California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Assembly Bill
AB 174: Courts.
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
AB 174 is a assembly bill introduced in the California Assembly on January 8, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Courts. Primary sponsor: Committee on Budget. Most recent recorded action (August 6, 2026): Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Laird.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.
(1)Existing law authorizes, until January 1, 2027, a party to appear remotely and a court to conduct conferences, hearings, proceedings, and trials in civil cases, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technology.
Under existing law, a court may require an in-person appearance under specified conditions, including if the court determines on a hearing-by-hearing basis that an in-person appearance would materially assist in the determination of the conference, hearing, or proceeding or in the effective management or resolution of the particular case. Existing law additionally authorizes, until January 1, 2027, the use of remote technology, as defined, for other types of proceedings, including, among others, proceedings regarding the involuntary treatment and conservatorship of gravely disabled persons under specified provisions, contempt proceedings, and competency proceedings.
This bill would extend these provisions to also apply to witnesses until January 1, 2032. The bill would instead authorize a court to require an-person appearance if, among other reasons, a court determines on a hearing-by-hearing basis that an in-person appearance is necessary to the determination of the conference, hearing, or proceeding or that remote attendance would materially impair the resolution of the conference, hearing, or proceeding. Beginning January 1, 2027, the bill would require courts to provide a reason for requiring an in-person appearance, as specified.
Existing law, until January 1, 2027, requires each superior court to annually report to the Judicial Council, and the Judicial Council to annually report to the Legislature, to assess the impact of technology issues or problems affecting remote proceedings.
This bill would extend these provisions until January 1, 2032.
(2)Existing law generally allows, until January 1, 2027, upon a defendant’s waiver of the right to be physically present, criminal proceedings to be conducted through the use of remote technology, except as specified.
Sponsors
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Committee on Budget | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | Assembly | — |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Laird.
- From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (June 29).
- Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
- From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. & F. R.
- Referred to Com. on B. & F. R.
- In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
- Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 53. Noes 17. Page 750.)
- Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
- (Ayes 53. Noes 17. Page 643.)
- Ordered to second reading.
- Withdrawn from committee.
- Referred to Com. on BUDGET.