Senate BillChaptered/SignedCivil
SB 1078: Gift certificates: cash redemption.
What SB 1078 does, verified September 22, 2026
The bill allows the county of Santa Cruz to levy a transactions and use tax at a rate not to exceed 0.5% for general and special purposes, subject to voter approval. The tax rate exceeds the usual 2% limit and is only permitted until December 31, 2030. The county needs a special statute to implement this tax, and the bill declares its urgency. The tax will take effect immediately.
Bill journey
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6ChapteredCurrent
Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 420, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-20)Alert me
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| Sep. 20, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 420, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 20, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 08, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Aug. 28, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6776.) Ordered to the Senate. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 20, 2026 · 404 words
Senate Bill No. 1078
CHAPTER 420
An act to add Section 1749.52 to the Civil Code, relating to gift certificates.
[ Approved by Governor September 20, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 20, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1078, Laird. Gift certificates: cash redemption.
Existing law, commencing April 1, 2026, makes a gift certificate with a cash value of less than $15 redeemable in cash for its cash value.
This bill would authorize the issuer of a gift certificate that contains printed language on the certificate stating a cash redemption threshold that is lower than the amount described above to sell the gift certificate until December 31, 2028, if certain requirements are met, including that the gift certificate was manufactured or printed before April 1, 2026, and the issuer of the gift certificate displays at specified point-of-sale devices, a notice stating that a gift certificate with a cash value of less than $15 is redeemable in cash for its cash value, as provided.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 1749.52 is added to the Civil Code, to read:1749.52.
(a) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 1749.5, the issuer of a gift certificate that contains printed language on the certificate stating a cash redemption threshold that is lower than the amount required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 1749.5, may sell the gift certificate until December 31, 2028, if all of the following requirements are met:(1) The gift certificate was manufactured or printed before April 1, 2026.
(2) At each point-of-sale device at which a gift certificate may be purchased, loaded with value, or redeemed in cash, the issuer of the gift certificate displays a notice in at least 24-point font stating that a gift certificate with a cash value of less than fifteen dollars ($15) is redeemable in cash for its cash value.
(3) The issuer of the gift certificate maintains in the ordinary course of business, records reasonably demonstrating the manufacture or print date of the gift certificate.
(b) An issuer of a gift certificate that complies with this section shall not be subject to any civil or criminal penalties solely because the gift certificate contains printed language on the gift certificate stating a cash redemption threshold that is lower than the amount required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 1749.5.
Text of SB 1078 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions