California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Senate Bill
SB 85: Civil actions: service of summons.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 85 is a senate bill introduced in the California Senate on January 21, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Civil actions: service of summons. Primary sponsor: Thomas Umberg (D). Most recent recorded action (October 6, 2025): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 403, Statutes of 2025.
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 prescribes specified methods for the service of a summons in a civil action. Under existing law, if no provision is made in statute for the service of summons, a court may direct a summons to be served in a manner that is reasonably calculated to give actual notice to the party to be served.
This bill would also authorize a court to direct a summons to be served in a manner that is reasonably calculated to give actual notice to the party to be served if a plaintiff, exercising reasonable diligence, has been unable to serve the summons using methods prescribed by statute. The bill would authorize a court, upon motion, to direct service of the summons by electronic means, if such service is reasonably calculated to give actual notice. The bill would require a plaintiff seeking to establish reasonable diligence under this section to set forth facts that detail, as specified, the attempts to effect service pursuant to the methods prescribed by statute. The bill would also except actions against public entities or agents or employees of public entities from these provisions.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Umberg | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 34 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 403, Statutes of 2025.
- Approved by the Governor.
- Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
- Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2253.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
- Ordered to special consent calendar.
- In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 2369.) Ordered to the Senate.
- Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
- Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
- From committee: Do pass as amended. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 24).
- Referred to Com. on JUD.
- In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.