CA AB 1776
enactedCartwright Act: violations.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower
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Quick answers
Did CA AB 1776 pass?
Yes. CA AB 1776 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-09-30): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 826, Statutes of 2026.
What is CA AB 1776 about?
Existing law, commonly known as the Cartwright Act, identifies certain acts as unlawful restraints of trade and unlawful trusts and prescribes provisions for its enforcement. Chapter 338 of the Statutes of 2025 provides that in a complaint for any violation of the Cartwright Act, it is sufficient to contain factual allegations demonstrating that the existence of a contract, combination in the form of a trust, or conspiracy to restrain trade or commerce is plausible. Chapter 338 of the Statutes of 2025 also provides that a complaint for any violation of the Cartwright Act is not required to allege facts tending to exclude the possibility of independent action. Existing case law, In re Cipro Cases I & II (2015) 61 Cal.4th 116, establishes a rule of reason analysis for certain claims under the Cartwright Act, which, among other things, determines whether an act was made for the purpose of avoiding competition and whether the anticompetitive effects of the agreement outweigh any procompetitive justifications. This bill would prohibit any person from monopolizing or monopsonizing any part of trade or commerce, as provided. The bill would require courts to use the analytical framework and guidance provided in In re Cipro Cases I & II. The bill would require a plaintiff bringing an action under its provisions to allege, and prove at trial, substantial market power through either direct or indirect evidence. The bill would exempt a small business, as defined, from these provisions. The bill would provide that its provisions do not prevent, limit, or prohibit certain conduct and legal instruments, including exclusive franchises granted and supervised by a local, state, or federal governmental agency. This bill would require any action brought pursuant to these provisions to be initiated only by the Attorney General or a district attorney, and would, with certain exceptions, preclude an alleged violation under its provisions from serving as a predicate violation under the Unfair Competition Law. The bill would require an action brought pursuant to these provisions to be filed as a "complex case" pursuant to provisions of law requiring the assessment of additional court fees, as specified. The bill would also make related findings and declarations. The bill would require courts to liberally interpret California's antitrust laws to best promote free and fair competition, as provided. Because the bill would expand the scope of activities prohibited by the Cartwright Act, the violation of which is punishable as a 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.
Who sponsors CA AB 1776?
Aguiar-Curry is the primary sponsor of CA AB 1776, joined by 14 cosponsors.
Description
Existing law, commonly known as the Cartwright Act, identifies certain acts as unlawful restraints of trade and unlawful trusts and prescribes provisions for its enforcement. Chapter 338 of the Statutes of 2025 provides that in a complaint for any violation of the Cartwright Act, it is sufficient to contain factual allegations demonstrating that the existence of a contract, combination in the form of a trust, or conspiracy to restrain trade or commerce is plausible. Chapter 338 of the Statutes of 2025 also provides that a complaint for any violation of the Cartwright Act is not required to allege facts tending to exclude the possibility of independent action. Existing case law, In re Cipro Cases I & II (2015) 61 Cal.4th 116, establishes a rule of reason analysis for certain claims under the Cartwright Act, which, among other things, determines whether an act was made for the purpose of avoiding competition and whether the anticompetitive effects of the agreement outweigh any procompetitive justifications. This bill would prohibit any person from monopolizing or monopsonizing any part of trade or commerce, as provided. The bill would require courts to use the analytical framework and guidance provided in In re Cipro Cases I & II. The bill would require a plaintiff bringing an action under its provisions to allege, and prove at trial, substantial market power through either direct or indirect evidence. The bill would exempt a small business, as defined, from these provisions. The bill would provide that its provisions do not prevent, limit, or prohibit certain conduct and legal instruments, including exclusive franchises granted and supervised by a local, state, or federal governmental agency. This bill would require any action brought pursuant to these provisions to be initiated only by the Attorney General or a district attorney, and would, with certain exceptions, preclude an alleged violation under its provisions from serving as a predicate violation under the Unfair Competition Law. The bill would require an action brought pursuant to these provisions to be filed as a "complex case" pursuant to provisions of law requiring the assessment of additional court fees, as specified. The bill would also make related findings and declarations. The bill would require courts to liberally interpret California's antitrust laws to best promote free and fair competition, as provided. Because the bill would expand the scope of activities prohibited by the Cartwright Act, the violation of which is punishable as a 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.
