California Senate Bill SB174

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/24/25
• Introduced: 1/23/25
• Refer: 2/5/25
• Engrossed: 3/20/25
• Refer: 3/24/25
• Chaptered/Vetoed: 6/29/26

Caption

An act to amend Sections 367.75, 367.76, and 367.8 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to amend Sections 69894 and 71651.1 of the Government Code, to amend Sections 977, 977.3, and 1043.5 of the Penal Code, and to amend Section 679.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to courts, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget.

Summary

SB 174 is a budget-related measure introduced by the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. As introduced, the bill text is extremely short and only states the Legislature’s intent to enact statutory changes relating to the Budget Act of 2025. The bill itself does not specify substantive policy changes in the introduced text provided here, but the bill context shows that it was ultimately used as a budget trailer bill vehicle for court-related statutory amendments. According to the bill caption in the context, the enacted version amended provisions in the Code of Civil Procedure, Government Code, Penal Code, and Welfare and Institutions Code, and included an appropriation and an immediate effective date. That indicates the measure became part of the state budget package and was used to make related statutory changes affecting courts and other state programs or procedures tied to the budget act.

Impact

In its introduced form, SB 174 had no direct statutory effect beyond expressing legislative intent. In its enacted form, however, it became a budget-related trailer bill that amended multiple statutes across civil procedure, government, criminal procedure, and welfare/institutions law, and it carried an appropriation and immediate effect. The practical impact was to implement budget-linked policy changes affecting court administration and related state operations, with downstream effects on affected agencies, litigants, and potentially local justice system functions.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill had majority support in the Senate, passing third reading 28-10 on March 20, 2025. Because no committee transcript is provided, there is little direct evidence of debate in the record here, but the vote indicates the measure was broadly supported while still drawing a meaningful minority of opposition. The final chaptering of the bill in 2026 suggests it advanced successfully as part of the budget process.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to have been the bill’s role as a budget-related vehicle rather than the narrow introduced text, which contained no substantive policy language. The later caption shows that it ultimately amended several code sections and included an appropriation, which often raises concerns about policy being embedded in budget legislation and about the scope of changes moving through the budget process. The 10 dissenting votes on Senate third reading indicate some lawmakers opposed the measure, likely reflecting disagreement over the budget package or the policy changes attached to it.