CaliforniaCivil actions: mediation.
What it does
Existing law authorizes the presiding judge, or a judge designated as an alternative to judicial arbitration, of the courts of the County of Los Angeles to submit to mediation any civil case in which arbitration is otherwise required, as specified. Beginning on January 1, 2027, existing law will prohibit the court from ordering a case into mediation unless, among other required conditions, the amount in controversy does not exceed $75,000.
More detail
This bill would authorize the Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles to issue an order permitting any case into mediation, notwithstanding the $75,000 limitation on the amount in controversy described above. The bill would require any case submitted to mediation pursuant to such order to meet all mandatory conditions to qualify for mediation, other than the limitation on the amount in controversy. The bill would require all cases ordered to mediation to be entitled up to 3 hours of no-cost mediation services provided by a court-sanctioned mediation program. The bill would authorize the parties to appear remotely. The bill would also prohibit a mediation ordered pursuant to these provisions from delaying or serving as grounds to continue the trial date or otherwise to delay or continue any expedited procedures. If the presiding judge issues the order described above, the bill would require the court to transmit a report to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary on or before January 31, 2028, and annually thereafter, containing specified information about the cases submitted to mediation. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2032.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Los Angeles.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 135, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Aug 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 18Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 11In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.Minor
- Aug 10Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5322.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 4Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Aug 3From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 3Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- May 22In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1950 Harabedian Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 22Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 5260.)Passed Assembly
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Mar 19Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Mar 18Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 17From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 17).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Mar 9From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 2Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Feb 14From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
- Feb 13Read first time. To print.Introduced