AB 484: California bar examination.

Official summary

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

The State Bar Act provides for the licensure and regulation of attorneys by the State Bar of California, a public corporation governed by a board of trustees. Existing law authorizes the board of trustees to establish an examining committee, also known as the Committee of Bar Examiners, and requires an applicant for a license to practice law to pass the general bar examination, known as the California bar examination, given by the examining committee. Existing law prohibits the examining committee from altering the bar examination in a manner that requires the substantial modification of the training or preparation required for passage of the examination, except after giving 2 years’ notice of that change.

This bill would require the Committee of Bar Examiners to provide a report to the board of trustees, the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, and to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary on whether adopting a uniform bar examination would be more efficient to administer and lower the cost of administration for the State Bar and examinees. The bill would repeal those provisions on January 1, 2030.

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. October 1, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 155, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 1, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 24, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. September 13, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 3502.).
5. September 13, 2025Joint Rules 61(a)(14) and 51(a)(4) suspended. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3413.)
6. September 12, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
7. September 11, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2883.).
8. July 10, 2025Ordered to third reading.
9. July 10, 2025From Consent Calendar.
10. July 3, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered to consent calendar.
11. July 2, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 1).
12. June 19, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.