- Introduced
- 2026-03-23
- Latest action
- 2026-09-30 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 826, Statutes of 2026.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Aguiar-Curryauthor
- Mark Gonzálezprincipal coauthor
- Hurtadoprincipal coauthor
- Bainscoauthor
- Bontacoauthor
- Connollycoauthor
- Elhawarycoauthor
- Leecoauthor
- Ortegacoauthor
- Rogerscoauthor
- Schiavocoauthor
- Cortesecoauthor
- Padillacoauthor
- Wahabprincipal coauthor
- Reyescoauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-09-30
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 826, Statutes of 2026.
became-law
2026-09-30
Approved by the Governor.
executive-signature
2026-09-10
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
executive-receipt
2026-08-30
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 9.).
2026-08-30
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2026-08-30
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling.
2026-08-30
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 60. Noes 16.).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-08-30
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 60. Noes 16. Page 6900.).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-08-28
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-27
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-17
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-13
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-08-13
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage
2026-08-10
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
referral-committee
2026-08-03
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-07-22
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2026-07-01
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 2.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-06-22
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-06-16
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-06-10
Referred to Com. on JUD.
referral-committee
2026-05-28
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
reading-1,referral-committee
2026-05-27
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 44. Noes 17.)
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-05-27
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 44. Noes 17. Page 5461.)
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-05-18
Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 5141.)
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-05-18
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-05-14
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (May 14).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-04-29
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
referral-committee
2026-04-13
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
referral-committee
2026-04-09
Read second time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-04-08
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (April 7).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2026-03-24
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
referral-committee
2026-03-23
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-02-23
Referred to Com. on JUD.
referral-committee
2026-02-10
From printer. May be heard in committee March 12.
2026-02-09
Read first time. To print.
reading-1
Versions
- 02/09/26 - Introduced — 2026-02-09Compare
- 03/23/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-03-23Compare
- 04/09/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-04-09Compare
- 05/18/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-05-18Compare
- 06/16/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-06-16Compare
- 06/22/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-06-22Compare
- 08/03/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-08-03Compare
- 08/13/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-08-13Compare
- 08/27/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-08-27Compare
- 09/03/26 - Enrolled — 2026-09-03Compare
- 09/30/26 - Chaptered — 2026-09-30Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
- AB1776Compare
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Votes
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-04-07 · pass · 9-3
Member-level votes (12)
- Papan: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Lee: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Macedo: no
- Sanchez: no
- Dixon: no
Do pass.
2026-05-14 · pass · 11-4
Member-level votes (15)
- Krell: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Fong: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Solache: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Tangipa: no
- Ta: no
- Dixon: no
- Hoover: no
AB 1776 Aguiar-Curry Assembly Third Reading
2026-05-27 · pass · 44-17
Member-level votes (80)
- Bennett: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Papan: yes
- Fong: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Hart: yes
- Addis: yes
- Bains: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Ward: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Lee: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Berman: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Haney: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Krell: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Solache: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Johnson: no
- Hoover: no
- Macedo: no
- DeMaio: no
- Dixon: no
- Wallis: no
- Davies: no
- Flora: no
- Jeff Gonzalez: no
- Tangipa: no
- Hadwick: no
- Sanchez: no
- Ávila Farías: no
- Patterson: no
- Ellis: no
- Lackey: no
- Ta: no
- Michelle Rodriguez: other
- Ramos: other
- Alvarez: other
- Celeste Rodriguez: other
- Chen: other
- Soria: other
- Petrie-Norris: other
- Valencia: other
- Wilson: other
- Ahrens: other
- Blanca Rubio: other
- Alanis: other
- Gipson: other
- Nguyen: other
- Patel: other
- Castillo: other
- Gallagher: other
- Ransom: other
- Irwin: other
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-06-30 · pass · 9-2
Member-level votes (13)
- Wahab: yes
- Laird: yes
- Stern: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Allen: yes
- Reyes: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Valladares: no
- Niello: no
- Umberg: other
- Caballero: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-10-02T06:33:45.129474Z
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