AB 1197: Rental passenger vehicles: electronic surveillance technology: renter liability for loss due to theft.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law generally governs the transactions between a rental car company, also referred to as a rental company, and its customers, as provided. Existing law prohibits a rental company from using, accessing, or obtaining any information relating to the renter’s use of the rental vehicle that was obtained using electronic surveillance technology, as defined, except under specified circumstances. Existing law permits a rental company and a renter to limit the responsibilities of a renter in specified events, including loss due to theft of the rented vehicle up to its fair market value, as provided. Existing law establishes, in the situation described in the previous sentence, a presumption that the renter has no liability for loss due to theft if specified conditions are met, including that an authorized driver has possession of the ignition key or establishes that the ignition key was not in the vehicle at the time of the theft, as provided.

This bill would allow a rental company to use geofence technology, as specified, to detect rental vehicle movement in prescribed circumstances. The bill, with respect to the above-described provisions relating to the renter’s liability for loss due to theft, would revise the presumption that the renter has no liability for loss due to theft to instead apply this presumption if an authorized driver returns the ignition key.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 7, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 449, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 7, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 22, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. September 10, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 3239.).
5. September 9, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. September 9, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2705.).
7. July 16, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. July 15, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (July 15).
9. June 26, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
10. June 25, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (June 24).
11. June 4, 2025Referred to Coms. on JUD. and PUB. S.
12. May 23, 2025In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.