Consumer Action

AB 326 will allow consumers access to electric vehicles through a membership directly with the car manufacturer, without the up-front costs, financing, credit requirements or long-term commitment required when purchasing traditional vehicles from an auto dealer.

Support

SB 1255: Equal Insurance HIV Act

Sponsor: Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) on 02/21/20
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB1255

This bill aims to prevent disability insurance companies from using an outdated and discriminatory insurance underwriting law that allows insurers to refuse life and disability income insurance applications for HIV-positive individuals based solely on a positive HIV test.

Support

SB 898: College Savings Account Bankruptcy Exemption

Sponsor: Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) on 01/30/20
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB898

This bill seeks to protect 529 college savings accounts from creditors should a family need to file for bankruptcy. Unlike retirement plans, ScholarShare accounts are not currently protected from creditor claims in California.

Support

SB 1196: Price Gouging

Sponsor: Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) on 02/20/20
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB1196

SB 1196 will strengthen state law to protect consumers from price gouging of essential supplies during the current COVID-19 pandemic and future states of emergency.

Support

AB 2811: Online Subscription Cancellation

Sponsor: California Assemblymember Marc Berman on
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB2811

AB 2811 ensures that if California consumers can subscribe to a subscription service online, they should be able to cancel their subscriptions online, and that they can do so without delay or having to jump through hoops.

Support

AB 2559: Consumer Restitution and Protection Act

Sponsor: California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan on
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB2559

The bill seeks to grant the Department of Business and Oversight (DBO) the authority to collect restitution for consumers harmed by non-bank lenders, including those companies that operate in the mortgage, payday and credit card industries.

Oppose

AB 154: Public postsecondary education: income share agreement (pilot program)

Sponsor: Assembly Member Voepel on
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB154

This bill would allow students at the University of California and California State Universities to enter into income share agreements (ISA) instead of taking out loans. ISAs are unregulated by the government, repayments are uncapped, and they don't offer the same advantages as federal student loans (forbearance, hardship deferments, etc.).

Support

AB 539: Fair Access to Credit 2019

Sponsor: Assembly Member Monique Limón on
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB539

This consumer protection bill stops predatory lending tactics, protects consumers and focuses on fair credit. It caps loan interest rates at 36% plus the fed fund rate (2.5% today). This bill is a compromise between consumer advocates and lenders that are currently offering loans at approximately 36%.

Oppose

AB 1366: VOIP phone users deserve basic protections (California)

Sponsor: Lorena Gonzalez on 2019-2-22

AB 1366 seekd to extend a loophole allowing IP-enabled services like VOIP from state regulation. All voice providers that offer the public the vital link to 9-1-1 must once again be required to provide reliable service and consumer protections, and this bill should be opposed.

Support

AB 1163: Right to Repair Act (California)

Sponsor: Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman on 2019-02-21

AB 1163, the "Right to Repair Act," would provide consumers with the right to have their electronic devices repaired. By requiring device manufacturers to provide access to diagnostic guides and repair parts, this bill would help prolong the lifespan of electronic devices and save consumers money. In turn, fewer discarded electronics would…

Support

SB 378: Inheritance tax (California)

Sponsor: Scott Wiener on 2019-03-25

SB 378 would allow voters to decide whether to reestablish a state inhertance tax. The first $3.5 million of inherited wealth would be excluded. To ensure that the inheritance taxes collected would not be misused, they would be placed in the Children's Wealth and Opportunity Building Fund. This fund would…

Support

AB 1340: Gainful employment standards (California)

Sponsor: Assemblymember David Chiu on 2019-02-22

AB 1340 would establish “gainful employment” protections at the state level for students who attend for-profit schools. Students attending for-profit vocational schools have higher dropout rates, higher student loan balances, and default more frequently on their loans compared to those who attend public or non-profit schools. By comparing student debt to…

Support

SB 248: Increase renters’ tax credit (California)

Sponsor: Senator Steve Glazer on 2019-02-11

SB 248 would increase the state renters’ credit to a maximum of $220 for individuals, or $440 for spouses who file jointly. The renters’ tax credit has not been adjusted since 1979. Although the average rent has more than tripled since then, the credit has remained at $60. Had the $60 credit been adjusted…

Support

SB 616: Protect low-income bank customers from debt collectors (California)

Sponsor: Senator Bob Wieckowski on 2019-02-22

SB 616 would protect low-income Californians from debt collectors attempting to empty their bank accounts. By preventing collectors from taking the last $2,000 from an individual’s account, the bill would help judgment debtors maintain the ability to provide basic necessities for their households.

Support

SB 178: Protect Californians from Warrantless Searches of our Digital Information

Sponsor: Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) on 2015-02-09
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/15-16/bill/sen/sb_0151-0200/sb_178_bill_20150316_amended_sen_v98.htm

Although law enforcement does not have the right to ransack your file cabinet or search through your home computer without first obtaining a warrant from a judge, police routinely demand warrantless access to information on citizens' smartphones, the modern-day file cabinet.

Support

AB 493: Protect Consumers from Deceptive Home Warranties

Sponsor: Jose Medina (D-Riverside) on 2015-02-23 00:00:00
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB493

AB 493 would protect homeowners from being charged service fees by home warranty companies when no repairs are performed.

Oppose

AB 925: Bad Bill Wants to Allow Corporations to Secretly Record you

Sponsor: Evan Low (D-Campbell) on 2015-02-26 00:00:00
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB925

AB 925 would drastically weaken telephone privacy rights by creating a new and entirely inappropriate exemption for telephone communications that relate to (or that might relate to) a business or customer relationship. Aside from the vague wording, AB 925 would be bad public policy.

Support

SB 1439: Stop Ellis Act abuses by speculators

Sponsor: Leno on 2014-02-21 00:00:00
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB1439

in 2013, 50% of Ellis Act evictions were done by owners who had owned the property for less than 1 year. To prevent speculators from gaming the system and protect tenants, SB 1439 would require 5 years of ownership before the Act can be invoked.

Support

SB 1348: Online data brokers: sale of personal information: notice.

Sponsor: DeSaulnier on 2014-02-21 00:00:00
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB1348

SB 1348 would allow consumers to review and correct their personal information compiled by data brokers who sell this information to third parties. It would also prohibit these companies from chgarging a fee to consumers who wish to opt out of these databases.

Support

SB 962: Kill Switches for Stolen Smartphones

Sponsor: Leno on 2014-02-06 00:00:00
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB962