Bill > SB66

This bill permanently extends existing provisions of the Civil Discovery Act that require parties in civil actions to make initial disclosures within 60 days of a demand. These initial disclosures must include names and contact information of potential witnesses, descriptions of documents and evidence that might be used to support claims or defenses, and details about any insurance policies or contractual agreements that could be relevant to satisfying a potential judgment. The disclosures must be verified through a written declaration by the party or their representative, and parties are required to disclose information based on what is reasonably available to them, even if they have not fully investigated the case. The bill removes the previous sunset provision that was set to expire on January 1, 2027, which would have reverted the initial disclosure requirements to a prior version of the law that required court-ordered disclosures only upon stipulation of parties. Certain types of legal actions are exempt from these disclosure requirements, including unlawful detainer actions, small claims cases, family law proceedings, probate actions, and cases where a party is not represented by counsel. The changes will apply to civil actions filed on or after January 1, 2024.

Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB66