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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 61

Private works of improvement: retention payments.

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

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Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

Existing law generally governs retention payments withheld with respect to a contract for a private work of improvement, including by requiring an owner that withholds a retention from a direct contractor to, within 45 days after completion of the work of improvement, pay the retention to the contractor. With respect to a contract for a private work of improvement, this bill would limit the amount of a retention payment by, among other things, prohibiting a retention payment withheld from a payment by an owner from the direct contractor, by the direct contractor from any subcontractor, and by a subcontractor from any subcontractor thereunder, from exceeding 5% of the payment, subject to certain exceptions. The bill would require a court to award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party in any action to enforce these provisions.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

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

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Jun 23, 2025
House		SB 61 Cortese Consent Calendar Second DaypassSet your home in California to see
Jun 17, 2025
House		Do pass. To Consent Calendar.passSet your home in California to see
Apr 24, 2025
Senate		Consent Calendar 2ndpassSet your home in California to see
Apr 8, 2025
Senate		Do pass and be ordered to the Consent CalendarpassSet your home in California to see

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