AB 995 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Department of Justice: phone scams.

Summary

Existing law establishes the Department of Justice under the direction and control of the Attorney General and requires the department to, among other things, maintain a continuing investigation on a statewide basis of investment frauds and business crimes. This bill would require the department to establish and maintain a database of known phone scams on its internet website. The bill would require the department to include a mechanism to report suspected scams and to search for known phone scams, as specified. The bill would also require the department to report annually to the Legislature, commencing January 1, 2028, specified information relating to phone scams. The bill would repeal its provisions January 1, 2033.

Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Last action Feb 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

03/19/25 - Amended Assembly → 05/05/25 - Amended Assembly · 6 edits · May 5, 2025

MODERATE

The May 5 amendment completely removes the drinking water random testing provisions (Health and Safety Code Section 116735) that were in the March 19 version, narrowing the bill to focus solely on phone scam prevention. The remaining phone scam database section is expanded with a verification requirement, a search tool, details on most frequently reported scams, an annual legislative reporting obligation starting in 2028, and a sunset date of January 1, 2033.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly narrowed. It previously covered two distinct policy areas (drinking water quality testing and phone scam prevention). The May 5 version eliminates the drinking water component entirely, making this a single-purpose bill focused exclusively on Department of Justice phone scam database and reporting requirements.

SCOPE

All provisions amending Health and Safety Code Section 116735 are deleted. This removed the requirement for the State Water Resources Control Board to establish a program testing random water samples at or near ultimate delivery destinations in public water systems, as well as related inspection frequency and enforcement language.

REQUIREMENT

The Department of Justice is now required to verify reports of suspected phone scams before updating the database (previously it only had to update monthly).

A new search tool must be included on the website that enables the public to search for known phone scams based on key terms of the source of the scam.

The website must now include current details about the most frequently reported known scams, in addition to the existing list of numbers, tactics descriptions, and guidance.

TIMELINE

An annual reporting requirement is added: starting January 1, 2028, the Department of Justice must submit a report to the Legislature detailing the number of reported and known phone scams and the most common types during the prior calendar year, in compliance with Section 9795.

A sunset clause is added: the entire section expires and is repealed as of January 1, 2033.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

lower

May 14, 2025

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

May 6, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

May 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

May 1, 2025

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (May 1).

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Committee

Referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors