California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 26 into law on Wednesday, April 2, marking a key update to the state’s lemon law framework.
The bill, introduced by Senator Tom Umberg on December 2, 2024, serves as follow-up legislation to Assembly Bill 1755, which took effect on January 1 and streamlined lemon law claim procedures.
SB 26 was designed to provide flexibility for manufacturers, particularly smaller ones, by allowing them to continue operating under pre-existing lemon law procedures.
Under the new law, RV manufacturers now have 30 days to decide whether to opt into AB 1755’s provisions.
Once a manufacturer chooses to opt in, it must adhere to the AB 1755 procedures for a period of five years.
At the end of this term, the manufacturer may choose to opt in again. The RV Industry Association (RVIA) has stated that it will share details about the opt-in process once they are available.
Two significant revisions were added to SB 26 as it advanced through the legislature. First, the implementation date for the pre-dispute notice requirement was moved from April 1 to July 1.
Second, the bill includes a provision for legislative review in 2029, which could lead to the
According to a News and Insights report of RVIA, for manufacturers that intend to operate under AB 1755, a written notice must be submitted to the Arbitration Certification Program within the Department of Consumer Affairs by May 2. Those that do not submit notice will remain under the previous legal framework.
Manufacturers that miss the 30-day window will have the opportunity to opt in at the end of each calendar year, allowing for continued flexibility in compliance.