California AB 1827 increases small claims court jurisdiction to $15,000 and raises annual filing limits
August 13, 2026
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
The Frame
Residents seeking to resolve civil disputes without an attorney will have access to a higher recovery limit and increased flexibility in the number of larger claims they can file annually.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Natural persons
Individuals filing lawsuits in small claims court will have higher claim limits and increased filing frequency for larger claims.
Last recorded activity August 13, 2026.
Introduced.
Summary
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I sue for in small claims court if this bill passes?
How many large claims can I file per year under the new rules?
Why It Matters
Residents seeking to resolve civil disputes without an attorney will have access to a higher recovery limit and increased flexibility in the number of larger claims they can file annually.
News Coverage
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Small Claims Access
The bill represents a clear policy shift toward increasing the financial threshold for self-represented litigants in California.
Connected Entities
Sources
openstates.org
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools