AB 62: Civil Rights Department: racially motivated eminent domain.

Official summary

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

Existing law establishes, until January 1, 2030, the Racial Equity Commission within the Office of Planning and Research and requires the commission to develop resources, best practices, and tools for advancing racial equity by, among other things, developing a statewide Racial Equity Framework that includes methodologies and tools that can be employed to advance racial equity and address structural racism in California. Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, establishes the Civil Rights Department and sets forth its powers and duties, including, among others, receiving, investigating, and prosecuting complaints alleging violations of civil rights, as specified.

This bill would require the Civil Rights Department (department), to, upon appropriation by the Legislature, review, investigate, and make certain determinations regarding applications from persons who claim they are the dispossessed owner, as defined, of property taken as a result of racially motivated eminent domain. The bill would define “racially motivated eminent domain” to mean when the state, county, city, city and county, district, or other political subdivision of the state acquires private property for public use and does not distribute just compensation to the owner at the time of the taking, and the taking, or the failure to provide just compensation, was due, in whole or in part, to the owner’s ethnicity or race. Upon a determination that providing property or just compensation is warranted, as provided, the bill would require the department to certify that the dispossessed owner is entitled to the return of the taken property, as specified, or other publicly held property, as defined, of equal value, or financial compensation, as specified. Upon a determination that the dispossessed owner is entitled to other publicly held property of equal value, the bill would require the department to solicit and select, as specified, a list of recommendations of publicly held properties that are suitable as compensation, as provided. Upon a rejection of the determination of the department by the state or local agency that took property by racially motivated eminent domain, the bill would authorize the dispossessed owner, as specified, to bring an action to challenge the taking or the amount of compensation, as provided. Upon a determination that an applicant is not a dispossessed owner or issuing property or just compensation is not warranted, the bill would require the department to notify the applicant of its finding and provide an appeal process, as specified. The bill would require the department to prioritize processing applications for claims made by the individual or individuals who held legal title to the affected property at the time of its taking, as specified. The bill would make every finding, decision, determination, or other official act of the department subject to judicial review.

Existing law generally prohibits state agencies from employing in-house counsel to act on behalf of the agency or its employees in specified judicial or administrative adjudicative proceedings, but exempts specified agencies from this provision.

This bill would exempt the Civil Rights Department from that provision, as specified.

This bill would make related findings and declarations, including those related to a gift of public funds.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 12

“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. January 22, 2026Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
2. October 13, 2025Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
3. October 13, 2025Vetoed by Governor.
4. September 16, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
5. September 9, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 66. Noes 4. Page 3101.).
6. September 8, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
7. September 8, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 7. Page 2616.).
8. September 2, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. August 29, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
10. August 29, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
11. August 25, 2025In committee: Referred to suspense file.
12. August 18, 2025(Ayes 27. Noes 0. Page 2169.)