulate and enforce rules of professional conduct for all licensees of the State Bar. Existing provisions of the Labor Code prohibit an employer from making, adopting, or enforcing any rule, regulation or policy preventing an employee from disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency, to a person with authority over the employee, or to another employee who has authority to investigate, discover, or correct the violation or noncompliance, if the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of state or federal statute, or a violation of or noncompliance with a local, state, or federal rule or regulation. This bill would add provisions to the State Bar Act that would prohibit an employer, law firm, attorney, or any person acting on their behalf from retaliating against an individual for disclosing information in good faith, or because the employer, law firm, or attorney believes the …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Zbur, Rick Chavez (D, AD51) · primary sponsor
• Diane Dixon (R, AD72)
• Ash Kalra (D, AD25)

Latest actions

1. September 27, 2026: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 574, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 27, 2026: Approved by the Governor.
3. September 3, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 26, 2026: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6576.).
5. August 26, 2026: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0.).
6. August 25, 2026: In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
7. August 25, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
8. August 17, 2026: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. August 13, 2026: Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
10. August 13, 2026: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).

Votes

• AB 2039 Zbur Concurrence in Senate Amendments (August 26, 2026): 79 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Assembly 3rd Reading AB2039 Zbur et al. By Reyes (August 25, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended (August 13, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Placed on suspense file (August 3, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] (June 23, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
• AB 2039 Zbur Assembly Third Reading (May 21, 2026): 73 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is AB2039?

AB2039 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Attorneys.

What does AB2039 do?

In its own words: An act to amend Section 6153 of, and to add Sections 6090.9, 6149.6, and 6152.5 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to attorneys. attorneys Attorneys. The State Bar Act provides for the licensure and regulation of attorneys by the State Bar of California (State Bar), a public corporation governed by a board of trustees. Existing law authorizes the board of trustees, with the approval of the Supreme Court, to formulate and enforce rules of professional conduct for all licensees of the State Bar…

What is the status of AB2039?

Chaptered as of September 27, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 574, Statutes of 2026. (September 27, 2026).

Who sponsored AB2039?

Zbur, Rick Chavez (D, AD51), with 2 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for AB2039?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2039