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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California AB 515

Trial: statement of decision.

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

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Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

In a trial by a superior court of a question of fact, existing law requires the court to issue a statement of decision explaining the factual and legal basis for its decision upon the request of any party appearing at the trial made either within 10 days after the court announces a tentative decision, or, for a trial concluded in one calendar day or in less than 8 hours over multiple days, before the matter is submitted for decision. Existing law requires the statement of decision to be in writing, unless the parties agree otherwise, except that for a trial concluded in one calendar day or in less than 8 hours over multiple days, the statement of decision may be made orally in the presence of the parties. This bill would instead require a request for a statement of decision in all trials by court to be made in writing, or orally if there is an official record of the proceeding being transcribed, before the matter is submitted for decision. The bill would require the statement of decision to be served on all parties who appeared at the trial. The bill would authorize a court to issue a written statement of decision without a request from a party, and would authorize the court to order a party or parties to prepare a draft statement of decision. The bill would permit a party to make objections to a statement of decision, as specified. The bill would require the Judicial Council to adopt or amend all rules of court necessary to implement these provisions, and to prepare a form that a party may use to request a statement of decision, as specified. Existing law requires the court clerk to enter the court's judgment in a trial by the court immediately upon the filing of the court's decision in the trial. This bill would extend that deadline and instead require the clerk to enter judgment within 30 days after the filing of the court's decision, or, if a statement of decision was requested, within 30 days after the statement of decision becomes final. The bill's provisions would become operative on January 1, 2027.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

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

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Sep 11, 2025
House		AB 515 Pacheco Concurrence in Senate AmendmentspassSet your home in California to see
Sep 9, 2025
Senate		3rd Reading AB515 Pacheco By UmbergpassSet your home in California to see
Jul 15, 2025
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent CalendarpassSet your home in California to see
May 1, 2025
House		AB 515 Pacheco Consent Calendar Second DaypassSet your home in California to see
Apr 23, 2025
House		Do pass. To Consent Calendar.passSet your home in California to see
Apr 8, 2025
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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