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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California AB 78

Attorney's fees: book accounts.

  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

Under existing law, in any action on a contract based on a book account, as defined, that does not provide for attorney's fees and costs, the prevailing party on the contract is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs, and the court is required to fix the attorney's fees in an amount that does not exceed the lesser of $960 for book accounts that are maintained for personal, family, or household purposes of a natural person, and $1,200 for book accounts that are maintained for all other purposes, or 25% of the principal obligation owing on the contract, as applicable. This bill would increase these maximum attorney's fees to an amount not to exceed the lesser of $1,200 for book accounts that are maintained for personal, family, or household purposes of a natural person, and $1,600 for book accounts that are maintained for all other purposes, or 25% of the principal obligation owing on the contract, as applicable.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 4:04 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Jul 3, 2025
Senate		Consent Calendar 2ndpassSet your home in California to see
Jun 24, 2025
Senate		Do pass and be ordered to the Consent CalendarpassSet your home in California to see
Mar 10, 2025
House		AB 78 Chen Consent Calendar Second DaypassSet your home in California to see
Mar 4, 2025
House		Do pass. To Consent Calendar.passSet your home in California to see

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