Existing law specifies the rights and requirements of a claimant or homeowner to bring a civil action for construction defects of a dwelling, including applicable standards for home construction, detailed prelitigation procedures, statute of limitations, burden of proof, and the damages recoverable. Existing law specifies the rights and prohibitions for a builder to defend against a civil action for construction defects, including a prohibition against a builder obtaining a release or waiver in exchange for repair work mandated by law.
This bill would modify specific rights, requirements, and prohibitions for the parties to a civil action for construction defects of a dwelling by revising, among other things, the requirements for a prelitigation notice from the claimant to the builder and the evidence a claimant is required to affirmatively demonstrate to make a claim. Among other changes, the bill would repeal the prohibition on, and, instead, authorize, a builder to obtain a release or waiver in exchange for certain repair work, as specified. Commencing July 1, 2027, the bill would prohibit an insurer from asserting repairs as a voluntary payment or as a payment made without the insurer's consent, or denying counting the costs associated with those repairs, against a deductible or self-insured retention. The bill would provide that its provisions apply to structures subject to the provisions governing the rights of a claimant or homeowner to bring a civil action for construction defects of a dwelling, except as provided. The bill would further provide that its provisions are severable.

Statutes affected:
AB1903: 910 CIV, 910 CIV, 926 CIV, 926 CIV, 929 CIV, 929 CIV, 930 CIV, 930 CIV, 942 CIV, 942 CIV, 944 CIV, 944 CIV, 5980 CIV, 5980 CIV, 6150 CIV, 6150 CIV, 900 CIV
02/12/26 - Introduced: 900 CIV
03/19/26 - Amended Assembly: 910 CIV, 910 CIV, 926 CIV, 926 CIV, 929 CIV, 929 CIV, 930 CIV, 930 CIV, 942 CIV, 942 CIV, 944 CIV, 944 CIV, 5980 CIV, 5980 CIV, 6150 CIV, 6150 CIV, 900 CIV
04/23/26 - Amended Assembly: 910 CIV, 926 CIV, 929 CIV, 930 CIV, 942 CIV, 944 CIV, 5980 CIV, 6150 CIV
05/18/26 - Amended Assembly: 910 CIV, 926 CIV, 929 CIV, 930 CIV, 942 CIV, 944 CIV, 5980 CIV, 5800 CIV, 5800 CIV, 6150 CIV
06/11/26 - Amended Senate: 910 CIV, 926 CIV, 930 CIV, 942 CIV, 944 CIV, 5800 CIV, 6150 CIV
08/04/26 - Amended Senate: 910 CIV, 926 CIV, 930 CIV, 942 CIV, 944 CIV
08/21/26 - Amended Senate: 895 CIV, 895 CIV, 896 CIV, 896 CIV, 897 CIV, 897 CIV, 910 CIV, 926 CIV, 930 CIV, 942 CIV
08/28/26 - Amended Senate: 895 CIV, 896 CIV, 897 CIV, 910 CIV, 926 CIV, 930 CIV, 942 CIV
AB 1903: 900 CIV