AB 1828: County recorder: county clerks: bonds.

Official summary

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

(1)Existing law requires a legal document assistant, unlawful detainer assistant, process server, or professional copier to be registered by the county clerk in the county where their principal place of business is located, as provided. Existing law requires an application for a certificate of registration by an individual, partnership, or corporation to be accompanied by a bond, as provided. Existing law requires the county recorder to record the bond and any notice of cancellation, revocation, or withdrawal of the bond, as provided. Existing law specifies that the fee for filing, canceling, revoking, or withdrawing the bond is $7. Existing law, notwithstanding any other provision of law that prescribes an amount or otherwise limits the amount of a fee or charge that may be levied by a county, a county service area, or a county waterworks district governed by a county board of supervisors, authorizes a county board of supervisors to increase or decrease a fee or charge, which is otherwise authorized to be levied by another provision of law, in the amount reasonably necessary to recover the cost of providing any product or service or the cost of enforcing any regulation for which the fee or charge is levied, as provided.

This bill, beginning January 1, 2028, would remove the requirement that the bond and any notice of cancellation, revocation, or withdrawal of the bond be recorded by the county recorder and, instead, require that the county clerk file the bond and any notice of cancellation, revocation, or withdrawal, as specified. The bill would also on this date delete the above-referenced fee of $7 and would, instead, specify that the fee for filing, canceling, revoking, or withdrawing the bond is determined pursuant to above-described authorization to increase or decrease a fee. The bill would also on this date require the county clerk to retain the bond for a minimum of 6 years from the filing date and would require the county clerk to provide the registrant with one certified copy of the bond on file, as provided.

(2)Existing law authorizes the Secretary of State to appoint and commission notaries public in such number as the Secretary deems necessary for the public convenience. Existing law requires every person appointed a notary public to file an official bond and an oath of office in the office of the county clerk within which the person maintains a principal place of business, as provided. Existing law requires that the county recorder record the bond, as provided. Existing law requires the county clerk to retain the oath of office for one year following the expiration of the term of the commission for which the oath was taken, after which the oath may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of.

This bill, beginning January 1, 2028, would remove the requirement that the county recorder record the bond and would, instead, require the county clerk to retain the oath of office for 10 years, as provided. The bill would also on that date, specify that the fee for filing the bond is determined by the above-described authorization to increase or decrease a fee, would require the county clerk to retain the bond for 10 years from the filing date, and would require the county clerk to provide the registrant with one certified copy of the bond on file, as provided.

By imposing additional duties on local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(3)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 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. September 18, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 275, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 18, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 20, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 13, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 6141.).
5. August 3, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 3, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 5252.).
7. July 1, 2026Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
8. June 30, 2026From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
9. June 29, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.
10. June 18, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
11. June 17, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 16).
12. June 8, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.