California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Senate Bill
SB 382: Vehicle repossessions.
Did not advance Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
- Did not advance
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 382 is a senate bill introduced in the California Senate on February 14, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Vehicle repossessions. Primary sponsor: Tony Strickland (R). Most recent recorded action (February 2, 2026): Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
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.
Existing law regulates repossession agencies that locate or recover collateral, including vehicles, and provides for their licensure by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Existing law requires a repossession agency to remove personal effects from the collateral, inventory the personal effects, and store the personal effects until claimed or for at least 60 days, as specified.
This bill would prohibit a repossession agency from discussing, conspiring, or agreeing with a 3rd party to set a fee, rate, or cost for personal effects and from accepting a hold harmless agreement or release of indemnification in lieu of removing, inventorying, and storing personal effects.
Existing law authorizes a person to place a lien on a registered vehicle for authorized towing, storage, or labor associated with recovery or load salvage of the vehicle, among other things.
This bill would clarify that provisions relating to vehicle liens do not prohibit a licensed repossession agency from filing a lien.
Existing law generally prohibits a tow yard, impounding agency, or governmental agency, or a person acting on their behalf, from refusing to release a vehicle or other collateral to anyone legally entitled to the vehicle or other collateral. Under specified circumstances, including after a vehicle is seized because the driver has a suspended or revoked driver’s license, existing law requires a person in possession of a vehicle to release the vehicle without requiring documents other than those specified.
This bill would specify that requiring additional documents to release a vehicle is a violation of the statute prohibiting a tow yard, impounding agency, or governmental agency, or a person acting on their behalf, from refusing to release a vehicle or other collateral to anyone legally entitled to the vehicle or other collateral.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Strickland | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 36 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
- April 21 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Set for hearing April 29 in JUD. pending receipt.
- Set for hearing April 21.
- Re-referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and JUD.
- From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
- Referred to Com. on RLS.
- From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17.
- Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.