Courts.

Sunset dates for remote court proceedings provisions in Sections 367.75, 367.76, 367.8 of the Code of Civil Procedure, Section 71651.1 of the Government Code, and Section 977 of the Penal Code are extended from January 1, 2027 to January 1, 2032.

The deadline for superior courts to provide public access to lactation rooms in courthouses is delayed from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2029 (Government Code Section 69894).

The bill now takes effect immediately upon enactment as a budget-related appropriation bill, rather than on the standard January 1 date.

The standard for a court to require an in-person appearance in civil proceedings (Section 367.75(b)(3)) is raised from 'would materially assist' to 'is necessary to the determination' or 'remote attendance would materially impair the resolution,' making it harder for courts to override remote appearances.

Beginning January 1, 2027, courts must provide a stated reason (on the record, in a minute order, or on a Judicial Council form) when requiring an in-person appearance instead of allowing remote participation.

Appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the Judicial Council for lactation room modifications in courthouses.

The bill's scope expanded from a generic 'Budget Act of 2025' placeholder with no operative text to specific amendments across four codes (Code of Civil Procedure, Government Code, Penal Code, and Welfare and Institutions Code) governing remote court proceedings and lactation room access.