Part ofLegal Procedure →

AB 540CALIFORNIASession 20252026

AB 540 updates lawyer referral definitions, civil motion notice rules, and medical record privacy procedures

Original title: Civil actions and attorneys.

August 30, 2026

Legal Procedure Civil Law Attorney Regulation Privacy Civilactionsandattorneys

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Where This Stands

Currently Unknown. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Version history & redline

3 versions on file

Official version history is partial: 3 linked texts are unavailable or incomplete. Source links remain available below.

Comparing 02/11/25 - Introduced → 02/11/25 - Introduced

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Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →

The Frame

What this does

These changes impact how attorneys manage client referrals, how quickly parties must be notified of court motions, and the privacy protections for individuals whose medical or personal records are requested in civil lawsuits.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Attorneys

Attorneys may now make incidental client referrals without being subject to State Bar lawyer referral service regulations.

Civil litigants

Litigants gain a new procedure to screen sensitive records for privacy before they are released in response to a subpoena.

What changed

Last recorded activity August 30, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

AB 540 exempts certain attorney-to-attorney referrals from regulations, clarifies electronic service notice timelines for civil motions, and creates a new process for screening sensitive records before they are released via subpoena.

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

Does this bill change how long I have to respond to a motion?

No, it clarifies that electronic service does not require an additional 2-day extension to the notice period, unlike physical overnight delivery methods.

How does this bill protect my medical records?

It creates a new process where you can stipulate to screen your sensitive medical and personal records for privacy and relevance before they are turned over to a party that subpoenaed them.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Connected Entities

organizationJudicial Council“Adopts rules for electronic service of documents.”Map →

organizationState Bar of California“Regulates lawyer referral services.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy15
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

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