20250AB__215597CHP INTRODUCED 2026-02-18 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2026-04-23 PASSED_SENATE 2026-06-18 ENROLLED 2026-06-22 CHAPTERED 2026-06-30 APPROVED 2026-06-30 FILED 2026-06-30 2025 AB CHP CHP 0 Introduced by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Aguiar-Curry

An act to amend

Section of the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to arbitration. arbitration Arbitration: validity of agreements to arbitrate. Existing law provides that written agreements to submit controversies to arbitration are valid and enforceable. Existing federal law, the Federal Arbitration Act, also deems arbitration agreements valid, irrevocable, and enforceable, except for certain specified types of agreements, such as agreements to arbitrate claims of sexual harassment.

This bill would make agreements to submit to arbitration unenforceable where the agreement would not be enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act. MAJORITY NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. (

a) The Legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of this state to ensure that all persons have the full benefit of the rights, forums, and procedures established under state law. (

b) It is the purpose of this act to incorporate into the California Arbitration Act any and all exclusions under the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C.

Sec. 1 et seq.), including contracts of employment of seamen, railroad employees, or any other class of workers engaged in foreign or interstate commerce, and the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 (9 U.S.C.

Sec. 401 et seq.), including claims that relate to a sexual harassment dispute or sexual assault dispute.

SEC. 2.

Section of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read: 1281. (

a) A written agreement to submit to arbitration an existing controversy or a controversy thereafter arising is valid, enforceable and irrevocable, save upon such grounds as exist for the revocation of any contract. (

b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a written agreement to submit to arbitration is not enforceable under this

section to the extent the agreement is not enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C.

Sec. 1 et seq.).