Judiciary

AB 320 increases multiple court filing fees and requires these fees to be adjusted for inflation starting in 2030. It raises specific fees, such as the civil filing fee from $75 to $190 and the criminal case fee from $163 to $239, with future adjustments tied to the U.S. consumer price index. These changes directly affect individuals filing court cases (e.g., defendants in criminal matters, plaintiffs in civil or family cases) who pay these fees. The bill mandates that fee amounts be recalculated every five years based on inflation data, rounded up to the nearest dollar, and posted online by the state courts director. The adjustments apply to over 20 specific fee categories across criminal, civil, and family court proceedings.

AB 1075 changes the age threshold for juvenile court jurisdiction by reclassifying 17-year-olds as adults for criminal prosecution purposes. It amends definitions to define "adult" as 17 years or older (instead of 18) for investigating and prosecuting criminal violations, while keeping 17-year-olds under juvenile court jurisdiction for specific cases. The bill also creates a new funding mechanism to reimburse counties for costs related to 17-year-olds accused of crimes starting in 2026. This directly affects 17-year-olds facing criminal charges and county juvenile justice systems managing their cases.

AB 203 creates a new statute to limit the liability of manufacturers, distributors, sellers, installers, and owners of traffic control devices. It specifies that these entities are not liable for damages if a device complies with the state's official traffic control devices manual and operates as intended. This limitation applies to claims for personal injury, property damage, and other losses. However, liability can be established if a claimant proves by clear evidence that the device did not meet specifications or operate as intended at the time of the damages. The bill also includes a rebuttable presumption that a device complied if it met manual standards or had authorized deviations.

AB 475 creates a state grant program to fund immigration-related civil legal services for individuals and families. It allocates $300,000 for the 2025-26 fiscal year to award grants to community-based organizations (including for-profit groups) that provide legal assistance in immigration matters, with requirements that applicants have a history of such services and offer them without regard to immigration status. The bill also enables counties to fund similar services through existing county budgeting mechanisms. This directly supports immigrants facing legal challenges and expands access to civil legal aid in immigration cases.

AB 431 creates a "special motion to strike" process to quickly dismiss lawsuits that target individuals or groups for speaking out on public issues, such as criticizing government actions or participating in public debates. If a plaintiff sues for speech protected under free speech or petition rights, the defendant can file this motion; the court will dismiss the case unless the plaintiff proves they are likely to win. If the motion succeeds, the winning defendant typically recovers attorney fees, unless the motion was frivolous or delayed the case. This bill directly affects people engaging in public discourse, including activists, journalists, and community members, by making it harder for opponents to use lawsuits to silence them.