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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California AB 2789

Mediation: child custody and visitation.

  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 requires the court, for purposes of deciding custody, to determine the best interests of the child based on certain factors, including the nature and amount of contact with both parents and, consistent with specified findings, requires the court's primary concern to be the health, safety, and welfare of the child. Existing law requires a court to set the contested issues for mediation when it appears on the face of a petition, application, or other pleading to obtain or modify a temporary or permanent custody or visitation order that custody, visitation, or both are contested. Existing law requires notice of mediation to be given to each party, and where a stepparent or grandparent seeks visitation rights, to the stepparent or grandparent seeking visitation rights, to each parent of the child, and to each parent's counsel of record. Existing law requires notice to be given by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the last known address. This bill would require all parties to be given written notice of mediation, including, among others, by court staff when all parties are present for a court hearing. The bill would require the court to develop a notice of mediation that includes that all communications between the mediator and the disputing parties are required to be confidential and, if there has been a history of domestic violence between the parties or a protective order is in effect, that the mediator is required to meet with the parties separately and at separate times at the request of the party alleging domestic violence, as specified.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 8:06 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Aug 3, 2026
House		AB 2789 Judiciary Concurrence in Senate Amendments By KALRApassSet your home in California to see
Jun 25, 2026
Senate		Consent Calendar 2nd AB2789 JUD.passSet your home in California to see
Jun 9, 2026
Senate		Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent CalendarpassSet your home in California to see
May 14, 2026
House		AB 2789 Judiciary Consent Calendar Second DaypassSet your home in California to see
May 6, 2026
House		Do pass. To Consent Calendar.passSet your home in California to see
Apr 21, 2026
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent CalendarpassSet your home in California to see

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