WatchGov

California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California AB 1197

Rental passenger vehicles: electronic surveillance technology: renter liability for loss due to theft.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

Existing law generally governs the transactions between a rental car company, also referred to as a rental company, and its customers, as provided. Existing law prohibits a rental company from using, accessing, or obtaining any information relating to the renter's use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, as defined, except under specified circumstances. Existing law permits a rental company and a renter to limit the responsibilities of a renter in specified events, including loss due to theft of the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as provided. Existing law establishes, in the situation described in the previous sentence, a presumption that the renter has no liability for loss due to theft if specified conditions are met, including that an authorized driver has possession of the ignition key or establishes that the ignition key was not in the vehicle at the time of the theft, as provided. This bill would allow a rental company to use geofence technology, as specified, to detect rental vehicle movement in prescribed circumstances. The bill, with respect to the above-described provisions relating to the renter's liability for loss due to theft, would revise the presumption that the renter has no liability for loss due to theft to instead apply this presumption if an authorized driver returns the ignition key.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Sep 11, 2025
House		AB 1197 Calderon Concurrence in Senate AmendmentspassSet your home in California to see
Sep 9, 2025
Senate		3rd Reading AB1197 Calderon By GraysonpassSet your home in California to see
Jul 15, 2025
Senate		Do passpassSet your home in California to see
Jun 24, 2025
Senate		Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Public Safety]passSet your home in California to see
May 23, 2025
House		AB 1197 Calderon Assembly Third ReadingpassSet your home in California to see
May 6, 2025
House		Do pass as amended.passSet your home in California to see
Apr 29, 2025
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Privacy and Consumer Protection]passSet your home in California to see

Actions