Bill > AB1523

This bill amends California's court-ordered mediation rules by increasing the maximum amount in controversy for mandatory mediation from $50,000 to $75,000, effective January 1, 2027. The bill establishes several new conditions that must be met before a court can order mediation, including that the case must be set for trial, at least one party must express interest in mediation, no ongoing discovery disputes can exist, and parties must be notified of their option to choose a mutually agreeable mediator. If parties cannot agree on a mediator within 15 days, the court will select one at no cost. The mediation must be completed at least 120 days before the trial date and can be conducted remotely if all parties agree. The mediation must conclude with either a mutually acceptable agreement or a statement of non-agreement, and the determination of the case's value will be made without prejudice. These changes aim to provide more flexibility and structure to court-ordered mediation while keeping it accessible for lower-stakes civil cases.

Justice

Judiciary (Assembly)

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1523