Assembly BillChaptered/SignedPenal
AB 1927: Bail Consumer Protection Act.
What AB 1927 does, verified October 2, 2026
The bill aims to regulate the business of bail agents in the state. It prohibits bail agents or impersonators from soliciting bail from family members or known contacts of arrested individuals for the purpose of engaging them in bail bond services. However, this prohibition does not apply if the communication is in response to a voluntary inquiry or bona fide request for bail bond services initiated by the family member or known contact. The bill prescribes civil penalties, enforceable by the attorney general, for violating these provisions. It also makes a violation an unfair and deceptive trade practice under the unfair competition law, allowing private individuals to bring civil actions for actual damages, injunctive relief, and reasonable attorney's fees.
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 908, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-30)Alert me
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| Sep. 30, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 908, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 30, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 03, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 26, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6599.). |
| Aug. 26, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 30, 2026 · 659 words
Assembly Bill No. 1927
CHAPTER 908
An act to add Section 538j to the Penal Code, relating to bail.
[ Approved by Governor September 30, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 30, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1927, Krell. Bail Consumer Protection Act.
Existing law generally regulates the business of insurance in the state, including the conduct of insurance licensees, and provides for the issuance of bail licenses under the jurisdiction of the Insurance Commissioner. Existing regulations generally prohibit the solicitation of bail except after a bona fide request for bail services has been received from the arrestee or from another specified person.
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to impersonate certain personnel, including a law enforcement officer or an officer or member of a fire department, with the intent of fraudulently impersonating such a person, or of fraudulently inducing the belief that they are such a person.
This bill, the Bail Consumer Protection Act, would make it a crime for any person to impersonate, or falsely hold themselves out to be, a licensed bail agent, and while doing so solicits or attempts to solicit bail from any individual. The bill would also make it a crime for any person to hire another person or company to solicit bail when the person knew or should have known that the other person or company is impersonating or falsely holding themselves out to be a licensed bail agent, and that other person or company solicits or attempts to solicit bail from any individual. By creating a new crime, the 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.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Bail Consumer Protection Act.SEC. 2.
Section 538j is added to the Penal Code, to read:538j.
(a) Any person who violates either of the following shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Section 1814 of the Insurance Code:(1) The person impersonates, or falsely holds themselves out to be, a licensed bail agent, and while doing so solicits or attempts to solicit bail from any individual.
(2) The person hires another person or company to solicit bail when the person knew or should have known that the other person or company is impersonating or falsely holding themselves out to be a licensed bail agent, and that other person or company solicits or attempts to solicit bail from any individual.
(b) For purposes of this section, the following apply:
(1) “Licensed bail agent” means a person licensed pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1800) of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Insurance Code.
(2) “Solicit” includes, but is not limited to, phone calls, robocalls, text messages, emails, and in-person communications.
(c) The penalties provided in this section are cumulative and do not restrict the application of any other law, including any criminal penalties that may be imposed for any theft or for a violation of Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1800) of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Insurance Code and any rules or regulations issued thereunder.
SEC. 3.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.Text of AB 1927 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions