California Senate Bill 694
Session 20252026
Deceptive practices: service members and veterans.
Became Law
Became Law on Feb 10, 2026
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
694
State
California
Session
20252026
Motion Text
W/O REF. TO FILE
Senate Roll Call Votes
Yes
Other
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Summary
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, including charging or receiving an unreasonable fee, as defined, to prepare, aid, or advise any prospective applicant, applicant, or recipient in the procurement, maintenance, or securing of public social services, as defined to include, among other things, veterans pensions.
This bill would expand the definition of public social services to also include other veterans benefits. The bill would also expand the definition of an unreasonable fee to include a fee charged with respect to federal veterans benefits that exceeds the amount that could be charged for those services by an attorney or claims agent accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
Existing law prohibits a person from, in connection with any transaction or any sale of goods or services, electronically accessing a Common Access Card (CAC) issued to a service member, placing or requiring the placement of such a CAC in a smart card reader, requesting or requesting entry of the personal identification number (PIN) associated with such a CAC, or requiring a service member to log in to any United States Department of Defense or, in the case of a member of the United States Coast Guard, United States Department of Homeland Security computer system. Existing law makes void a transaction or sale entered into in violation of these provisions.
This bill would extend the above-described restrictions to prohibit requiring a former or current service member to log in or share their credentials for accessing, or accessing with another person's credentials, any United States Department of Defense, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or United States Department of Homeland Security computer system. Except as provided, the bill would prohibit a person from, in connection with any transaction or any sale of goods or services, directly or indirectly soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving, or attempting to solicit, contract for, charge, or receive, any fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for benefits under the laws administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill would also make void a contract performed in violation of these provisions. The bill would make violations of these provisions a misdemeanor. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
02/21/25 - Introduced
February 21, 2025
06/23/25 - Amended Assembly
June 23, 2025
01/27/26 - Enrolled
January 27, 2026
02/10/26 - Chaptered
February 10, 2026
04/28/25- Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs
April 28, 2025
05/21/25- Sen. Floor Analyses
May 21, 2025
06/27/25- Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs
June 27, 2025
07/03/25- Assembly Judiciary
July 3, 2025
08/18/25- Assembly Appropriations
August 18, 2025
09/02/25- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS
September 2, 2025
09/08/25- Senate Judiciary
September 8, 2025
01/26/26- Sen. Floor Analyses
January 26, 2026
Sort by most recent
02/10/2026
California State Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 1, Statutes of 2026.
02/10/2026
California State Legislature
Approved by the Governor.
01/30/2026
California State Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
01/26/2026
Senate
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 25. Noes 6. Page 3280.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
01/26/2026
Senate
Consent granted to take up without reference to file.
01/26/2026
Senate
Ordered to unfinished business.
01/26/2026
Senate
Withdrawn from committee. (Ayes 29. Noes 9. Page 3280.)
09/09/2025
Senate
From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 2753.) (September 9). Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
09/08/2025
Senate
From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on JUD. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 2570.) Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
09/08/2025
Senate
Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d).
09/04/2025
Senate
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
09/04/2025
Assembly
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 68. Noes 0. Page 2927.) Ordered to the Senate.
09/02/2025
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
08/29/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (August 29).
08/20/2025
Assembly
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
07/09/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
07/09/2025
Assembly
Coauthors revised.
07/02/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
06/23/2025
Assembly
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
05/29/2025
Assembly
Referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
05/23/2025
Assembly
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
05/23/2025
Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 1137.) Ordered to the Assembly.
05/20/2025
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
05/19/2025
Senate
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.
05/09/2025
Senate
Set for hearing May 19.
05/08/2025
Senate
May 12 hearing postponed by committee.
05/02/2025
Senate
Set for hearing May 12.
04/29/2025
Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 919.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
03/28/2025
Senate
Set for hearing April 28.
03/05/2025
Senate
Referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
02/24/2025
Senate
Read first time.
02/24/2025
Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
02/21/2025
Senate
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 22, 2025 5:54:55 AM
Record Updated
Feb 12, 2026 8:41:18 AM