California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB 373
Dependency proceedings: counsel.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Blanca Rubio (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
Existing law requires the juvenile court to appoint counsel for a child or nonminor dependent in dependency proceedings if they are not represented by counsel, unless the court determines that there would be no benefit from the appointment of counsel. Existing law authorizes counsel to be a district attorney, public defender, or other member of the State Bar, who satisfies certain conditions. Existing law specifies that a primary responsibility of counsel appointed to represent a child or nonminor dependent is to advocate for the protection, safety, and physical and emotional well-being of the child or nonminor dependent. Under existing law, counsel in general is charged with representation of the child's best interests. Existing law requires, when counsel is appointed for a nonminor dependent, counsel to represent the wishes of the nonminor dependent except when advocating for those wishes conflicts with the protection or safety of the nonminor dependent.
This bill would remove the requirement that a primary responsibility of appointed counsel is to advocate for the protection, safety, and physical and emotional well-being of a nonminor dependent. The bill would also remove the above-described exception to representing the wishes of the nonminor dependent when those wishes conflict with the protection or safety of the nonminor dependent.
Text versions
- 10/01/25 - Chaptered· Oct 1, 2025
- 09/05/25 - Enrolled· Sep 5, 2025
- 03/11/25 - Amended Assembly· Mar 11, 2025
- 02/03/25 - Introduced· Feb 3, 2025
- AB373
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 12:24 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 2025 Senate | 3rd Reading AB373 Blanca Rubio By Arreguín | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jul 7, 2025 Senate | Do pass | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 17, 2025 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 7, 2025 House | AB 373 Blanca Rubio Assembly Third Reading | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Mar 25, 2025 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Mar 11, 2025 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Oct 1, 2025 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 146, Statutes of 2025. - Oct 1, 2025 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Sep 9, 2025 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. - Sep 3, 2025 · House
In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. - Sep 3, 2025 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 8. Page 2445.). - Jul 9, 2025 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Jul 8, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (July 7). - Jun 17, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUMAN S. (Ayes 10. Noes 1.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S. - May 7, 2025 · Senate
Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUMAN S. - Apr 7, 2025 · Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. - Apr 7, 2025 · House
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 0. Page 1031.) - Mar 27, 2025 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Mar 26, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 25). - Mar 12, 2025 · House
Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S. - Mar 11, 2025 · House
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended. - Mar 11, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 11). Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S. - Feb 18, 2025 · House
Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUM. S. - Feb 4, 2025 · House
From printer. May be heard in committee March 6. - Feb 3, 2025 · House
Read first time. To print.