WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

AB 711

Relating to: funding for the Family Foundations home visitation program and making an appropriation. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Allen and 13 co-sponsors

AB 711 requires meet-and-confer declarations in civil motions to note whether parties discussed hiring a certified shorthand reporter, including by electronic means.

Read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 711

AB 711 (Chen) — Summary (2025)

Note on title discrepancy
- The bill metadata provided included an unrelated title about the Family Foundations home visitation program. The official bill text and legislative digest for AB 711 (Chen) amend the Code of Civil Procedure and concern meet-and-confer declarations and certified shorthand reporters. This summary follows the bill text and digest.

Purpose / Intent

AB 711 clarifies and slightly expands the information required in a meet-and-confer declaration filed in support of motions in California civil litigation. Specifically, it requires the declaration to state whether the parties have met and conferred about retaining a certified shorthand reporter to report the hearing on the motion, and it expressly permits that the meet-and-confer may occur via electronic communication.

Key provisions

  • Amends Code of Civil Procedure section 2016.040.
    • Subdivision (a) remains: a meet-and-confer declaration must show a reasonable and good faith attempt at informal resolution of each issue presented by the motion.
    • New language in subdivision (b): the declaration must also state whether the moving party has met and conferred, including through electronic communication, regarding retention of a certified shorthand reporter to report the hearing on the motion.
    • Clarifies that this requirement “does not prevent the retention of a certified shorthand reporter.”
  • Digest notes: majority vote required; no appropriation or fiscal committee referral.

Who is affected

  • Parties and counsel in civil litigation who file motions that require a meet-and-confer declaration (e.g., discovery motions).
  • Certified shorthand reporters and court reporting services (likely affected only indirectly, through increased attention to reporter retention discussions).
  • Courts and clerks processing meet-and-confer declarations.

Practical impact

  • Procedural: Parties must affirm in their meet-and-confer declarations whether they discussed (including by electronic means) retaining a certified shorthand reporter for the motion hearing.
  • Operational: Encourages early discussion about creating an official verbatim record at motion hearings and may reduce last-minute disputes over reporter presence and cost allocation.
  • Fiscal: Legislative digest indicates no appropriation or identified fiscal committee impacts.

Legislative timeline / status

  • Introduced: February 14, 2025 (Author: Assemblymember Chen).
  • Assembly passage: 05/15/2025 (Ayes 70, Noes 0).
  • Senate passage: 07/03/2025 (Ayes 35, Noes 0).
  • Enrolled and presented to Governor: 07/15/2025.
  • Approved by Governor and chaptered: 07/28/2025 — Chapter 64, Statutes of 2025.

Code section affected

  • Code of Civil Procedure § 2016.040 (as amended by AB 711).

If you want, I can provide the exact amended statutory text as it will appear in CCP § 2016.040 or draft a redline comparing prior and amended language.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.