SB 1231
Claims against the state: appropriation.
Vote required
Two Thirds
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Appropriations
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill authorizes the state to use funds from the General Fund to pay a specific judgment against the state. Currently, the Attorney General must report unpaid claims to the Appropriations Committees, who then introduce legislation to fund them. This bill streamlines the process by directly appropriating funds for a single judgment. It is being enacted as an urgency measure to quickly resolve outstanding claims and alleviate hardship for those affected.
Key provisions
- Appropriates funds from the General Fund.
- Directs funds to the Attorney General.
- Specifically targets a judgment in an unspecified case.
- Establishes a reversion process for unspent funds.
- Declares the bill an urgency statute.
Who is affected
- The State of California
- Claimants affected by the judgment
- The Attorney General
Notable changes
- Directly appropriates funds for a specific judgment, bypassing the traditional reporting and legislative process.
- Allows for immediate payment of the judgment.
Fiscal impact
The bill appropriates an unspecified amount from the General Fund, and any unspent funds will revert to the General Fund on June 30 of the fiscal year in which the final payment is made.
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yoursRead the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
SB1231:v99#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1231
| Introduced by Senator Cervantes |
| February 19, 2026 |
An act relating to the payment of claims against the state, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1231, as introduced, Cervantes. Claims against the state: appropriation.
Under existing law, if sufficient appropriations are not available for the payment of certain claims, settlements, or judgments, the Attorney General is required to report the claims, settlements, and judgments to the chairperson of either the Senate Committee on Appropriations or the Assembly Committee on Appropriations, who is then required to cause introduction of legislation appropriating the funds necessary for payment.
This bill would appropriate an unspecified amount from the General Fund to the Attorney General to pay the judgment in an unspecified case.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Digest Key
Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The sum of ____ ($____) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Attorney General to pay for the judgment in the case of ____.
Any funds appropriated in excess of the amounts actually required for the payment of this judgment shall revert to the General Fund on June 30 of the fiscal year in which the final payment is made.
SEC. 2.
This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to pay judgment and settlement claims against the state and end hardship to claimants as quickly as possible, it is necessary for this act to take effect immediately.