PRIA Logo™
CaliforniaSB 222025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Gift certificates.

Sponsored By: John Laird (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Refunds when group gift goes unused

An issuer can take money from several people to buy a gift card for someone. They must tell everyone in writing how long the recipient has to redeem the funds. If the recipient does not redeem in time, each contributor gets a full refund. This applies starting April 1, 2026.

More cash back on small gift cards

Beginning April 1, 2026, any gift card sold after January 1, 1997 must be redeemed in cash for its value or replaced for free. You can take cash when the remaining value is under $15. Cards donated for free to nonprofits that carry a clear 10-point note saying they are not redeemable for cash are not redeemable for cash.

New gift card rules start 2026

The new gift card rules take effect April 1, 2026. The old law stays in place until then and is repealed on that date. This sets when the bans, cash rights, and fee limits apply.

No expirations or junk fees on gift cards

Beginning April 1, 2026, sellers cannot sell gift cards with expiration dates. They also cannot sell gift cards with service fees. A dormancy fee is allowed only if all limits are met: the balance is $5 or less when charged, the fee is $1 per month or less, there was no activity for 24 months, the card is reloadable, and a clear 10-point notice is shown before you buy.

Which gift cards the law protects

The law now covers plastic and electronic gift cards. Cards you can use at many unrelated stores may be excluded if an expiration date is printed on the card. Cards you can use only with affiliated sellers stay covered, even with printed expiration dates. Prepaid calling cards that only give an access number and code may use fees that state law already allows.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John Laird

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 142 • No: 32

Senate vote • 9/12/2025

Item 85 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 37 • No: 0

House vote • 9/11/2025

Item 62 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 58 • No: 16

legislature vote • 6/24/2025

Vote in CX32

Yes: 9 • No: 4

Senate vote • 6/2/2025

Item 32 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 27 • No: 10

legislature vote • 4/8/2025

Vote in CS53

Yes: 11 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 207, Statutes of 2025.

    10/1/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/1/2025legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

    9/23/2025legislature

  4. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2964.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

    9/12/2025Senate

  5. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

    9/12/2025Senate

  6. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 58. Noes 16. Page 3281.) Ordered to the Senate.

    9/11/2025House

  7. Ordered to third reading.

    9/2/2025House

  8. Read third time and amended.

    9/2/2025House

  9. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    7/3/2025House

  10. Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    7/2/2025House

  11. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 9. Noes 4.) (June 24).

    7/1/2025House

  12. Referred to Com. on P. & C.P.

    6/9/2025House

  13. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

    6/3/2025House

  14. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 10. Page 1384.) Ordered to the Assembly.

    6/2/2025Senate

  15. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    4/21/2025Senate

  16. Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    4/10/2025Senate

  17. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 2. Page 704.) (April 8).

    4/10/2025Senate

  18. Set for hearing April 8.

    4/3/2025Senate

  19. Referred to Com. on JUD.

    1/29/2025Senate

  20. From printer. May be acted upon on or after January 2.

    12/3/2024Senate

  21. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    12/2/2024Senate

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/1/2025

    HTML

  • Enrolled

    9/17/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Assembly

    9/2/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Assembly

    7/2/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    4/10/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    12/2/2024

    HTML

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation