CaliforniaUnlawful business practices: price gouging.
What it does
Under existing law, upon the proclamation of a state of emergency by the President of the United States or the Governor, or upon the declaration of a local emergency by the governing authority of any county, city, or city and county, and for 30 days or 180 days, as specified, following the proclamation or declaration of emergency and any period the proclamation or declaration is extended by the applicable authority, it is a misdemeanor for any person, business, or other entity to sell or offer to sell specified goods and services for a price of more than 10% greater than the price charged by that entity for those goods or services immediately prior to the proclamation or declaration of emergency or prior to a date set in the proclamation or declaration. Existing law also makes related protections against eviction. Existing law defines "state of emergency" for these purposes as a natural or manmade emergency resulting from an earthquake, flood, fire, riot, storm, drought, plant or animal infestation or disease, pandemic or epidemic disease outbreak, or other natural or manmade disaster for which a state of emergency has been declared by the President of the United States or the Governor.
More detail
This bill would additionally include war, as defined, to the above-described disasters for purposes of the definition of a "state of emergency" for essential consumer goods or services and upon the proclamation or declaration by the President of the United States or the Governor and for which the Attorney General has issued a written opinion finding a sufficient nexus between the war at issue and increases in the prices of those goods or services. By expanding the application of an existing crime to additional circumstances, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 396 of the Penal Code proposed by SB 1365 to be operative only if this bill and SB 1365 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
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.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 30Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry.Latest
- Aug 21Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 21Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended. (Ayes 55. Noes 17. Page 6296.)
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jul 2Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 1From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 30).Major
- Jun 30
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 18From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.Major
- Jun 15Re-referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.Minor
- Jun 11Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jun 11Read third time and amended.Major
- Jun 8Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jun 8Action rescinded whereby bill was read third time, passed, and ordered to the Senate.Major
- 2025
- Aug 29In Assembly. Held at Desk.
- Aug 29Ordered to the Assembly.
- Aug 28In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 493 Becker Senate Third Reading By Wilson. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 28Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 75. Noes 1. Page 2773.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 21Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 20From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 20Coauthors revised.
- Jul 3From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jul 2
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 25From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on AGRI.Major
- Jun 5Referred to Com. on AGRI.Minor
- May 29In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB493 Becker et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 29Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1319.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 23Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- May 23From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1202.) (May 23).Major
- May 16Set for hearing May 23.
- May 12May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- May 6From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- May 2Set for hearing May 12.
- Apr 29From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 933.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 28Set for hearing April 29.
- Feb 26Referred to Com. on AGRI.Minor
- Feb 20From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
- Feb 19Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced