SB 36: Price gouging: state of emergency.

Official summary

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

(1)Existing law, the Unfair Competition Law, makes various practices unlawful and provides that a person who engages, has engaged, or proposes to engage in unfair competition is liable for a civil penalty, as specified.

This bill would additionally make a person who violates those provisions, if the act or acts of unfair competition are perpetrated against one or more persons displaced due to a state of emergency or local emergency, as defined, at the time the violation occurred, liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for each violation, as specified.

(2)Existing law, the Consumers Legal Remedies Act, makes unlawful certain unfair methods of competition and certain unfair or deceptive acts or practices undertaken by a person in a transaction intended to result or that results in the sale or lease of goods or services to a consumer. These include, among others, making false or misleading statements of fact concerning reasons for, existence of, or amounts of, price reductions.

This bill would additionally make it unlawful under those provisions to, among other things, price gouge during a state of emergency or local emergency.

(3)Existing law requires the trier of fact, in a civil action to redress unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair competition brought by, on behalf of, or for the benefit of senior citizens, disabled persons, or veterans, to consider specified factors in determining the amount of a discretionary fine, penalty, or remedy to be imposed. Existing law authorizes the trier of fact, upon a finding of one of those factors, to impose a fine, penalty, or other remedy in an amount up to 3 times greater than the amount authorized by statute or the amount the trier of fact would impose in the absence of the affirmative finding.

This bill would make those provisions applicable to persons displaced due to a state of emergency or a local emergency, as defined, at the time the violation occurred.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 11

“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. March 2, 2026Veto sustained.
2. March 2, 2026Stricken from file.
3. October 11, 2025In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
4. October 11, 2025Vetoed by the Governor.
5. September 22, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
6. September 11, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 8. Page 2872.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
7. September 9, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
8. September 9, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 60. Noes 17. Page 3080.) Ordered to the Senate.
9. September 5, 2025Ordered to third reading.
10. September 5, 2025Read third time and amended.
11. September 5, 2025Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended.
12. September 3, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.