AB 498 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Self-service storage facilities: lien notices: email.

Summary

Existing law, the California Self-Storage Facility Act, authorizes a self-storage facility owner to terminate the right of an occupant to the use of a storage space if rent or other charges due remain unpaid for 14 consecutive days by sending a lien notice and the total sum due has not been paid by the termination date specified in the preliminary lien notice, in accordance with specified procedures. Existing law authorizes an owner to send lien notices to the occupant by email if the rental agreement states that lien notices may be sent by email and the occupant provides a written signature on the rental agreement consenting to receive lien notices by email. Existing law specifies the ways an owner may demonstrate actual delivery and receipt of the lien notices sent by email, including by posting the document on the owner's secure internet website and there is evidence demonstrating that the occupant logged onto the licensee's secure internet website and downloaded, printed, viewed, or otherwise acknowledged receipt of the document. This bill, instead, would provide that an owner may demonstrate actual delivery and receipt of a lien notice by delivering the document to the occupant's email address and there is evidence demonstrating that the occupant downloaded, printed, viewed, opened, or otherwise acknowledged receipt of the document.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Aug 2025

Assembly Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Aug 2025

Signed into Law

Oct 2025

Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Signed Oct 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

02/10/25 - Introduced → 03/17/25 - Amended Assembly · 4 edits · Mar 17, 2025

MODERATE

AB 498 was amended to simplify terminology (replacing 'electronic mail' with 'email') and to modify how self-storage facility owners can prove they delivered lien notices electronically. The amendment tightens one existing delivery-confirmation method by requiring both website posting and email delivery, adds 'opened' as a form of occupant acknowledgment, and introduces a new simpler method allowing proof of delivery through email alone if there is evidence the occupant viewed or downloaded the document.

REQUIREMENT

Method (B) for proving delivery was changed from requiring only that the document be posted on the owner's secure website to requiring both posting on the website AND delivery to the occupant's email address, with evidence the occupant logged in and downloaded, printed, viewed, opened, or otherwise acknowledged receipt.

A new method was added allowing an owner to demonstrate actual delivery and receipt simply by delivering the document to the occupant's email address, provided there is evidence the occupant downloaded, printed, viewed, opened, or otherwise acknowledged receipt of the document. This is a lower bar than the existing confirmation-system method that requires date and time stamps.

The word 'opened' was added to the list of actions constituting occupant acknowledgment of receipt, alongside downloading, printing, and viewing.

TECHNICAL

The term 'electronic mail' was replaced with 'email' throughout the bill for simplicity.

Floor votes · Senate Aug 25, 2025 · Assembly Apr 1, 2025

How they voted

37–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

Aug 25, 2025

D Democratic30

28 Yea 2

93% Yea

R Republican10

9 Yea 1

90% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Oct 6, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor.

legislature

Aug 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

lower

Aug 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2249.).

upper

Jul 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 15).

upper

Jul 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

upper

May 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to Com. on JUD.

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.)

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 25).

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.

lower

Feb 24, 2025

Committee

Referred to Com. on JUD.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors